Are you considering applying for a job but not sure which document to use – your resume or LinkedIn profile?

You’re not alone. Many people wonder whether they should focus on their resume or LinkedIn profile when looking for a new job.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each document so that you can make the best decision for you. Let’s get started!

LinkedIn job applications?

LinkedIn is often used as a supplement to resumes, especially for people looking for work. But there are times when you might want to include everything about yourself on your LinkedIn profile.

If you’ve been laid off recently, you could consider including your LinkedIn profile as part of your application materials.

LinkedIn isn’t just an employment board. Many employment sites integrate LinkedIn. Indeed, Monster, Simply Hired, Career Builder, Glassdoor, Workable, Hot Jobs, and ZipRecruiter.

The reason why companies do this is simple: recruiters and hiring managers want to see what candidates look like online.

They don’t want to waste time reviewing resume files that don’t match up to the images on someone’s LinkedIn profile. So, they’ll often ask applicants to submit their online resumes and LinkedIn profiles fit for the job description they created.

How to use LinkedIn and your resume

It’s no secret that LinkedIn has become one of the essential tools for job seekers. Many recruiters now use LinkedIn as their primary means of finding candidates.

However, that doesn’t mean that your resume is no longer critical. Using your LinkedIn profile and resume can give you a leg up in the job search process.

Your LinkedIn profile provides an opportunity to give a complete picture of who you are as a professional.

You can include information about your work experience, education, and skills, as well as links to articles or blog posts that you have written.

You can also use your LinkedIn profile to connect with other professionals in your field and to develop a strong online presence.

While your LinkedIn profile is a great way to give potential employers a glimpse into who you are as a professional, your resume is still the best way to provide a comprehensive overview of your qualifications.

Your resume should be tailored to each job you apply for, highlighting the skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate.

In addition, resumes are often required when applying for jobs, so it’s essential to have one that is up-to-date and professionally written.

By using both your LinkedIn profile and your resume in your job search, you’ll be able to showcase all of your qualifications and put your best foot forward.

LinkedIn tips

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with content, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd.

However, LinkedIn provides an opportunity to tell your unique story and build a personal brand. By sharing your experience, articles, and ideas on LinkedIn, you can connect with like-minded individuals and make a lasting impression.

In addition, LinkedIn offers a variety of tools that can help you to promote your brands, such as groups, events, and endorsements.

By utilizing these resources, you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your field and amplify your reach.

LinkedIn is the perfect platform to tell your story and build your personal brand, whether you’re looking to build business relationships or find a new job.

Here are a few tips to help you create a cohesive, compelling personal brand on LinkedIn.

1. Know your audience and their keywords

As you craft your profile, consider how others might read it—other professionals and recruiters in the field. What do they value? What are they looking for?

What will those people specifically want? What will they ignore?

To help answer these questions, follow a standard process when crafting a resume. You can use the same approach when creating a LinkedIn profile.

2. Incorporate relevant keywords throughout your profile

The most important thing about keyword research for social media profiles isn’t even necessarily what we’re talking about here — it’s how we use those words throughout our profiles.

For example, let’s say we want to rank for the term “social media marketing.” If we simply put that phrase in the About section of our LinkedIn profile, it wouldn’t do us much good.

We’d have no idea whether people are searching for this topic, and therefore we’d never see our name pop up in searches.

So, what’s better? Let’s try “Social Media Marketing – A Strategic Approach to Business Growth.” This way, we’ve woven the word into the text, making it easier for someone to find us.

3. Complete your profile

LinkedIn’s algorithm rewards users with complete, high-quality profiles.

But it’s important to remember that recruiters and hiring managers are looking at your profile whether you’re applying for their jobs on LinkedIn or anywhere else. A barebones profile doesn’t make a great impression.

So take some time to fill out every profile section, including the About Me, Skills & Expertise, Education, Experience, and Work sections.

This way, you’ll show off your best work and give yourself a better chance of getting noticed.

4. Incorporate keywords in your profile

Yurovsky shows why a decent LinkedIn photo is vital. Since you can upload photographs from your phone, there’s no excuse for a lousy profile picture.

Not needing a professional photo doesn’t mean yours shouldn’t be.

And even though the average smartphone now has a high enough resolution to capture fantastic images, you still want to make sure yours looks sharp.

You should be appropriately dressed and avoid wearing anything too revealing. Also, don’t post pictures of yourself at a party or a friend’s wedding unless you’re invited.

