For most people, the very last thing they want to do after being made redundant is to let the world know all about it, but if you want to get back into the swing of things quickly, that’s usually they best way to go. It’s a time for mixing metaphors, so roll with the punches, pull up the socks and dust yourself off; it’s time to work hard and smart to make the best of a challenging situation. Sometimes an unexpected invitation to change can be a blessing.
Forget the stigma and express yourself
These days there is categorically no shame in an increasingly common experience and one of LinkedIn’s most effective uses is as a vehicle to demonstrate and circulate your availability to head hunters, talent acquisition execs and recruitment consultants. Make sure your LinkedIn status shows you’re available and that you’re in lots of recruiter networks, contact lists and groups.
Get yourself an all-singing, all-dancing optimised LinkedIn profile, either through personal research, or – better – by paying ordering a professional CV writing service like City CV. They will write you a great LinkedIn profile that will maximise the chances of proactive approach from recruiters. So don’t be shy – go public with your fresh availability and make sure the right people know about it.
Here are the key sections that you’ll need to fill out:
Professional Headline
One of the most important ways to get approaches, this goes just under your name and can take up to 120 characters. Describe yourself as what you would like to appear, rather than feeling you need to restrict yourself to an exact match to your last job title. Here’s a great chance to advertise your availability with a ‘currently seeking new opportunities’ reference. Recruiters frequently search for candidates with those key words in their titles, particularly for job searches that are close to completion.
Current Position
Delete the current position and make sure your last employer details are moved to the ‘past’ section. This again will help you appear in searches. Don’t worry that your experience now makes it obvious you’re between jobs; it’s frequently an advantage for recruiters to know that you’re in that position.
Photo
You definitely need one, and it needs to be professional, or at least professional-looking (find a friend with a half decent camera if you need to). Dress as if for an interview, keep it a head shot, and preferably with no other people (including random body parts), and against a neutral background.
Recommendations
The more recommendations the better; they’re compelling evidence of an ability to work well with others, and are particularly effective if they’re from impressively titled contacts. Good recommendations will encourage recruiters to contact you proactively. They also help build networks with contacts who might help to identify job openings; contact ex-colleagues to let them know that you’re looking for a new role and ask for recommendations. It’s always worth offering to return the favour and – particularly if they’re well connected – ask for referrals or recommendations for any companies who may be hiring.
Summary section
Writing a great LinkedIn profile isn’t easy, but it’s a great opportunity to express your human side and tell your story. Ask a professional CV company like City CV to do it if necessary; they will write an elegant, professional profile, in either the third person, like an executive bio, or the first, as if you were telling your story. Opinion among branding experts is divided on which is best, and it’s mostly down to personal preference, but at City CV we think the professionalism and familiarity of an executive bio is the best option for more senior candidates. Try and make sure your motivations, personality and major achievements come across well – don’t be boring! Finish the three or four small paragraphs with a line that says you’re currently looking for new opportunities.
Profile Completion
Fortunately, LinkedIn will help you know when you’ve got your profile complete, as it gives a percentage whenever you’re in ‘edit profile’ mode. It will make suggestions about what you’re missing — whether it’s a photo or recommendations. Keep going until you hit 100%. Then proof it closely, perhaps get a fresh pair of eyes on it – if it’s riddled with typos and spelling mistakes, you’re going to lose credibility.
If you’ve done this right, and you’re positioned well in an active job market, it should be no time before recruiters start getting in touch to start the process for landing the next job.
It can be incredibly difficult to be objective about yourself so why not employ the writing experts at City CV to write your LinkedIn profile for you? City CV’s professional CV writers have the knowledge and experience to help at every career stage, from graduates to senior level professionals across all industries. For more information on our LinkedIn and CV writing services, call us on +44 20 7100 6656 or email enquiries@citycv.com.