11 Signs of a Great Candidate, Based on Their LinkedIn Profile
Welcome to Recruiter Q&A, where we pose employment-related questions to the experts and share their answers!
Today’s Question: What particular elements do you pay close attention to when evaluating candidates’ LinkedIn profiles ? Why are these things reliable signs of an impressive candidate?
These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization composed of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and have created tens of thousands of jobs.
1. A Lot of Endorsements
I love when someone has a lot of endorsements on LinkedIn. It shows that others are actively referring them by endorsing them for certain skills. Users don’t usually get endorsements because they asked, but because they earned them. The more that people endorse you for certain skills, the easier it is for employers to see what you’re truly good at before reaching out. — John Rampton, Calendar
2. A Clearly Defined and Supported Niche
We have so many profiles to review, so an individual who clearly defines what they specialize in and what their strengths are is very attractive. When those skills are then supported by endorsements and recommendations, it adds a level of credibility. It shows me that they have a strong networking ability as well. — Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker
3. Published Articles
LinkedIn has organic space for content to be read and discovered. When I see a candidate sharing their opinions and research on topics, it makes me want to invest further in their potential. This shows me that this person cares about their industry and is taking the time to learn more and share what they know. — Matthew Podolsky, Florida Law Advisers, P.A.
4. Regular Updates
A person who is active on LinkedIn and posts career updates, links articles, and shares their personal achievements is someone who is interested in networking and career development. These people are likely to be receptive to opportunities. I’m much more likely to get in touch with them than someone who has an impressive work history but is inactive on the platform. — Emily Stallings, Casely, Inc.
5. Proof of Work
One element I typically see on impressive LinkedIn profiles is proof of work. It’s very interesting to see case studies, personal business blogs, and/or portfolios. This helps us make the selection process smoother. — Alfredo Atanacio, Uassist.ME
6. A Professional Summary
One element I typically see on impressive LinkedIn profiles is a professional summary that gives insight into the person’s work ethic and values. When I’m searching for the right talent, I want to know what this person is passionate about and what they’ve done to get to where they are. — Andy Pandharikar, Commerce.AI
7. Community Engagement and Volunteerism
People who are engaged in bettering their towns and cities are invested in others, not just themselves. It also demonstrates their time management, leadership, and commitment skills. Showing how you give back, in addition to your accomplishments in the workplace, makes you both interesting and highly desired. — Ashley Sharp, Dwell with Dignity
8. Interesting Posts
Engaging LinkedIn profiles are ones where people write interesting posts and tell compelling stories. This shows that they’re active and engaged online, and that they’ve done their research and figured out how to use their profile well. These small but important posts can tell you a lot about a person’s thought process and how they’ll fit in at a company. — Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
9. Short, Impactful Headlines
Candidates who take the time to create good profile headlines have thought about what they do and what recruiters are looking for. Keeping your headline short and using relevant keywords and even appropriate emojis can give your profile a powerful boost. — Blair Williams, MemberPress
10. Accomplishments Backed by Jobs Data
Considering the public status of LinkedIn, it’s very credible when candidates list revenues they’ve secured, the number of team members they’ve managed, or the campaign traffic they’ve generated. Raw data is extremely valuable in gauging scale of work and responsibility. — Mario Peshev, DevriX
11. Links to Portfolios
We are a marketing agency, so we love to see links to live portfolios of work for design, development, or writing. Creating a simple site that showcases all your work is a great start. — Peter Boyd, PaperStreet Web Design
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