Optimise your online presence for employment opportunities
using social media is evident. In 2015, I thought I’d had enough from my employer and needed a new challenge. Just about the same time, a recruiter approached me on LinkedIn for a new role in a different financial institution. As destiny would have it, I didn’t object and decided to give it a try.
Thankfully I went through the process and got the role. I moved to that new bank and spent 3.5 years as Assistant President, Cash Management Sales within Corporate and Investment Banking Business Functions. I’m sure I am not the only person who has immensely benefitted from such a platform, and I am also sure there are many people out there who have also taken advantage of it to get roles.
How to optimise your online presence #1 Create a Profile: First and foremost, the most important thing to do, in my view, is create and have a profile that helps you stand out from the crowd. Just like any other social media platform, a complete LinkedIn profile will summarise your professional experience for your connections, current and future employers, and recruiters. Through your profile, you can showcase your professional life, milestones, skills and interests.
Make sure that your Job information is up to date: Research has shown that LinkedIn members who have up-to-date work information listed on their profile receive, on average, five times more connection requests and eight times more profile views. Importantly, you need to add details of academic achievements – e.g. prestigious scholarships attained, and professional accreditation such as CFA, ACCA and CA. etc.
#2 Build your network: Networking is the act or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. Your network plays a crucial part in unlocking the power of LinkedIn. It’ll help you understand what is happening in your industry and professional circle. You can begin by adding your family, friends, past or current classmates and co-workers to your network.
You can also follow people, companies or topics. You can use the LinkedIn Events feature to create and join professional Events such as online workshops, seminars, sales and marketing Events, networking Events and more. You can follow influencers such as Richard Branson, Tony O. Elumelu and Bridget Hyachinth etc., who have millions of followers and create value contents on their profiles. With over 7,500 connections, I desire reaching up to 10,000 by the end of 2022.
#3 Participate in Conversion: It is not enough to create a profile and connect with people. You also need to and can easily participate in conversations on LinkedIn. Participating in conversations allows you to share your perspective on relevant issues and topics with others. You can like and comment on posts and articles on LinkedIn. You can create or join LinkedIn Groups to connect and grow with members who share your interests, experiences or aspirations. You can also use a set of lightweight expressions, called LinkedIn reactions, to easily communicate with your network.
#3 Post Content: Millions of members come to LinkedIn every day to connect, learn and share. You can empower and educate your professional circle with the content you post on LinkedIn. You can also share your thoughts and ideas with LinkedIn members by using the share box
Dos and Don’ts for Posting
This is where I have a big concern! It is important to understand that social media platforms are different, and how each platform functions is also different. Facebook is not the same as LinkedIn. Some of the expected dos on LinkedIn are that your content should be sharp and to the point. Posts must also be relevant to one’s network. Also, remember to use key stats or data to attract attention (verify the facts beforehand); or engage by asking a question or opinion.
Personally, I don’t read long messages. To receive views, stick to about 150 characters. Remember, always add a link to more information – and don’t forget to upload a professional
image of yourself! Remain professional on your LinkedIn page and try to avoid lengthy posts; announcement without any relevant links for more information; personal shout-outs with no context; and posts without an image.
In summary, the world is changing and evolving at a much faster rate than expected. A lot of companies and multinationals have changed the status quo of accepting hard-copy CVs, and even if required may be for recordkeeping purposes.
Securing a job in the 21st century has taken a different dimension; a lot of recruiters are now online, and a hard-copy curriculum vitae is no longer accepted by certain institutions. As a youth/student about to leave a tertiary institution – and even if you are in a current role looking to change roles, optimising your profile online has the propensity to help you obtain your next-level job. It’s time to take advantage of professional social media platforms and other portals which provide recruitment, so that you can get your dream job.
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal views and do not represent those of the media house or institution the writer works for.
About the writer
Carl is a Banking, Finance and Investment professional with an international bank in Ghana. Contact: Carl.odamegyenti@gmail.com, Cell: +233 200301110