Why you should update your LinkedIn profile regularly

I bet you have heard of LinkedIn and the chances you already have an account are pretty high, right? Now, would you say your profile is completely up to date? That’s what I thought – so let me explain why you should keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and give you a few tips along the way.

LinkedIn is massive. It is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) platform when it comes to jobs and recruitment. It is an extremely powerful tool for both job seekers and employers/recruiters - as long as it is used correctly. Some people don’t even use the traditional job boards anymore as everything can be done via LinkedIn, from finding jobs to being found without having to lift your little finger. A complete profile can even be exported to PDF and be used as a CV!

So hopefully that we now have your attention, let’s get started with your profile. LinkedIn has made it incredibly easy for you and will give you suggestions as soon as you add information such as universities, degrees, job titles and companies.

• Start with a professional picture. You don’t necessarily have to be in a suit in front of a white wall but avoid the picture from a birthday party/night out 10 years ago. Keep it classy.
• About section: This is a great opportunity for you to write about you, showcase your skills, experience and the kind of things you have been involved in. You can also write about your interests, aspirations and the type of positions you are looking to secure now and in the future. Don’t be modest – this is your time to shine and get the attention of your future employer(s)!
• Current position: This is probably the most important section of your profile. Employers and recruiters will find you mainly thanks to your job title so make sure you keep this one as updated as possible, from Trainee to Senior, Principal (NOT principle!), Team Lead or Director.
• Experience: This is where you get the chance to list your skills and what you are/have been doing. In the “Description” section, you can write a few lines about your company, the kind of work you’re doing and list your responsibilities in 5-6 bullet points. It can be the instruments you are using, the regulations you are familiar with, supervision/management experience, training of other members etc… LinkedIn will also prompt you to input the dates and will then show how long you have been in your current & past positions.
• Education: Once again, LinkedIn made it super easy for you to fill out. Just start typing your school and/or university and the subject(s) studied.
• Skills and Endorsements: List the things you’re good at, it’s as simple as this. As your your job title, employers and recruiters will find you thanks to your skills so think about responsibilities (research, project management, sales, line management), industry (Bioanalysis, E-Fate, Pharmaceutical, etc), instrumentation (HPLC, LC-MS, makes and models), regulations (GLP, GCP, GMP, ISO17025), Languages and so on… You can also ask colleagues to endorse you for the relevant skills listed.

Once you have done this, you may have already beaten your competition. Employers and recruiters will be able to find you quickly and contact you with potential roles of interest.

If you actively looking for a new job, edit your Job Preference settings and “Let recruiters know you’re open to work”. You can then specify the job titles you are interested in, location, job type (Full-time, contract, etc) and select who sees that you are open to opportunities. You may not want your colleagues and bosses to see you’re looking so you can select if you want only recruiters to see this.

It is also important to Network. Actually no, it’s extremely important! Follow some companies and pages of interest, connect with family, friends, colleagues and specialised recruiters. That way, you will be able to see what’s out there and can easily contact people as well as being contacted.

At VRS, we post all our live jobs on LinkedIn as soon as we receive them so follow our page to ensure you won’t miss out on your dream job.

Sometimes, we are also working on roles that we cannot advertise just yet so if your profile is updated and relevant, we will get in touch with you. Another reason to update your profile and stay on top of the job market within your industry.

We also regularly post about industry news, tips & advices for interviews, negotiation and general job-hunting practices.

You may be perfectly happy in your role and that’s great – but what about helping friends and making money at the same time? Yes, you read that right. If you see a role that could be of interest to a friend or former colleague, VRS will offer you a £250 Amazon voucher (or equivalent in other currency) as a thank you for your referral!

Please don’t hesitate to comment and get in touch with us if you need help with your LinkedIn Profile and we’ll be delighted to help you.

See you soon on LinkedIn!