LinkedIn may be the world’s most popular networking platform for business people, but it’s also a great tool for finding a new job. According to a 2020 report, 122 million users have been invited to a job interview through LinkedIn, with 35.5 million landing a new role through a LinkedIn connection. LinkedIn claims it channels 100 million job applications each month.
To boost its recruitment tool profile, LinkedIn even provides a resume feature to get your application started. Let's look at how this tool helps you begin the process of writing a better resume.
How LinkedIn Resume Assistant works
If you have Office 365, the LinkedIn Resume Assistant is built into Word. Open a new document and select the Review tab, then click on the Resume Assistant icon. Click on Get Started then fill in the role and industry windows; for example, Accountant, Construction.
A number of work experience profiles will appear below, taken from LinkedIn public profiles. There is also a list of top skills required for an accountant, and ‘Articles to help you write your resume’. If that seems a bit redundant, remember this is a resume assistant. LinkedIn cannot write your resume for you – further thought and work is required!
Next is a list of available jobs based on the terms you entered at the start. At the top of the list for Accountant, Construction, you may find a position with a company in Melbourne. There could also be jobs advertised in Dubbo and Brisbane; to narrow the location you need to go to the LinkedIn page.
Finally, there’s a suggestion to ‘Let recruiters know you're open’ by going to LinkedIn and amending your job-seeking status.
How to refine your work experience
For many people, the work experience profiles will be the most useful part of the Resume Assistant. They show how others in the profession have listed their experience, which gives you an idea of how to represent your own. Look at the language; imitate the style. The descriptions are short and to the point because recruiters who read a hundred resumes appreciate applicants who write concisely.
Your work experience must be related to the job in question. Take a look at the key selection criteria, or the list under the header ‘You will…’.
HR departments use this checklist when evaluating resumes. As you read it, focus on what the recruiting organisation wants you to have done. If a criteria is ‘five years’ experience in the healthcare sector’, make sure you have that experience. If you have five years’ experience in retail, don’t apply anyway and hope they won’t notice the difference!
Open for business? Be discreet
Remember that even though you’re looking for work, your current employer deserves your respect and loyalty. Help raise the profile of your employer by including them at the top of your LinkedIn employment history. Join groups related to your current industry and link with potential clients/customers to raise your employer’s visibility.
If you’re a member of a LinkedIn job seeking group, such as Executive Suite or Job-Hunt Help, don’t post that you are looking for work. Your employer deserves to find out from you that you’re looking elsewhere, not from a LinkedIn group member you have in common.
If you feel your resume could be better, even with the help of Resume Assistant, get the advice of a professional resume writer. Our team has written resumes for job applications across many sectors and can add structure, vigour and polish to your resume. We even offer a free resume review service to show you how much better your resume could be!