LinkedIn offers lots of great features, but you probably overlooked the most important one of all and it only takes about 30 seconds to set it up.
Before I share that let me explain a little bit more why you need a good, up-to-date LinkedIn profile in the first place.
It’s no secret job seekers are looking to learn more about you online. Studies show at least 90 percent of all hiring employers admit they perform Google and Facebook searches on potential employees.
So what are they finding?
Hopefully, they are finding you. And ideally what you have put out there communicates some of the attributes they want in a hygienist. Often times, things that rank highest in Google search results of people are LinkedIn and Facebook profiles.
When they find your LinkedIn account is it complete or just a shell? If it’s just a shell they may falsely conclude that you are either not up with technology or don’t care much about your career. You wouldn’t send out a blank or half-complete resume, right? So it makes sense to finish it up if you haven’t.
Having a complete LinkedIn profile also helps prevent cases on mistaken identity. You want people to know who YOU are, not someone else with the same name. The latter could lead them to make false assumptions about you if that person’s profile is not very complete or has conflicting information.
Be on the safe side, create a LinkedIn account, fill it out completely (shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes) and then keep it up to date just as you would your resume.
Also, while there spend some time creating connections with other hygienists by searching for other hygienists you know and joining one of the many dental hygiene group pages on there. I happen to co-manage the largest one and you can access it here.
Okay, on to the most important tip of all when creating a LinkedIn page. After you create the profile you are given an address that looks something like this:
www.linkedin.com/in/jill-hudson-4b482975
But, you can make it look like this:
www.LinkedIn.com/in/JillHudsonRDH
Doesn’t that look way better? It’s certainly much easier for an employer to type in. When you do it, put it on your resume, business cards, postcards, and in your e-mail signature line. Get it out there as much as possible. Employers want that kind of information – it shows you are going the extra mile with your career and gives them more information about you.
I could explain how you create that customized address but I found someone else to do it for me. This short video clip shows you step-by-step and will leave you wondering why you didn’t do it sooner – it’s so easy!
In summary, create or update a complete LinkedIn profile to show you are up with technology and care about your career, and so they can find YOU and not someone else. Then, customize the address and share wherever possible so you can land a great dental hygiene job.
