Looking for a new opportunity can be both exciting and daunting. But with today’s online technology, your next job may not be as far as you think.

As a recruiter, I spend a great deal of time searching for talent on LinkedIn, the world’s largest networking platform. LinkedIn serves as a gateway to new opportunities, talent and connections. A 2022 report by Kinsta found that 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find the best talent.

This is good news for you, but that doesn’t mean you can just sit back and let the recruiters find you. There must be work done on your end as well.

The amount of exposure you receive on LinkedIn is dictated by the quality of your profile. Whether you currently have an account or plan to create one, treat it as a means for marketing yourself. Since I review profiles daily, here are my top 8 ways to market yourself on LinkedIn.

1. Use the “Open to finding a new job” feature

LinkedIn released this feature back in 2017 to better help candidates and recruiters find each other. This helps you if you happen to be currently employed. You stay hidden from your employer and gather interest from recruiters. If you are not currently employed, consider using the #OpenToWork frame on your profile picture. Since its incorporation in 2020, West Michigan Works reported users saw a 40% increase in LinkedIn messages from hiring managers about job openings. This is a must-have for your profile, so make sure you enable it sooner rather than later.

2. Showcase your work history

Your work experience matters when you market yourself. Don’t shy away from including this pertinent information, especially company names. Information such as your overall tenure with companies, industry experience gained and any promotions within these organizations are helpful in showing credibility. This can give you a leg up over your competition and trust me, it helps.

3. List your current residence

A common mistake I find is putting the location of your company instead of your residence. When you do this, recruiters can’t place the right role in your location. And if a role requires hybrid or in-office work, they may pass you by. Double-check that your current location is set to your residence and not your company’s office.

4. Don’t be afraid to brag

Humility is a valuable trait, but your LinkedIn profile is where you need to brag about yourself and your earlier roles. Include bullet points and exact details of what you have done specifically. For example, if you have experience with tools such as JavaScript or React, make sure you include how they were used and for what purpose. Other things worth noting are the responsibilities you took on. If you took the lead on a large project, for example, make sure that’s included too. These only boost your exposure to a recruiter and can land you the right job.

5. Show off your skills

If Napoleon Dynamite can be proud of his Nunchuck and Bow Hunting skills, you need to be proud of your skills too. Your LinkedIn profile is the perfect place to highlight your strengths. Whether it’s coding, communication, leadership, public speaking or other abilities, make sure to include it. And if you’ve happened to take a skill assessment test through LinkedIn, make sure that’s visible too. You can diversify your skillsets as necessary, but don’t try to be a jack-of-all-trades. Skill sets stand out to recruiters, so make sure you display them proudly.

6. Make it clear what you’re looking for

To fulfill a role doesn’t just help the employer, it helps you too. Don’t be shy about specifying what you’re looking for in your next role. It’s okay to be direct with your needs, and it helps recruiters find you too. I personally want the facts and specifics on what a candidate is looking for, such as their preferred location, remote/hybrid/onsite preferences, contract, part-time, full-time or job titles, just to name a few. And if you plan to change job markets or even careers, show your exact interests. You can also include more information in your LinkedIn “About” section. Recruiters read these. It allows you to express your exact interests in more detail.

7. Leverage your fellow alumni

Not all roles require a specific level of education, but it’s safe to include it anyway. Your education can also bridge relationships with other alumni from your school on LinkedIn. You can see where they are working and connect with them to learn more about their role. They can even pass your resume on to the hiring manager at their company. In short, develop connections and potential job opportunities by networking with alumni, so make sure it’s on your profile.

8. Include a profile picture

A picture isn’t needed for a recruiter to find you, but it does have its benefits. LinkedIn reports that you are 14 times more likely to be viewed by others if you have a profile picture. It doesn’t have to be a professional headshot but having something visual to go along with the name does help. And it makes it more personal. Recruiters want to connect with people, not anonymous icons.

There are, of course, more ways to improve your profile, but these 8 should get you started. It’s clear to see that LinkedIn is an essential tool for your career. With so many recruiters, including myself, using it to source talent, you would be doing yourself a disservice if you were not on it. If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve, try these 8 steps and see how many recruiters you attract! And reach out to me or my colleagues if you need help in your job search.

About the author

Rebecca Blackler serves as a Technical Recruiter with Synergis. Based out of Tampa, FL, she jumped into the recruiting world straight out of college and has almost 3 years in the role. Rebecca loves to work with candidates and listens to what they want in a new role, connecting with them on a much deeper level. When they get an offer, she always gets excited to let them know! Rebecca earned a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!). She is an avid traveler and has visited far-off places such as England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Greece and Italy! Outside of work, she enjoys being creative and has hobbies that include drawing and crocheting.