How do I become visible on LinkedIn?
/in For professionals, Labor market, TipsLooking for a freelance assignment, a new job, or an internship? Make sure you’re visible on LinkedIn. The social platform for professionals offers an excellent opportunity to present yourself to a global network of peers and potential employers. But how do you stand out in the crowd? Here are some valuable tips to increase your visibility on LinkedIn:
Optimize your LinkedIn profile
One of the first steps to becoming visible on LinkedIn is to have a comprehensive and polished profile. Ensure that your profile is fully filled out and optimized for keywords relevant to your industry. A clear profile picture and a catchy headline emphasizing your expertise immediately grab attention.
Share valuable content
Regularly post updates and articles that are interesting to your target audience. This can range from industry updates and tips to personal insights and successes. By sharing valuable content, you establish yourself as an authority within your field.
Be active in groups
Join relevant LinkedIn groups and actively participate in discussions. By sharing your expertise and answering others’ questions, you not only increase your visibility but also build valuable relationships with other professionals.
Network actively
Expand your network by actively adding people who are relevant to your field. Send personalized invitations and don’t forget to add a personalized message explaining why you’d like to connect.
Use Rich Media
Utilize visual elements such as images, videos, and presentations to make your profile and posts more attractive. Visual content grabs more attention and can help reinforce your message.
Be consistent
Consistency is essential for strong visibility on LinkedIn. Make sure you’re regularly active on the platform, both by posting new content and by responding to comments and messages from others.
By applying these tips, you’ll become more visible on LinkedIn and distinguish yourself as a leading professional in your field.
More tips?
Would you like more tips on how to present yourself through personal branding? Then listen to our podcast (in Dutch) here.
Show your personal brand on LinkedIn
/in For professionals, TipsLinkedIn is the most widely used professional social media channel worldwide. It is the perfect platform for showcasing yourself as a professional, helping you create business opportunities, such as finding clients or a new job. With a strong personal brand, you present yourself and demonstrate why people should choose you. We provide you with some tips on how to use LinkedIn to build a strong and unique personal brand.
What is a personal brand?
A personal brand showcases who you are, what you stand for, and how you differentiate yourself from others. It is essential to be authentic because only by truly being yourself can you create a strong and unique brand.
A personal brand answers the following questions:
– Who am I?
– What do I stand for?
– What do I bring?
– What makes me unique?
The way you communicate should align seamlessly with these answers. If you present something different, you risk your message not resonating with the target audience or, even worse, not being taken seriously. Therefore, always be consistent and stay true to your principles.
Show yourself on LinkedIn
Once you have a clear personal brand, it’s time to present it to the world. LinkedIn is a powerful medium for doing just that. Below, we provide you with some tips.
Optimize your LinkedIn profile
An optimized profile gives a clear picture of who you are and what you do, contributing to your online visibility.
Visitors to your profile will judge you based on the information available there. So, it is essential to make it as complete and honest as possible. Use a professional photo and banner that align with your identity.
With a brief and compelling summary, you can tell others who you are, what your ambitions are, and what motivates you. Consider it as a pitch where you define your brand. This can be achieved by mentioning unique qualities or anecdotes. Dare to stand out and show your personality.
Expand your network
A strong network enhances the visibility of your brand, making it easier for recruiters, potential clients, and new colleagues to find you.
Therefore, seek out connections to expand your network. Who can you invite? Start with (former) colleagues, classmates, and acquaintances such as family, friends, neighbors, and people you know from sports clubs, for example. Also, invite people you have worked with in the past or from whom you have used services or products.
Follow interesting profiles and companies
Stay up-to-date with trends, developments, and news in your field by following relevant individuals, companies, and groups.
This way, your LinkedIn feed will be filled with interesting content to which you can respond and start discussions. This can attract the attention of others on LinkedIn and help you share your message and become visible within new and relevant networks.
By following companies and organizations that interest you, you can stay informed about their activities. This can assist you in finding new opportunities, collaborations, and/or jobs.
Be active
By being actively present on LinkedIn, you show that you are there and what you stand for. This is achieved by engaging with other people’s content and by sharing your own content.
For instance, write about trends, developments, and updates in your field, the projects you’re working on, or interesting news you’ve come across.
The more active you are, the higher your visibility becomes, and the more people, even outside your network, will come into contact with your brand and the message you communicate.
Stick to your brand values
When you’re active on LinkedIn, it’s crucial to align your communication with your brand values. Consider the message you want to convey and how it fits with your brand.
Above all, be yourself and be consistent. Only then can you build a strong personal brand.
