Update your Profile Picture and Cover Photo
It’s important to showcase yourself as not only technically-skilled, but also personable. I used my profile picture and cover photo to emphasize this. Make sure your profile photo is professional but also illustrates your personality (mine is a headshot but in the background there are trees from a hike I did).
My cover photo matches with my profile photo to make my entire profile look a little more seamless and professional. My cover photo also tells me a little bit about my personality (I chose California poppies because I am from California and like going outside in nature). My profile photo/headshot is also taken outside in nature and I am wearing an orange dress. It might seem insignificant but taking the time out to go the extra mile in a small way makes a difference when it comes to making a good first impression.
Make your Headline Useful and Eye-Catching
Adding a bit of a hook to your headline, especially when you are actively searching for a position, can really make you stand out in a field of applicants in the eyes of a recruiter. Think of something that will make them want to look into your profile! I’d suggest looking at other people’s pages, especially those that catch your attention at first glance and seem to get lots of traction, views, followers, etc.
Feature an *Updated* Resume
It is definitely a good idea to feature your updated resume as it’s a convenient way for recruiters to look over your experience and accomplishments. That way, if a recruiter wants to take a look at a list of your experiences and accomplishments but do not have the time to read detailed descriptions, they can just look at your resume. I will be doing another post that is focused specifically on how to create the ideal resume that will surely get you offers (as it did for me).
I strongly recommend using a template similar if not the same as this one. I used practically this same template and saw a huge increase in responses and views. The main two reasons why I switched to this template is it gets straight to the points without too much white space, and I heard through the grapevine that it is helpful when trying to get through the automated recruiting systems.
Feature Any Relevant Documents or Links
Some examples of relevant documents or links include:
- the link to the website of the lab you have worked at
- the link to your personal website (i.e. if you are a coder or a UI/UX designer)
- a PDF version of your poster from a conference that you recently presented at
- a PDF version of your last presentation involving your research
All of these are great examples of material that can give better insight as to the quality of your work and what your expertise are. It is a way to illustrate your experience rather than just stating it in a bullet point! Personally, I have the lab I worked at linked under my work experience, as well as a poster in my featured section from one of my most recent conferences.
Providing Insight of Yourself in Your Description
Take advantage of this section to set the stage of the rest of your profile. This section allows you the opportunity to express your personal ambitions within your career, how you hope to contribute to a cause, what made you interested in your specific field, and more. I strongly believe that my description is what gave insight as to why I would be a good fit for the company I am currently working at, since I had very similar goals as the mission statements of the company.
Add Positions from Extracurriculars under the Work Experience Category (if you don’t have work experience)
Something a big recruiter told me that I am now passing onto you is that contrary to popular belief, you actually can include your extracurricular positions under the work experience category, even if it is not paid! Ultimately, you want to show your leadership capabilities. It’s even more of a plus if you can illustrate that you have excelled into higher positions during your time at a particular organization or club.
What I did on my LinkedIn profile is I for example included three stages from a specific club I know I advanced in. I started off with being a general member, then a committee member, and then the chair member of a committee or on the executive board. This shows that you are able to not only achieve higher positions, but that you are willing to commit time and effort to a cause long-term. This is a green flag to recruiters!
Hopefully that gives some insight as to what little things you can do to make big improvements and get better responses from recruiters! As always, let me know if there are any questions!
