How To: Raise Profile
These days a headhunting scenario isn’t all that rare, but what can you do to raise your profile in a way that increases your chances of making that happen? We’ve broken it down into some easy steps using LinkedIn that can increase your chances of success (whatever that looks like for you).
Securing yourself a new job is wonderful.
Being proud to tell your nearest and dearest about the new job is special.
Knowing that you were headhunted for the new job because your skills and experience elevated you above others in your industry is an unbeatable feeling.
These days a headhunting scenario isn’t all that rare, but what can you do to raise your profile in a way that increases your chances of making that happen? We’ve broken it down into some easy steps using LinkedIn that can increase your chances of success (whatever that looks like for you).
Headhunting, also known as an executive search, is the process of searching for talent that best fits an available job opportunity. It’s a more proactive strategy than regular recruiting as it involves identifying and reaching out to people who may not even be looking for a job but might consider a move given the right incentive.
The word “headhunt” derives from when consultants would search and hire high-level employees or the “head” of a company, but at Alexander James we apply this intense scrutiny to all our search assignments no matter what level the role sits because we believe that it extends the reach to those talented people who would otherwise be completely overlooked.
So, how do you get noticed?
Top Tips for Raising Your Profile on LinkedIn
- Update Your Profile!
As consultants, we use a LinkedIn service called LinkedIn Talent Solutions where we can undertake a search for a specific job title with specific skills in a specific location so if your profile doesn’t properly reflect what it is you’re currently doing, then we’re never going to find you.
✅Have you updated your headline to accurately sum up what you do?
✅Is your current role accurate?
✅ Are your key competencies and skills listed?
✅ Have you included your experience using software or tools related to the role you're working?
✅ Do you have a professional looking profile photo?
✅ Have you reviewed your previous roles and responsibilities to make sure they showcase your journey? - Are You Open to Opportunities?
LinkedIn updated their platform a while back to allow people to let recruiters know you're open to being contacted about job opportunities (or not). By updating this setting it means you rank a bit higher in our search results.
This can be accessed via the Privacy settings in your profile. - Get Connected
The proverb, “the more the merrier” absolutely applies to LinkedIn connections. Reach out to colleagues and past acquaintances and enjoy building your digital network. If a consultant seeks a connection with you, it probably means that you’ve appeared in a talent search and they think your skills and experience are top notch.
By accepting a connection with a recruiter, it can indicate that while you may not be interested in a career move right now, you’re happy to entertain the idea of it in future.
When it comes to increasing your chances of being shoulder-tapped, what you know needs to be balanced by who you know.
Going through this list and checking off our recommendations will not only raise your profile in this talent-short market, but it will also strengthen your position for when the pendulum swings the other way and there’s more people looking for work than there are jobs available (it’s just the way it works).
And if you start getting inundated with messages from keen recruiters, try not to get too annoyed by them and take their reach outs as the confidence boost it actually is.
Ngā mihi nui
p.s. Here's a handy 'how-to' guide we prepared earlier for you to save and refer to later.
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