7 LinkedIn Secrets To Gain More Attention From Employers!
LinkedIn secrets every job seeker should know. LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, is a treasure trove of opportunities for career advancement, networking, and personal branding.
While most users are familiar with its basic functionalities, several hidden features and secrets can take your LinkedIn experience to the next level.
And if you are serious about your job search (and career!), having an advantage over the completion can make all the difference.
In this article, we’ll uncover seven LinkedIn secrets to gain more attention from employers!
1. Who Viewed Your Profile – In Private Mode:
Did you know that you can browse profiles anonymously on LinkedIn?
Enabling private mode in your settings allows you to visit other users’ profiles without revealing your identity.
This feature is handy when you research competitors, potential clients, or recruiters without alerting them to your presence.
To enable private mode, go to your LinkedIn settings, navigate to the ‘Privacy’ tab, and under “Visibility” and ‘Profile viewing options,’ select ‘Private mode.’
Keep in mind that snooping in private mode is a two-way street, so you won’t be able to see who viewed your profile either. But it could be an invaluable way to check out the competition while staying incognito!
2. LinkedIn Alumni Tool:
LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool is a hidden gem that allows you to explore the career paths of graduates from your alma mater or any other university.
Whether you’re looking to connect with fellow alumni, seek career advice, or explore potential job opportunities, this feature provides valuable insights into the professional trajectories of individuals with similar educational backgrounds.
READ: How to network using LinkedIn
So, if you’ve been wondering whether you’re keeping pace with your peers, this tool is invaluable for research.
Plus, you can find a possible referral working for your target company!
To access the Alumni Tool, visit the ‘My Network’ tab on LinkedIn, click on ‘Find Alumni’ under the ‘Connections’ section, and filter the results by school, location, industry, and more.
3. Save Searches and Job Alerts:
Save time and stay organized by saving your LinkedIn searches and setting up job alerts based on your preferences.
Whether you’re actively job hunting or simply exploring opportunities in your field, this feature allows you to receive notifications when new jobs matching your criteria are posted on the platform.
After conducting a search on LinkedIn, click on the ‘Save search’ button to save your search criteria. You can also set up job alerts by clicking on the ‘Create job alert’ button and specifying your desired criteria.
4. LinkedIn Learning Courses:
LinkedIn Learning offers a vast library of online courses covering a wide range of topics, from technical skills to personal development and leadership.
While these courses may not give you credits toward a certification, they can help you gain knowledge in critical career gaps you may need to gain.
And once you master the skill, you can add it to your profile to gain the keyword! (Did I mention recruiters love specific keywords?)
If you have LinkedIn Premium, you’ll automatically have access to these courses for free as part of your subscription.
To access LinkedIn Learning courses, click on the ‘Learning’ tab at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
From there, you can browse courses, track your progress, and acquire new skills to enhance your professional profile.
5. Showcase Your Accomplishments with Projects:
As you know, personal branding is a core component of any successful career. And nothing is more powerful than showing the employer your knowledge and accomplishments.
LinkedIn’s Projects feature allows you to highlight specific projects or initiatives you’ve worked on throughout your career.
Whether it’s a successful marketing campaign, a product launch, or a volunteer project, adding projects to your profile provides concrete examples of your skills and accomplishments.
To add a project to your LinkedIn profile, scroll down to the ‘Featured’ section, click the ‘Add profile section’ button, and select ‘Projects.’
Then, follow the prompts to input details about the project, including the title, description, and any relevant links or media.
6. Build a keyword-approved resume:
Did you know you can build a keyword-rich resume on LinkedIn? One that could get the attention of recruiters in your target industry? You can try building a resume directly on the site.
(this only works on the Desktop version, not mobile).
Here’s how:
Editors note: I wouldn’t use this specific version for applications. But it can be a great starting point to grab all those industry-specific keywords for your resume! Plug it into the Resume Rocketfuel template for even better results!
7. Link to your resume
Once you’ve built a recruiter-approved resume (using the above tip), you want to ensure recruiters can find it!
So consider adding a link to your resume directly on your LinkedIn profile.
You can add your URL to your resume and even hyperlink it so recruiters and hiring managers can immediately discover why you’re a great candidate.
To do so, edit your main profile and add a link to your profile.
(hint: Google Docs makes creating a resume link super easy, and it’s how we edit Resume Rocketfuel)
8. Your Headshot
One of the final LinkedIn secrets I’d like to share isn’t so much a hidden feature. But it can really help your profile shine.
A great way to make a great first impression with perspective employers is to have a professional headshot. It gives a sense of trustworthiness and authority when an employer sees a great photo instead of a blank space.
But most people never get professional headshots because they can be intimidating, time consuming and costly. The average price for a pro headshot photographer in my area is $250-$500 for a session, plus retouching fees. This doesn’t fact in wardrobe, makeup and the time/cost of getting to their studio.
The good news is there are options if you don’t have an easy means to getting a professional headshot.
You can either use an IPhone (or your other smart device) and take one against a neutral wall (no cropping of wedding photos!). Or you can use your existing selfies to create an AI generated headshot at a fraction of the price.
For natural looking photos, my current favorite is Insta Headshots.
Wrapping it up
In conclusion, LinkedIn is more than just a networking and job-hunting platform – it’s a dynamic tool with hidden features and capabilities waiting to be discovered.
By leveraging these seven LinkedIn secrets, you can enhance your profile, expand your network, and unlock new career growth and development opportunities.
So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring these hidden gems on LinkedIn today and take your professional journey to new heights!
Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:
1. If you’re still looking for traction in your career, I’d recommend starting with an affordable course:
Resume Rocketfuel: This best-selling course will teach you the exact system I use to write your own professional-quality resume quickly and easily. (ATS-approved templates included!)
The Ultimate Jobseeker Bootcamp: This A-to-Z guide takes you from job search to offer negotiation, providing detailed, recruiter-proven strategies. Don’t leave a single dime on the table ever again!
Unlocking LinkedIn: Walks you step-by-step through how to set up a profile for maximum discoverability, techniques for accessing the hidden job market and how to cut in front of the long application lines. Learn how to skip the recruiter altogether!
2. Gain extra personalized clarity with private 1×1 coaching
Do you have a specific question or strategy that requires more tailored help?
I offer limited private coaching sessions. My clients have had too many “ah ha!” moments to count.
Happy hunting!
-Bryan
PS…this post may contain affiliate links, which means I may get a small commission if you decide to click on them. It never affects the price you pay, nor do I promote any products I don’t use and love myself.
