6 things your LinkedIn profile reveals to a recruiter

One of the first things recruiters do when they receive an application is to review the candidate to determine if they’re a good fit for the open position and company culture, and assess your talents. 

Your LinkedIn profile represents you, so every detail is important. So, what recruiters see on LinkedIn matters. Here’s what they can determine based on your profile:

1. You have attention to detail

Many people cite this as a skill (and you should, too), but if a hiring manager spots grammar and spelling errors in your LinkedIn profile, it could mean your resume goes straight to the trash.

2. How passionate you are about your industry

The most exciting people to hire are those who are passionate about their work. One way to show your enthusiasm in your profile is to join industry-related meetups and discussions. Use your status line to announce things you’ve done in your field. Consider following industry thought leaders and liking or commenting on their content for extra credit. 

It’s not just about what you share on your profile regarding your resume experiences. It’s also about what you engage with and who you follow.

Writing your own posts is also a great way to become a stronger member of the community and also helps you become more visible on LinkedIn. Your posts can show up in search engine results, allowing you to share your thoughts with a broader audience than just your LinkedIn followers as well as build your profile as a thought leader in your industry.

3. How your peers and clients rate you

Recommendations on LinkedIn are like a pre-screening of your credentials. Those from your supervisor, clients, or senior colleagues are best. Recommendations are also appropriate when professionals in the same field or industry vouch for your skills and experience. 

Hiring managers want to make sure you are qualified for the job and suitable for an interview, which is why they often look closely at these recommendations.

Depending on your relationship with someone, you could ask them if they would write a recommendation for your LinkedIn profile. You can make it easy for them by reminding them of an experience they had with you, and they’ll usually be happy to help you out by writing a glowing report.

4. You have a solid network

Some recruiters look at the quality and relevance of your connections when considering you for a job. The number of connections you have is less critical (ideally, you should have at least 50 – quality over quantity). 

If you have more than 500 connections, but 95% of them are not relevant to the field or industry you want to work in, that’s not very helpful. Use them to ask for introductions to their connections that would benefit you.

5. You have the experience and skills they’re looking for

Recruiters want to know that you’re qualified for the job, will be good at it, and will get results.They’ll look at your LinkedIn profile to see what you’ve accomplished and how you’ve used the skills and experience you’ve gained. Prove you’re the candidate for the job by showing measurable results. You should quantify the work experience you’ve obtained by including key skills in your profile and having them endorsed by your connections.

If you have examples of your work, you should upload them to your profile – for example, a photo, video, or presentation. This way, recruiters can see your work and how you’ve benefited the company.

6. If your personality Is a good fit

Your tone of voice, the words you use, and other indicators are subtle signals that a recruiter will notice that helps them get a sense of whether you are a suitable candidate for the company. A study published in the Journal of Research in Personality (JRP) suggests that a careful reading of a person’s LinkedIn profile can reveal true elements of their personality.

The researchers found that an artistic profile picture on LinkedIn was the best signal of openness. Other signs included speaking more than one language, citing “curiosity” as a skill, or having an extensive network. They found that grade point average and holding additional certifications were the best signals of conscientiousness, as is indicating “organization” among your skills.

The size of your professional network is the best indicator of whether someone is extroverted. Other good indicators are college athleticism, various skills, and leadership experience.

Your profile picture can give clues to your personality too. For example, a smile in the photo was one of the best signals that a person is likable. A person’s volunteer experience and an indication of team or group work skills were also strong signals of likability.

Get your LinkedIn profile into a job-hunting mode

You want your resume and LinkedIn profile to align and complement each other. So while you are sprucing up your resume, you should also make sure your profile is complete and up to date. It’s important to set it up to showcase your skills and talents so people can find you.

Members who have listed at least one previous position are 12 times more likely to be alerted to potential job postings, according to LinkedIn research. Those with at least one education listed are seven times more likely to be commonly seen, and professionals with a photo in their profile are also slightly more likely to be widely seen.

Workable is a LinkedIn preferred partner. Learn more about how our integration with this recruiting tool can help you if you are looking for a job.