Would you like to learn more about branding? Listen to or watch the episode “All about branding with Denise Klootwijk” of our podcast. (Only available in Dutch.)
A profile summary in your CV
/in For professionals, TipsA profile summary in your CV
Recruiters come across numerous CVs daily. Often, these CVs align well with the required knowledge and experience. But how can you stand out and ensure that your CV also reflects your personality effectively? With a profile summary in your CV, you can add that extra bit of information.
What is a profile summary?
A profile summary, also known as a personal profile, is a brief introduction about yourself. In this section, you can mention the type of person you are, your strengths, and your ambitions. Keep it to approximately four to six concise sentences. With this compelling description, recruiters can assess whether you are a suitable fit for the position and the organization.
How do I write a profile summary?
Writing a profile summary is not always easy. Before you begin, there are a few questions you need to answer for yourself:
- What am I good at?
- What are my personal qualities?
- What are my ambitions?
- What energizes me?
- What sets me apart?
Now, try to summarize the answers to the above questions in a short and engaging story of about four to six sentences. Use characteristics that specifically apply to you and provide examples to support them. For instance, if you consider yourself creative, show how this creativity manifests.
Tips for writing a good personal profile:
To craft a strong personal profile, keep in mind the following points:
- Write in the first person (use “I”).
- Avoid clichés.
- Use language that is original and reflects your personality.
- Write a well-writen story instead of a list.
- Tailor the profile summary to the job you’re applying for.
- Keep it short and clear.
Where to place a profile summary in your CV?
Now that you have written a compelling text that describes you well as an individual, where do you place the profile summary in your CV? Since you want your story to be immediately visible to the reader, position it at the top of your CV. This way, you have captured their attention right away.
Tips for an intake interview
/in For professionals, TipsTips for an Intake Interview
An intake interview is often a nerve-wracking moment, whether it’s your first time or if you’ve had intake interviews before. Proper preparation can help take away much of this tension. To assist you, we provide several useful tips for an intake interview in the video below.
What is an intake interview?
During an intake interview, the candidate and the employer or client get the opportunity to get to know each other better. The interview usually starts with a brief introduction of the organization and a description of the open position. Then, you get a chance to introduce yourself, highlighting your skills and competencies that make you suitable for the role.
The employer or client wants to find out during the interview if you are the right candidate and if you fit within the organization. Additionally, it’s also an opportunity for you to discover if the role and the organization align with your preferences.
Our tips for good preparation
A well-prepared intake interview forms the foundation for a successful meeting. It reduces a significant part of the tension and boosts your confidence. Preparation begins with gathering information about the organization, your interviewer, and the vacant position. Visit the company’s website and their social media channels. If there are any specific points you want to know more about, write them down and ask about them during the interview.
Prepare yourself for the most commonly asked questions, which often include:
- Tell us about yourself.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What makes you suitable for this role?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Thinking about these questions beforehand prevents surprises during the interview, enabling you to provide concise and clear answers.
An extensively used interview technique is the STARR method. In this approach, the interviewer asks you to describe a Situation, the specific Task you had in that situation, the Action you took, the Result it led to, and finally, what you learned from the experience (Reflection). Take some time to think about what you want to share using this method.
If you want more tips, check out the video below (video is in Dutch).
We wish you good luck in advance
Hopefully, with our tips, you can now prepare yourself effectively. If you have any questions after watching this video, feel free to contact one of our business managers.
How do I make a CV?
/in For professionals, TipsHow do I make a CV?
A curriculum vitae (CV) is a clear overview in which you describe your knowledge, skills, and work experience. In your application or motivation letter, you explain why you believe you are suitable for the open role. Your CV provides the facts to support this. It is essential to include the correct information and highlight your strengths. To assist you with this, we have several tips that we share in the video below.
What should be included in a CV?
Recruiters use a CV to determine if you are suitable for the open position and to make a comparison with other candidates. They want to see in a fast way whether you have the right experience, education, and skills. To present this information clearly, divide your CV into the following sections:
- Personal information
- Profile summary
- Education
- Work experience
- Personal and professional skills
- Interests and hobbies
If you want to add a photo to your CV, make sure it is clear and professional.
Our tips for a good CV
With a strong CV, you can set yourself apart from other professionals. It is crucial that recruiters immediately see what makes you suitable for the role. In the video below (video is in Dutch), we briefly explain which sections are essential and how to present the layout in a clear and organized manner. Try to include only relevant information. You can achieve this by tailoring your CV to the role or company.
Once you have finished creating your CV, don’t forget to send it to us. This way, we can quickly help you find a suitable role.
If you have any questions after watching this video, please contact one of our Business Managers. They will be happy to assist you further.