Ask a Recruiter: Tips for setting up your profile on job networking sites

NARRATOR:

Welcome to another edition of Progressive’s Ask a Recruiter video series, where we ask real recruiters for their thoughts on topics in the job market.

In this episode, we asked a Progressive recruiter for their tips for creating a job network profile. Here’s what they had to say.

HELEN:

I spend a lot of my time on job networking sites identifying qualified potential candidates for Progressive’s roles. And because I do, I can spot the difference between a job profile someone thoughtfully prepared and one that was quickly thrown together.

Job networking sites are a great place to promote yourself to potential employers. But people don’t always know how to maximize their exposure. Here are four tips for creating a job profile that’ll help you stand out.

Tip #1: Create a professional brand

Think of your job profile as an opportunity to create a professional brand for yourself. Start by writing a phrase that best summarizes your most marketable strength, like “customer service expert” or “insightful data analyst.” Then use this phrase as a North Star for filling out your job profile. This means including the things that align with your professional brand and leaving out the things that don’t.

Tip #2: Maximize your title

Your title occupies prime real estate at the top of your page. Make the most of this space by including your professional brand statement after the name of your position. For example, you could say “Customer-service-representative-backslash-Compassionate-Customer-Care-Professional. This tells people upfront what you’re all about the moment they land on your page.

Tip #3: Turn your “About me” section into a brand anthem

Companies create brand anthems to tell customers who they are and their purpose. Your “About me” section, then, is the place for you to share your professional brand anthem. This is your chance to unpack your brand statement and show how it applies to you. It’s also an opportunity to provide examples of your work (like links to online or digital portfolios, for example). Additionally, use this space to talk about what motivates you. Whether it’s a love of data or the thrill of a project launch, tell people why you’re passionate about your work.

Tip #4: Keep it high-level when it comes to your job history

Resist the urge to make this section your résumé. It really should just be a high-level overview of your professional experience. You don’t even need complete sentences … just bullet your thoughts and stick to your relevant professional experience. And if you have any awards or certifications, be sure to include these along with your education.

Hopefully these tips help you better market yourself to recruiters. Once you get your job profile set up (and you’ve checked to make sure your grammar is correct), continue to update it with any new experiences, skills, certifications, roles, etc. that connect with your professional brand. Best of luck in your job search!

NARRATOR:

Thanks for watching! For more job seeker content, visit LifeatProgressive.com.