There are many executive profiles on LinkedIn that have no photo, a bare title description (e.g., Vice President at XYZ Company) and only company names, dates of employment and titles under experience. Often there is no contact information provided either. So what is the value of a LinkedIn profile if you don’t provide essential information a recruiter might use to determine whether or not you are an ideal fit for an opportunity?
The fact is that LinkedIn is not only an invaluable tool that can be used for business development/prospecting purposes, it has quickly become the preferred venue for sourcing passive candidates by both internal and external recruiters. There is simply no longer any excuse for failing to use this valuable resource to create and manage your online presence. However, you must participate to win!
That means that you want to be building a network of connections that you can reach out to in the event that you suddenly find yourself unemployed—an event not at all uncommon these days.
Ellie Vargo, MRW, CCMC
ev@noteworthyresume.com