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Profiles without a photo look inactive and unimpressive in search results. Make sure to find a photo of yourself that's hi-res and suitable for work. Make sure you're smiling and looking approachable! Remember that you're trying to sell yourself as someone good to work with. You'll also notice the option to upload a background or cover
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photo. This is less important but if you have something which you think will be relevant, go for it. A photo of some work you've created, or you 'in action' might be more suitable here.
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Make sure the headline stands out and portrays what you have to offer. If you want to be found by recruiters, or anyone else searching the site, choose keywords over eccentricity. Wordplay might tickle you and impress your mates, but it doesn't often appear in job ads, meaning you'll be less searchable.
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Follow prompts to list your work experience, any courses you've taken, voluntary work and exam results. Pick and choose the ones that add value to your profile, that you're proud of, or that you'd like to show up in searches. Use the Media section to link to your works in progress or achievements. Include blog posts, magazine articles, your
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photography/artwork, a business you created, videos, or social media accounts you've helped with. If there's something you're proud of, stick it here and show it off.
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Use the summary box to showcase your achievements and aspirations or present an elevator pitch. Mention why you make a great employee, a process you've improved, or why you just downright rock. Try to include keywords that recruiters or others are likely to search for. Don't forget that your profile could show up in internet searches, too.
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Use the search function and subscribe to job alerts, or look out for status updates to follow new listings before they're advertised. Follow companies you'd like to work with so you're first to know about any job opportunities, graduate schemes or expansion plans.
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If you accomplish something, whether it's an award, a successful project or high marks in a particular assignment, write a status about it and share it with the world. You don't just have to focus on the good moments. You can also talk about the challenges and failures you've overcome along the way. You can also
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post about issues relevant to your industry, or topics relating to recruitment in general.
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The privacy settings on LinkedIn are very different from other social media networks. You need to be careful to make sure you're only showing people what you want to. Firstly, when updating your profile you'll notice a 'Notify your network' button. If this is selected then all of your followers will see your updates on their newsfeed. Maybe
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save this for bigger moments. There are also privacy settings that let you hunt for new jobs without letting your current employer know – clever! Have a look and see which ones work best for you.
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Join and contribute to groups related to your industry. Get inside info and learn how your sector works from the inside out, get known for having an opinion or specialism, or find people who can tell you more about their career path to see if it interests you. Once you've joined a few key groups, you can message other group members to introduce
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yourself or your services. But avoid being seen as a spammer. Make sure you're sending relevant emails to the right people, ask questions or offer to help with their projects.
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Find out who will be interviewing you and look them up on LinkedIn. Look at their career path, their specific interests and any current projects they're working on. Use it to your advantage and tailor your answers to engage them. You'll also get a great insight into the company by looking at their blog, and you'll be able to track industry developments that you can discuss in the interview.