Get the Right Eyes on Your LinkedIn Profile with These Keyword Tips

Job Search, Resume and LinkedIn

If you want to get found by recruiters on LinkedIn, you have to know a thing or two about using keywords.

Keywords are relevant terms found within your profile that make it easy for recruiters to find you when they’re searching for certain words or phrases. Think of it as SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for LinkedIn.

Some really effective places for LinkedIn keywords are within the headline, in job descriptions and under interests. These not only help with profile traffic; they also look good to employers who are looking for certain terms.

Below, you’ll find some tips on how to find the right keywords for your LinkedIn profile.

 

Look for Trending Keywords in Job Postings

Just like you need to use keywords in your profile for traffic, recruiters need to use keywords on job postings for the same reason. Check out the job descriptions of the positions you’re interested in and scan them for any trending keywords.

If you see a certain term sprinkled throughout the posting, that’s usually a good sign the employer is using them to get noticed and search for candidates. As such, you should use them in your LinkedIn profile.

 

Browse Profiles of People in Positions You Want

What’s the best way to get noticed by recruiters on LinkedIn? By acting as if you already have the job.

One way to do this is to browse the profiles of people sitting in the positions you want. What keywords are they using? What’s in the job description? What are their job titles? Pay attention to any keywords or phrases and then find a way to use them in your profile.

 

Avoid Broad Terms

Similar to how your resume should avoid very broad terms, LinkedIn profile should also avoid being too vague. (Tweet this thought.)

Broad terms such as “marketing,” “accounting” and “recruiting” don’t really tell the recruiter what you did. You could have had any role within those departments and they wouldn’t know based on your profile.

Instead, get specific. Were you in accounts receivable? Were you the head of market research? What kind of a recruiter were you? Ask yourself these kinds of questions to better your chances of showing up on LinkedIn searches.

 

Include Technical Terms Used Within the Industry

Sometimes recruiters search by certain technical terms in order to find candidates who would know what they’re talking about. This is especially true if you’re working in fields involving medicine or tech.

Another way recruiters sometimes search for candidates is by inputting the names of software or products the company uses. For instance, maybe they’re looking for sales executives who are familiar with SalesForce or a Chief Information Officer who knows how to use VMware.

If you’re not sure what technical terms to use, go to the job postings. They will sometimes require familiarity with certain software or products.

A quick note about technical terms: make sure to use both the full name and the abbreviation. Sometimes recruiters only search by one or the other.

Keywords are a great way to get eyeballs on your profile. When using them properly, you can ensure that recruiters will be able to find you without a problem.

What changes will you make to your LinkedIn profile to make it easier for recruiters to find? Share in the comments!

This post originally appeared on Chameleon Resumes.

Image: Flickr

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