So now that you’ve got a shiny new resume, and killer cover letter to top it off, landing that new job should be a breeze, right? It could be, but there’s still one tool left in your application arsenal: your LinkedIn profile. If you don’t already have one, you’re missing out on not just the extra credibility it can give you, but also all the opportunities it presents.
If you’re not in the know, LinkedIn is a professional networking site that allows you to interact with colleagues, businesses, and most importantly, recruiters. Your LinkedIn profile is the place to show off your professional brand, and chances are that your next employer will be looking for it. So, without further ado, here are our top reasons why you need a LinkedIn profile here in Australia.
It’s how recruiters and managers find you
Your LinkedIn profile is basically an online resume, visible to employers all day, every day, showing off everything you can offer – like qualifications from an SIBT Diploma of Information Technology. If a company is looking to recruit a candidate for a position, this is where they’ll find you. So even if you’re not on the prowl for a new job, you might find that one falls right into your lap – it’s a great passive job-seeking tool.
It lets you build your brand
One of the best things about LinkedIn is that it allows previous employers, colleagues, and clients to endorse and recommend you. Interacting with corporations, institutions, and charities, along with posting about industry, your own experiences, or qualifications all help showcase your knowledge, passions, and interests.
This all plays into building your professional brand, boosting your reputation. How do you stand out from other potential hires? What makes you more valuable than them? You can put all your greatest achievements, skills, and experience in one spot with endorsements from others backing it up, allowing a potential employer to gain a good understanding of who you are and what you bring to the table.
It’s a fantastic networking tool
Networking is crucial to professional success, so starting your network as early as possible is a must. Building connections with people you meet in both related and unrelated industries can prove extremely useful down the line, especially if you’re looking to level up your career by changing industries. Adding them on LinkedIn is a great way to keep track of your connections so you can draw on them in the future.
It’s a great way to find a job
LinkedIn has it’s own job board where employers post openings directly to the site. This is a great way to find new and exciting opportunities. If you’ve been following a specific industry or company on the platform, it will let you know about any related openings you might be interested in.
Final Thoughts…
While you can still land a job without one, having a LinkedIn profile makes both hunting and applying for jobs so much easier, and allows you to draw on your industry contacts. Employers in Australia are pretty much always looking for a LinkedIn profile when reviewing applicants, so it’s important that you have one to make your application even stronger.
Another great way to strengthen your application is highlighting your diploma qualifications, or better yet, bachelor’s degree. With an SIBT diploma, you can graduate with the skills needed to make a start on a new career in just 8 to 12 months, with the option to continue directly into the second year of a bachelor’s degree at Western Sydney University, Sydney City Campus.
With 25,000+ graduates, and over 90% of them continuing to university study, SIBT is your pathway to your future success.
