With over 760 million members, LinkedIn is the largest and most popular social network for professionals. Not only is LinkedIn a valuable tool for connecting with other like-minded professionals, but it also has a wealth of information you might find beneficial to your career or job search. However, LinkedIn isn't just a social media platform. It can also be used to create a personal brand that can help you in all aspects of your career. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is crucial for your personal brand. As LinkedIn evolves and continues to add useful features to its site, we wanted to share a few key tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile.

1. Customize Your Profile URL

All LinkedIn members have a URL that directs visitors to their profiles. When you first create an account, LinkedIn will assign a generic URL comprised of your name and different numbers and letters, which in our opinion, isn't very user-friendly. However, you can customize this URL to make your page easier to recognize and access. We recommend choosing a URL that is professional and simple (your name is always a good idea!).

2. Pay Attention to Privacy Settings

While most information on your LinkedIn profile will likely be professional, users still have the option to control their privacy settings. If there are certain details you would rather hide, such as your profile picture or your headline, then you have the option to toggle them on and off.

3. Choose the Right Profile Photo

Your profile photo is one of the first things employers will notice when visiting your page, which is why it's important to choose an appropriate image. We recommend choosing a high-resolution photo of your face that takes up at least 60% of the frame. Try to avoid any action photos or selfies, as these tend to look unprofessional. It's also a good idea to have a simple, non-distracting background.

4. Write a Professional Headline

Your LinkedIn headline is a brief description that is shown at the top of your profile page. It also appears next to your name in the search results (choosing strategic keywords also impacts how you appear in search). In addition to your photo, your headline is one of the first things people will see. While it's certainly acceptable to include your job title in your headline, you can also focus on keywords and hard skills. But if you want to display your certifications, write these after your name and not in your headline. We advise against fluff words like “rockstar," "ninja," "wizard," or phrases that emphasize how you're seeking new opportunities.

5. Perfect Your Profile

LinkedIn gives you 2,000 words to write a summary of your work experience, skills, or anything else you want to highlight in your profile. While it's a good idea to keep things professional, don't be afraid to add a bit of personality to your writing. Start by writing a small introduction, or what we like to call, the hook. This should be 2-3 sentences that capture the reader's attention. Remember, only the first three lines are visible before the user needs to click to see more. Now add information about your purpose, skills, experience, and accomplishments. Sprinkle in keywords (we’ll talk more about that a little later) that can help recruiters or employers easily find your profile while searching. Finally, end your profile with a call to action. Tell the reader why you're on LinkedIn (Coffee chats? New opportunities?) and give them a way to contact you.

6. Update Your Experience Section

As the meat of your profile, your experience section should be updated with new jobs, volunteer opportunities, or any work experience you've had in the last 10 to 15 years. However, don’t just copy and paste this section from your resume. If a recruiter is checking out your profile, they will likely already have your resume on hand. This is your chance to provide additional information that highlights your responsibilities and achievements. Also, make sure to refer to your roles in the right tense (don't write in present tense if talking about a position you had three years ago), and don't go overboard with the bullet points.

7. Ask for LinkedIn Profile Recommendations

Having recommendations on your profile is a good way for recruiters to gain more insight into your work as an employee. Any LinkedIn contact can write you a recommendation. When you ask someone for a recommendation, don't be afraid to request that they highlight certain skills that might help you in your job search. As you progress in your career, some of your recommendations may no longer be applicable. In that case, LinkedIn gives you the ability to toggle individual recommendations on and off. You can also ask your connections to revise their recommendation to make it more relevant to your current experience. Finally, pay back the favor! If a colleague or coworker is generous enough to write you a recommendation, ask them if you can write one for them as well.

8. Identify Important Keywords

Optimizing your LinkedIn profile with keywords not only makes it more interesting, but it can increase your visibility amongst recruiters. There are several ways to find core keywords to strengthen your profile. Your first option is to use LinkedIn’s “build a resume” feature. After entering your job title, LinkedIn will give you a list of recommended keywords that you can add to your profile. As a side note – we don’t recommend using this feature to actually build your resume. That should be customized with your own words and experiences! You can also use a third-party website to find keywords. Sites like resumeworded.com will give you important keywords to use based on the job description or resume you upload. We can also recommend wordclouds.com to identify common keywords used in a job description. All you have to do is upload a document or enter a URL, and they will give you a list of keywords in an easy-to-read visual graphic.

