* Are you getting found on LinkedIn?
* Can Google easily find your LinkedIn Public Profile?
More and more executive recruiters are using LinkedIn to find quality candidates. This article titled, LinkedIn leads among social networks used for recruiting while Facebook and Twitter exhibit significant growth, states that 95% of the respondents are using LinkedIn for employee referrals or employee candidate searches.
A LinkedIn Profile is a great place to start building your online identity. LinkedIn Public Profiles rank high in Google searches. I have two (2) suggestions for taking advantage this great online opportunity.
Customize Your LinkedIn URL to Include Your Name
My LinkedIn Public Profile URL is http://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyfaustino.
By including your name within your LinkedIn URL, you increase your search engine optimization (SEO) chances of getting picked up by Google (or friends, former colleagues, past classmates, executive recruiters or anyone else who types your name into Google). You can find this option within the Edit Public Profile Section of your LinkedIn Profile. Take advantage of this option!
Fill Out Your LinkedIn Profile With a High Level of Detail: It's Your Online Resume!
It doesn't always have to be like this picture where you're the one doing all the searching.
By filling out your LinkedIn Profile with a high level of detail, you provide Google with lots of important keywords — keywords that point to your profile. That's especially important when an executive recruiter is searching for potential candidates within the LinkedIn network. I know from 1st-hand experience that this works! There's a big difference when someone is seeking you out as opposed to the other way around.
Don't just list past job titles, former companies, and the timeframes you held these jobs. In my opinion, that's a mistake and can result in lost professionally or personal opportunities. Why? You're providing limited information which limits the number of keywords that someone can use to find your LinkedIn Profile.
Here's my little video. Sorry it's not Steven Spielberg quality but it's my 1st one and I'm still learning. If you have some helpful hints to improve the quality (I used my Flip Video Camera), please let me know in your comments. I'd love to learn from more experienced video practitioners!
Also, near the end, you'll hear my dog Ollie drinking from his waterbowl in the last few seconds. Obviously, Ollie doesn't understand the words: "Quiet on the Set!"
How To Make a LinkedIn Public Profile Easier to Find for Google and Executive Recruiters from Tony Faustino on Vimeo