Careers specialist and founder of Evenbreak Jane Hatton answers a reader’s query about joining the professional networking and career development platform, LinkedIn
Q: I’m disabled, and have been looking for work for a long time. My family say I should have a profile on LinkedIn, but I don’t really see why, and I wouldn’t know where to start.
I’m inclined to agree with your family, to be honest. Many recruiters look on LinkedIn for likely candidates, and sometimes approach them directly. If your profile isn’t on there, they won’t find you. And, when you do apply for jobs, recruiters may check LinkedIn to see your profile. It’s an opportunity to impress them before they even meet you.
Creating a profile is quite straightforward. Just follow these steps for a basic profile:
Add a picture
First, you need a picture. You don’t need to go to a professional photographer – a recent, clear head and shoulders shot in front of a plain background will be fine. Smile – it’s not a passport photo, and you want to look friendly.
Headline
This is usually your current job title, but if you don’t have a job right now, describe what you do. For example, ‘Experienced social media manager’, ‘Qualified accountant specialising in tax efficiency’, or ‘Professional executive assistant’. This immediately tells the reader what kind of role you would be suitable for.
About section
This is your chance to sell yourself. Talk about any relevant achievements you’ve made in the workplace, highlight successful projects you’ve been involved in that demonstrate your skills, and include feedback from previous employers or clients.
Skills, education, etc
Add any skills and qualifications in the relevant sections.
Work experience
List these from the most recent going backwards. For each role, don’t just put a list of tasks you performed – talk about successes and achievements, and the impact your work had.
Request recommendations
Ask previous employers, colleagues or customers to leave you a recommendation. This is often easier if you leave them one first!
Build your network
Connect with people you know, and people in the industry you’re looking for work in. Then be active on their content. Leave comments displaying your knowledge or demonstrating your interest. Produce your own posts, making them positive – less “no-one will employ me”, more “looking for an employer who needs someone experienced in x, y or z”. Comment on industry news. Repost other posts, and add your thoughts.
Doing this will give you a presence on LinkedIn, and enable you to showcase your skills and knowledge. It costs you nothing, and may well help you into your next role. Good luck!
Take a look at Evenbreak (evenbreak.com) for jobs with employers who are actively trying to attract disabled candidates, and set up alerts for the kinds of role you are interested in. For career support, visit Evenbreak’s Career Hive (hive.evenbreak.co.uk). These services are free of charge, and designed and delivered by people with lived experience of disability.
Jane Hatton
Jane is the founder of Evenbreak, a social enterprise run by and for disabled people, with a specialist job board and a career hive. Send your questions to editor@dcpublishing.co.uk.