How to use LinkedIn to your advantage

When looking for a new job, whether you're currently employed or not, one of the first steps - in addition to an up-to-date CV - is to have a LinkedIn profile. On this network with over 25 million members, recruiters are constantly on the lookout for new talent for their company or clients. But to be spotted by a headhunter or the company of your dreams, it's not enough to have a LinkedIn profile; you also need to master all the codes and uses of this professional network. Here's how.  

#1 How do I fill out my LinkedIn profile?  

The first thing you need to know is that recruiters use filters to do their searches, so you need to think about choosing the right keywords when filling in the various sections.  

Let them know you're looking for a job  

When looking for candidates for a given position, most recruiters use the "Open to work" filter to include in their search results only those who are in tune with the market. 2 possible options:  

1. If you're no longer working: place the "Open to work" banner directly on your profile photo. 
2. If you're still working: for greater discretion, you can activate the "open to work" feature without displaying it on your profile photo. This information will then only be visible to people involved in recruitment.  

Whichever option you choose, LinkedIn will ask you for some additional information, so don't forget to complete all sections: the position(s) you're looking for, the work mode (on-site, hybrid or remote), the location(s) you're looking for (be as broad as possible and don't hesitate to indicate several regions, especially if your position allows for telecommuting or remote work), whether you're available immediately or exploring "just to see", and finally the type of contract you're looking for (temporary, short contract, full-time or part-time). 

Include a professional photo  

The photo is a very important element and can be decisive if it sends out the wrong information. Here are a few simple rules to follow: be alone in the photo, wear professional clothes, use a neutral background, and don't forget to smile! You then have the choice of making the profile photo visible only to your contacts, your network or all LinkedIn members. 

Use a profile banner related to your profession 

It should reflect the sector in which you work. Exit vacation landscapes (unless you work in tourism, of course) or themes far removed from your profession/sector. 

Fill in your contact details  

It may seem obvious, but many applicants don't fill in their contact details properly, even though it's essential if they want to be contacted easily by a recruiter. At the very least, include your e-mail address and, if possible, your contact details. 

Choose a sufficiently generic job title 

It's not always obvious which job title is best suited to your LinkedIn profile. There are often several job titles for the same job (e.g. "Business developper" = "Ingénieur d'affaires"), and the one on your job description may not be what recruiters are looking for. So, what can you do? Find out about current market and hiring trends by reviewing salary guides published by recruitment agencies as well as job offers. You can then use the most generic and sought-after job title. But be careful, it must correspond to the reality.  

Talk about yourself in your profile summary   

This is the time to talk about yourself: your personality, your skills (soft and hard skills), your expectations, your aspirations, your values... In addition to keywords related to your profession, specify the type of work you're looking for (remote, hybrid, 100% at the office), the type of contract and company you're looking for (large group, SME, etc.), your location and whether you're mobile. To ensure that your profile appears in recruiters' search results, remember to include as many keywords as possible related to your sector or profession. 

Choose the right business sector  

This is where you enter the sector in which you work or would like to work. For example, if you're a Marketing Manager in a company whose sector of activity is recruitment, you'll need to put the "recruitment" sector in this section, not "Marketing & Communication". 

Be as exhaustive as possible when describing your professional experience 

Unlike a conventional CV, where you're limited in terms of length, LinkedIn really does allow you to go into exhaustive detail in this section, without having to delete your previous experience. So go ahead! Give as much detail as possible about your experience and, here again, use the right keywords. Be sure to indicate your hierarchical level, how many people you manage, and so on. Depending on your profession, include your KPIs/your successes, as this can make all the difference to a potential future employer. Be careful not to lie or embellish reality, as all information will be verified.  

#2 How do I contact a recruiter on LinkedIn?  

There are several possible ways, depending on your situation: 

In response to an offer  

Before contacting the recruiter, read the ad carefully to make sure your profile matches (salary, location, prerequisites, experience, etc.). If necessary, send a message (preferably by Inmail), remembering to attach your CV. In your message, keep it simple and cordial. 

In your message, keep it sober and cordial, propose an exchange and show that you've read the ad by making the link between your profile and the one sought in the ad.  

Please note: don't forget to apply officially via the job link, so that your profile is registered in the recruiting company's database. This way, you can be contacted for other job offers.  

In response to a recruiter who contacts you  

There are two possible scenarios:  

1. Are you interested in the vacancy/position? Respond by adapting to the recruiter's approach. If the recruiter leaves you his or her contact details, rather than replying via LinkedIn, use the e-mail address instead. Don't forget to leave your phone number and to suggest a time when you can talk to the recruiter, to speed up the process.  
2. Not interested? Reply nonetheless! Thank him for his offer and tell him what you're looking for. They may be able to offer you other positions more in line with your expectations. Finally, don't hesitate to co-opt your friends and family. 

#3 How to develop your network on LinkedIn?  

First of all, your network won't necessarily be looked at by recruiters, except for certain positions where networking is important. On the other hand, the bigger your network, the more likely you are to be seen by recruiters, and the more likely you are to see opportunities too (a contact from a contact who shares an offer and so on).  

Do you have to add everyone to LinkedIn? The answer is no. Only add people who are strategic to your career:  

• Recruiters who are hiring in your industry. Always send a personalized message: "Hello, I saw that you're recruiting in my sector, and I'd be delighted to join your network".  
• Operational staff at a company you're interested in (e.g. N+1 of the target position in your dream company, operational manager, CEO, HR director). Always include a personalized message. Example: "I've seen your profile, I like your company, so I'd be delighted to join your network...".  
• The people responsible for the position(s) you're targeting. To do this, create job alerts on LinkedIn and systematically add the person in charge of recruitment. 
• People who are part of your ecosystem: to find them, follow communities of interest via the #s that correspond to your sector and/or your areas of interest (e.g. CSR, QWL, Finance, etc.). You can This will help you identify the "influencers" in these communities and build up a coherent, well-stocked network. 

#4 How to be visible to recruiters on LinkedIn? 

To be visible, you need to think about interactions! Comment on and like posts related to your activity or topics of interest, so that your name appears regularly. This will enable you to be identified as an expert on your subject by potential recruiters or people in your target sector. The more you interact, the more visibility the LinkedIn algorithm will give you.   

But beware: keep in mind that all your activities can be seen by a potential recruiter, and in general by everyone in your network. So be careful what you like and comment on. Remember that LinkedIn is a professional network. Your political or religious opinions, or anything else that might fall within the scope of your private life, should remain on your personal networks. And here again, be careful, because your e-reputation goes beyond LinkedIn. Don't hesitate to "google" yourself regularly (type your first and last name in the Google search bar) to check what's coming up on the web, and don't forget Google images. 

#5 How to check that your LinkedIn personal branding is good?  

LinkedIn has developed a tool called the Social Selling Index. It gives you a score out of 100 - the higher the score, the more visible you will be on the network. The tool analyzes several parameters: the optimisation of the different sections of your profile, your network development, your interactions and so on. You can also compare your score with others in your industry.