According to Dunay, if you need a new profile photo of yourself, try taking one in front of a blank white wall. “A lot of people think that a good profile picture is artistic,” she adds. “That’s not true.”

5. Create a Catchy Headline

Headlines are often essential for your profile because they’re what people see when they land on your profile.

They’re also the first thing someone sees when they open your email. So it makes sense that you spend some time crafting a great headline.

But headlines aren’t just a way to attract attention; they also reflect your brand, expertise, and personality.

You don’t want to come off as too generic or boring. But you also don’t want to oversell yourself either. If you’ve a lot of experience, you don’t necessarily need to say so explicitly.

6. Regardless of whether or not you are currently employed, you should include a job entry

When recruiters search on LinkedIn (as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Google), one of the pieces of info the platform uses to return relevant results is your current position.

If you don’t have one now, you won’t show up. And that means you could miss out on opportunities just waiting for you to apply.

The solution? Add the position or positions you want to fill, but put a line in the spot usually reserved for the employer’s name that makes it clear that you’re not working there.

“I’m seeking new opportunity,” for example, or “Looking for work.” Or better still, use one of the many templates we’ve collected here.

7. In the Features section, highlight your expertise or most significant work

You might think that the About Me section is where you want to display your knowledge, but another feature that could help boost your visibility even further: is the “Features” section.

This profile area lets you highlight your best work, accomplishments, and professional contributions. You can add up to 10 items here.

The key to displaying quality information in this space is ensuring each item is unique and relevant to your career goals, Wasserman says.

For example, if you’re looking for a job in marketing, you don’t want to list out your resume; instead, you want to focus on how you’ve contributed to a campaign, project, or event that helped grow your network or industry knowledge.

8. Tailor Your Experience

LinkedIn profiles often showcase what you’ve done professionally throughout your career.

But while it’s essential to tailor your resume to match each specific position you’re applying to, your LinkedIn profile shouldn’t be just a cut-and-paste version of your resume. Instead, customize your profile to highlight the skills and attributes that best fit the roles you’re looking to fill.

9. Link to your work experience

LinkedIn profile’s “Work Experience” section lets you include links to sites where you’ve written, contributed, or published work.

This includes blog posts, white papers, case studies, and research papers. If you’re working on something big — like a book or a report — it makes sense to link to it here too.

You can also add media to your profile, such as screenshots, video clips, presentations, and PDF documents.

These are great ways to show off your skills, especially since most people don’t know what to do with a PowerPoint presentation.

10. Check that your resume and LinkedIn profiles are in sync

There are plenty of reasons why it makes sense to keep your resume and LinkedIn profile consistent.

For one thing, it gives potential employers confidence that you’ll be able to do the same job well whether you’re applying online or over the phone.

If you’ve been working at a particular company for several years, sharing information about what you did, there could help you stand out among candidates who haven’t worked at the same place.

And, if you’re changing jobs frequently, having a solid LinkedIn profile that reflects where you’ve been might make it easier for recruiters to find you.

11. Certifications, licenses, volunteer experience, achievements, projects, or languages

Underneath your work experience and educational history are additional spaces where you can add more information about yourself.

This includes licenses, certifications, projects, volunteer experiences, accomplishments, and languages.

For example, if you’re fluent in French, Spanish, German, or Mandarin Chinese, include those in your profile under “Languages.”

If you’ve been working toward a particular certification, ensure it appears under “Certifications.” And if you’ve done something noteworthy, list it here too.

While there isn’t much research on how much weight employers place on certain items, one thing is clear: having more space to fill out your profile will help you stand out among the competition.

12. Remember to Include Your “Interests” Section

LinkedIn’s “Interests “section is one of those features that many overlook because it seems like a lot of work to add things there.

But if you want to ensure you are sharing content relevant to your audience, you need to start adding items here.

The “interests” section is great for information about yourself or your brand. You could include hobbies, travel destinations, or favorite TV shows or movies.

This area works best when you think about what you’re passionate about and write down some key points.

Then, every once in a while, check out your interests section and see how others are making connections with you. You might learn something new.

Summary

So, which is better for job applications – resumes or LinkedIn profiles? The answer to that question may depend on what you’re looking for in a job.

If you want more control over the information included on your resume and you don’t mind spending some time formatting it correctly, then resumes are probably the way to go.

However, suppose you want potential employers to be able to quickly see your work history and qualifications without having to click through multiple pages of results. In that case, a well-crafted LinkedIn profile is likely the better option.

No matter which route you choose, our team at Lancerbee is here to help ensure your application materials look their best. Contact us today for assistance!