CV Hacks #3 – Your LinkedIn Profile and Job Hunting

By Chris Cutting – CV Adviser

The last of three CV hacks aimed at increasing the chances of success with online job hunting. 

Armed with an understanding of how to navigate ATS – Hack #1, and an effective CV and LinkedIn profile – Hack #2, you are now ready to place yourself ahead of the curve a little, proactively search for possible unadvertised openings and get two bites at the cherry. This is Hack #3

LinkedIn Profile – CV

Did you know that you can upload your CV onto your profile?

Look at your LinkedIn Profile. The top rectangle will contain images and a little about you with the “Add Profile” and “More” drop down menus. Click on the “Add Profile” box and a drop down menu appears. From there select “Media” and click on the “+” sign. That will bring up a box with your computer files, select your CV from there and upload.

You might ask “What is the benefit of doing this?”

Caveat

The caveat here, if you are currently employed, is to consider the possibility of your employer looking at your profile and finding the CV. It is a decision only you can make. The answer to an employer querying this is that; like your work, you always keep your profile and CV up to date as a matter of good practise.

Having made the decision to upload your CV, the benefits are threefold. Potentially you will place yourself ahead of the selection process, proactively seek openings that are not yet advertised and possibly get two bites at the cherry.

Ahead of the selection process

As discussed in Hack # 2 – My CV and LinkedIn Profile many recruiters use LinkedIn to search for candidates in respect of a job. Having your CV immediately accessible on your profile makes it easy for recruiters to see your full experience. This puts you ahead of candidates whose CVs aren’t attached. It can make a difference in a fast moving and competitive market.

Setting your Footprint

Rather than relying only on job boards and agencies/ consultancies you can also job search proactively using LinkedIn. This is quite different to applying to Linkedin job adverts.

To do this you need to spend a little time understanding and changing the privacy settings on your LinkedIn profile.

Make sure your privacy settings are such that anyone whose profile you’ve looked at can see that you have looked at them. This is leaving a “footprint”.
To do this, look for your minimised photo in a roundel (or round blank lighter grey if you’ve not uploaded a photo) on the top header in grey/ black. Under it will be a little arrow pointing down. Click on that and from the menu, select “Settings & Privacy”. I suggest you familiarise yourself with all these settings and then make the appropriate selection.

Leaving a Footprint

Research companies online that you might want to work for. Next, look them up on LinkedIn and search the people in those companies through LinkedIn. Assuming the relevant departmental manager profile is visible, click on their profile to view them. They will be aware that you have viewed them. This is relevant for a role yet to be released. They will see you’re available and have access to your CV, you could be a step closer to the job you want.

Make sure the individuals you want to leave your “footprint” with are in the right geography for your search. For example; a global Pharmaceutical company will have many worldwide operations. Leaving your “footprint” with a manager in Mexico won’t benefit you, when you’re looking at a UK operation.

Most profiles, if reasonably completed, will show an area where the individual is based.

The final piece to this jigsaw is the importance of establishing a good network of Linkedin network contacts. The reason for this is that Linkedin allows you to see the contacts of your contacts. The more you have, the more the extended network you will reach, I believe up to 3rd level.

Two Bites at the Cherry

Follow the same “footprint” process if you see a company advertising directly, look them up on LinkedIn. If there is a name on the advertisement, look the name up on LinkedIn and view the profile as well as applying. If you can’t find the name on LinkedIn, Google the name with LinkedIn typed beside it. This can give you two bites at the cherry!

Conclusion

The techniques outlined in Hacks #1 – 3 are not a panacea to job hunting; they are tools you can’t afford to ignore and will refine over time. 

I wish you happy hunting, good luck and success; especially in these challenging times.

Chris Cutting CV Adviser in association with Four Day Week