For those of you who have an up-to-date CV and powerful LinkedIn profile, it makes absolute sense to leverage the combined power of both career assets.
By referencing your LinkedIn URL on your CV, you acknowledge that the recruiter is likely to check you out on this, and other online platforms. Rather than taking a passive role in this process, you can proactively present a direct link, straight to the good stuff which supports and strengthens your job application.
Noting your LinkedIn profile on your CV is a small, yet confident, gesture that intimates that your social CV is in order, and that you are fully equipped to present your credentials and skills for the role in hand.
So, why wouldn’t you?
There are some scenarios in which I wouldn’t recommend featuring your LinkedIn URL on your CV. Here they are:
#1 You don’t have a LinkedIn profile
It stands to reason that if you don’t physically have a presence on LinkedIn, you can’t direct anyone to visit what isn’t there. If your CV is of interest, the recruiter reviewing it will inevitably type your name into the LinkedIn search bar, and find out for themselves that you are not on the platform. ‘Why not?’ they will asked themselves. They will then ponder the potential reasons.
Perhaps you don’t realise the importance of LinkedIn. Maybe you haven’t even heard of it.
Perhaps you’re unsure how to go about setting up a profile and populating it with relevant information and, therefore, have avoided using it.
Perhaps your CV is such a gross misrepresentation of your actual abilities that you wouldn’t dare to place it on a public platform, for fear of your colleagues’ guffaws.
Rather than leaving their imaginations wandering, it would be better to take charge of the situation and present a deliberate representation online.
How to address the issue: If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you should seriously consider getting one – the sooner the better. The platform is more than a professional version of Facebook, it’s a serious career tool that can elevate your professional profile and make those around you aware of the skills and experience you bring, and how you plan to use them next.
#2 Your LinkedIn profile isn’t up to date or aligned to this opportunity
If your LinkedIn profile has tumbleweed blowing through its various sections, or features a junior or B-side version of you, then I can see why you wouldn’t want to feature your LinkedIn URL on your CV. Check out these seven good reasons to update your LinkedIn profile– the eighth good reason would be that you can then feature the URL confidently on your CV.
How to address the issue: Aim to update LinkedIn before directing a recruiter to a confusing profile, which isn’t aligned to the content of the CV they are holding. Make sure LinkedIn reflects your CV and your aspirations. Feature appropriate skills for endorsements and secure recommendations for your best, most relevant roles. The best version of your LinkedIn profile will reflect and enhance your CV, demonstrate an effective network, and deliver social proof (via recommendations and, to a lesser extent, endorsements) that you are indeed the real deal.
#3 Your LinkedIn profile doesn’t feature any recommendations
If no one in your network is proud to stand up and be counted as someone who has worked with you and would recommend your work, then your LinkedIn profile can appear as a one-sided version of your experience, like your CV in fact. If this IS the case, then there’s little point in featuring your 2D LinkedIn profile on your 2D CV.
If, in a more likely scenario, your LinkedIn profile doesn’t feature any recommendations because you simply haven’t asked anyone to recommend you, then this is easier to rectify. Just ask them. Now. Go on, do it.
How to address the issue: The beauty of LinkedIn is that it builds your professional kudos by showing that others share your perspective of the value you can add. LinkedIn recommendations act as a case study of a particular relationship, outlining the circumstances of your mutual connection, and the reputation you have earned within that relationship. Request recommendations that support your career goals today, this recent blog on LinkedIn recommendations explains how.
#4 You only have a handful of contacts
If you aren’t really connected with anyone on LinkedIn, then your profile can appear unloved and weak. A paltry few professional contacts made up of old friends and family members won’t cut the mustard on LinkedIn.
How to address the issue: LinkedIn is a powerful tool which enables you to engage, solidify and maintain relationships with a broad range of people who make up the fabric of your professional life. Although there’s little point connecting with people you don’t really know, just for the sake of growing your network, it’s important to build relevant connections with people you’ve worked with.
Follow up with genuine contacts and past colleagues. If there really is just six degrees of separation between us all, the chances are that the more diverse and developed your network, the greater the likelihood that someone in your network knows someone else who can help you move your career or business forward.
#5 You don’t want your boss or team (who are also on LinkedIn) to find out you are looking for a new job
You may be fretting that if recruiters begin checking you out on LinkedIn, your current team may get wind of the fact that you are searching for pastures new. Here’s the reality: if you are on LinkedIn, recruiters are checking you out already. While you work, while you sleep, while you… well, you get the picture. Even if you are not on LinkedIn, people aggregators may be checking out your profiles on other platforms. It’s happening. You can either bury your head in the sand, or embrace the new dawn and use it to your advantage.
Another real concern may be that if you update your LinkedIn profile, your team will definitely sniff a job search.
How to address the issue: People will always talk but, by updating your LinkedIn profile on a regular basis, you can prevent your peers from accurately guessing your next career move, making it less obvious when you are actually looking to move on. If you update your LinkedIn as a matter of course following each new promotion or project completion, this habit will mark you out as a well-organised person (not worthy of office gossip), rather than someone who is seeking greener pastures (a frequent and much-loved topic of office gossip).
So, what’s your verdict? Will you be featuring your LinkedIn URL on the next version of your CV? If not, why not? Is your decision based on a reason outlined above, or another reason? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
The post Five reasons NOT to include your LinkedIn URL on your CV appeared first on Giraffe CVs.