Sometimes, people overlook the important role that LinkedIn can play in a job search. While many people probably have a profile page, they may underestimate how the skills section can impact visibility.
If this sounds like you, you might be missing out on some key job search leverage! This article will discuss LinkedIn skills and how adding the right skills can improve your job search effort. If you want to add or remove skills from your LinkedIn profile – and chances are that you will after reading this article – here’s a guide by LinkedIn that will help you.
Why do LinkedIn skills matter?
LinkedIn skills help complement your resume. However, that’s only one reason why they’re so important to your job search. More critically, those skills can make it easier for potential employers and recruiters to find you.
LinkedIn has become one of the best sites to search for jobs. There are many users on LinkedIn which can make it difficult for any employer or HR professional to pick you out of the crowd. With more than 57 million companies listed on the site and 15 million open jobs, it’s no surprise that 87% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn.
At the dawn of the Coronavirus pandemic, the number of remote job postings in the U.S increased 6x on LinkedIn. There are 350K+ active remote job listings on the social media site at the moment. Fortunately, LinkedIn has solved this problem. Anyone can use different skills as a keyword to find people with the skills they need. By choosing the right skills and using optimized keywords, you can improve your chances of being found. That brings us to another question:
How many skills should you list on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows users to add up to 50 skills to their profiles. Your connections can validate your skills through skill endorsements which will bolster their relevance.
Do you really need to add 50 skills? Why not!
Skills are indexed within the LinkedIn algorithm assisting recruiters in targeting candidates. Add skills that employers in your industry want to see and list them according to their importance. This is crucial since only the top three skills will show up on your profile. Those three skills are also the ones your connections will probably endorse.
So how do you pick the right skills to add?
Obviously, different skills are relevant to different people. So, the best skills to add are the ones relevant to your industry or the position you want to work in. Of course, the things you add should be ones you are actually skilled in.
The top sought-after soft skills in 2020 were creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Top hard skills were blockchain, cloud computing, analytical reasoning, Artificial Intelligence, and UX design. If these skills match your skills, you should add them to your profile!
In the end, the skills you choose to add should reflect your skillset and work experience. Here are some steps to help create your own skillset in LinkedIn:
● Keep in mind your education, work experience, and your career aspirations. List the skills you use in your current job and ones you’ve used in the past. After that, add skills that you are developing.
● Think about the type of job you want and make a list with the skills needed to fill that role.
● In the end, look at the skills you have and compare them to those you need for your desired job. A good combination of them is the skills you want to add to your profile.
Landing more interviews with LinkedIn skills
When ranking your profile, LinkedIn uses an algorithm. It also uses an algorithm when you apply to a job. If the algorithm evaluates that you are a good match for the position, it will rank you higher, increasing your chances of getting an interview.
Review job vacancies on LinkedIn and the skills listed on the job description page. Ensure that your profile lists all of the skills they’re looking for. This is the best way to begin to convince LinkedIn’s algorithm that you are the best match for a job!
