Today, lobbing resumes and application forms into black holes called
recruiting portals will not move your job search forward. Unless you
ensure your CV lands on the right table, they could well land in the
bin. To cut through the clutter, recruiters are using the web to find
the right candidate.
While job listing sites are like cold
calls, a professional networking site like LinkedIn has become the
primary web-based recruiting tool. "LinkedIn is the best recruiting
platform at the moment in terms of web-based support. We post jobs on it
regularly, search candidates and get a lot of references too," says
Mayank Chandra, Managing Partner, Antal International.
The
majority of job listings on LinkedIn in India are in IT, HR, software,
internet and related businesses. Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HP, IBM, and
Accenture are most active with thousands of listings. E-commerce players
Flipkart, Snapdeal, Alibaba, etc. is another active lot.
Giants from other sectors include Reliance, ITC, Airtel, Pfizer, Shell
and L&T. Even the traditional banking sector is regularly posting
openings. "The platform is frequently used for mid and senior level
hiring," says Aditya Narayan Mishra, President, Staffing, Randstad
India.
However, more than hiring,
LinkedIn is used as a head-hunting tool. Your e-resume and more:
LinkedIn can unearth a wealth of information about a candidate in a
noninvasive manner. "We use LinkedIn to get information about how a
candidate is placed in the industry, specifically past experiences,"
says Mishra.
Recruiters also want to know about any specific
skills you have, subjects you are interested in, groups you are
subscribed to, the blogs you follow and content you have been sharing on
this platform.
All this help them form a wholesome view of you
the candidate. "The LinkedIn profile speaks more about the person than a
resume ever can. It is not as verbose as some resumes, yet captures the
essentials," says Rituparna Chakraborty, VP and Co-founder, Teamlease.
Spruce it up: Even if you have emailed your CV, the recruiting manager
will probably take a look at your Linked-In page. An updated and
properly maintained profile helps. There are simple tricks that increase
your visibility immediately. For instance, members who share content on
LinkedIn at least once a week are 10 times more likely to be contacted
for new opportunities than people who don't share.
LinkedIn
is a fantastic self-branding and networking platform. Get recommended
for your work. Too few of them or too many is worrying and it is advised
to seek recommendations with some method to it. "A sudden spike in
recommendations indicates that you are looking for a job and it is best
avoided," says Chakraborty.
Adding skills and keywords in
your profile summary increases searchability. Top searched skills in
India include statistical analysis and data mining, storage systems and
management, cloud and distributed computing, PR and communications and
network and information security. Highlight your achievements and make
it media rich.
According to LinkedIn, a profile picture is
the first thing that people look at. So, do not forget to upload one.
"The profile picture speaks a lot about the person and it is recommended
you upload one. However, overtly casual or passport snaps as profile
pictures are a complete putoffs," warns Chakraborty.
Increase your visibility Use these simple tricks to improve your chances of being hired by becoming more visible on LinkedIn. (Source: LinkedIN.com)
1. Adding a profile photo makes you 14 times more visible than someone without a photo.
A summary of 40 words that uses the right keywords increases your chances of turning up in future searches by employers
2. Adding an industry fetches you 15 times more views.
3. Members who add skills and prioritise them get around 13 times more profile views.
4. Members who have added qualification details receive an average 10 times more views than those who don't.
5. If you join groups and are active on them you increase your views by 5 times.
42% of hiring managers surveyed by LinkedIn say that they view volunteer experience as equivalent to formal work experience.
Tips to make your profile stand out HEADLINE This 120-character section builds your brand. Make it catchy. Add an industry. It's a keyword in searches by employers.
SHARE POSTS
Publishing posts is a great way to get noticed. It also lets future
employers know what interests you. Join groups to increase network.
EXPERIENCE Don't just say it, show it. Add media-rich content like videos, pictures and audios. Put your skills in order of importance.
PROFILE Be precise, but don't miss out on details. Say it in bullet points. Remember, volunteering experience also counts.
GET ENDORSED Ask employers, clients and co-workers to endorse your skills and write recommendations. This adds credibility to your profile.
QUALIFICATIONS
Be specific. Add university and board names to get noticed. Add certificates earned while on the job.
