Over 900 million individuals and 58 million companies are on LinkedIn, not to mention 20 million job postings on any given day. It’s common knowledge that many recruiters use social media to vet candidates, but did you know 87% of them refer to LinkedIn to actively seek out candidates for their job openings? With a vast array of options and a worldwide network at your fingertips, why would you not use it as a resource in your ag job search?
Choose a Professional Profile Picture
Whether you’re starting from scratch or you’re in need of a refresh, your personal profile is priority. First, a picture speaks a thousand words. Select a profile photo where your face is the predominant focus, that is professional, recent and welcoming. Feel free to add a background header photo, too. This is where you can set some context for who you are or what you have to offer through a visual element or example of your work.
Write a LinkedIn Headline
Then move on to the headline. This should be a few words or phrases to describe who you are and/or what you do, and what makes you stand out as a candidate. If a recruiter skimmed your profile and only read your headline, what would you want them to know? In your headline, include your current job title as the first word. Then, feel free to get more creative and add a few additional phrases that describe you as a candidate. For example, if you are a Sales Representative for an implement dealership, your headline may look like this: “Ag Equipment Sales Rep | John Deere Equipment Specialist | Solutions-Driven | Customer-Focused".
Update the About Section
Next up is the about section. This is where your story belongs: who you are, what you do and why you do it. Make it concise enough to keep readers’ attention but thorough enough to make them believe in what you have to offer.
Add Your Experience, Education and More
When it comes to the experiences section, this is where your updated resume comes in handy. While it still might take some work to explain your role within each of these experiences, the goal is to show where you’ve worked, the experience you’ve gained and how it prepared you for future successes.
The same can kind of be said about the education, licenses, certification, honors and awards, and organizations sections. These sections are still important and should not be left empty, but they’re a little more straightforward in terms of simply listing your accomplishments and involvement in each of those areas.
Make the LinkedIn Skills Section a Priority
The skill section, however, should be one of your top priorities. LinkedIn makes it easier as it gives you options. Be careful not to get off track and select ones that may not be relevant, but instead, choose the ones that support your headline and summary and will stand out to ag job recruiters as skills necessary for the kind of job you desire. You can also endorse other users’ skills and ask for endorsement of yours. LinkedIn users with more than five skills listed on their profile received up to 17 times more profile views and 31 times more recruiter messages.
Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile with Keywords
When it comes to filling in each of these sections, it’s important not to speak exclusively in industry speak, but it is important to use job-related keywords an ag recruiter may specifically be searching. Scatter them throughout your profile, including in the skills section, your summary and experiences.
Start Engaging
Once you have your profile established, the key to leveraging it comes down to one thing: engagement. Engage, engage, engage. If you’re open to work, use the open to work button and post about it. Use hashtags and words that reference the job you’re seeking. Connect with people you know and follow businesses and individuals you’d like to know. About 70% of candidates hired through LinkedIn already had a connection within the company they were hired to. Never be afraid to send a direct message or ask a mutual connection for an introduction. Networking is what LinkedIn is all about!
You should also like, comment on and share posts. And don’t forget to post your own content. Whether it’s an interesting article you read or an accomplishment you made at work, you are four times more likely to get noticed by a recruiter if you’re active on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Much like standard social media, LinkedIn is an extension of your personal brand. Represent yourself positively and honestly for the best return on your investment of your time and energy. Visit AgHires.com for more resources on how to maximize your ag job search.