9. Take Advantage of LinkedIn Features

We also wanted to share a few lesser-known features that can help strengthen your profile. Open to Work If you’re actively or passively looking for a new job, then you can take advantage of the “Open to Work” feature. This places a badge on your profile notifying others that you’re open to new opportunities. You can set this to be shown to all LinkedIn members or just to recruiters. Opportunity.LinkedIn.com In 2020, LinkedIn partnered with Microsoft to provide free skills training and career resources to help you switch careers or land the job of your dreams. On the site, you’ll be able to find dozens of courses in numerous in-demand fields, like software development, sales, marketing, design, and finance. In addition to the courses, opportunity.linkedin.com also has a job board where you can find open positions. LinkedIn Skills Assessment Show recruiters and connections how adept you are at certain skills by taking LinkedIn Skill Assessments. If you place in the top percentile, you'll be awarded a badge that you can display on your profile. Assessments are offered for technical, business, and design skills.

10. Build Your Community on LinkedIn

As we stated earlier, LinkedIn is an excellent resource for networking and connecting with other professionals. Here are a few ways to utilize the social aspect of the site:

• Include a personal note with your connection request. Connections can easily slip through the cracks, but sending a short message opens communication and allows both parties to form a deeper connection.
• Join LinkedIn Groups. Not only will you learn more from others, but it will also allow you to engage in an active discussion in a field that interests you.
• Follow organizations. This allows you to keep up to date with what’s happening in a company.
• Participate! LinkedIn is a welcoming community that thrives on member contributions. Share articles, write your own thoughts and don't be afraid to amplify your own personal achievements on the site.

For more job-search advice, follow us on Instagram @mulberrytalentpartners

Many companies like to conduct phone interviews as part of their candidate screening process. Making a good impression over the phone is just as important as it is during a face-to-face interview. However, if you’re not used to conference calls and phone interviews, it could also be harder. Below are eight ways to “ace” your phone interview. Be prepared. Getting stuck in traffic won’t be an issue, but you still need to be prepared. Be ready to take the call on time. If you have to log in to conference call software, do so a few minutes in advance so you have time to troubleshoot if any technical difficulties arise. Before the call, write down the names of the people you’ll be talking to, for easy reference. When you’re nervous, it’s easy to forget. You may have to chat for a few minutes before the interview begins, so think about some ideas for professional small talk. The first five minutes of the call can often be the most difficult because they’re less structured. Before the call, outline your potential responses to common questions. Then, during the call, you can glance at your notes for a quick prompt. In addition, make a list of questions you want to ask. Have a copy of your resume and  the job ad on-hand. Take notes during the interview. Give it your full attention. You might pride yourself on being a multitasker, but don’t try to do other things, like checking your text messages, during your interview. Even if people can’t see what you’re doing, they’ll notice that you’re not paying complete attention. If you’re on video, this is even more important. You must look at the camera and avoid any distractions. Resist the urge to look at your phone. Look ready. If video is being used, you should pay as much attention to your clothes and hair as you would for an in-person interview. Adjust your webcam so it’s flattering – you want the interviewer to clearly see your face, but not the pores of your skin! Also pay attention to the background. You want a background that looks professional and neat, not distracting. No dirty laundry or beds in the background, please. Even if video won’t be used, you need to smile. Research has shown that smiling changes a person’s voice, and that hearing this smiling tone can make other people smile. Find a quiet place.  It should go without saying that you should not have the television or radio blaring the background. You also need to do your best to ensure that other noises, like dogs barking, do not disturb the interview. Avoid taking phone interviews from coffee shops or other public places. Go somewhere private. Close the windows to minimize noise from outside. During a conference call, even small background noises can really add up, so it can be helpful to mute yourself when you’re not speaking. Get off to a good start. Answer the call in a professional and friendly way. It’s a good idea to identify yourself, just as you would when answering a call at work. Then keep the professionalism and friendliness going throughout the interview. The interviewer will most likely want to do most of the talking at first, to set up the structure of the interview. If it’s a conference call, each participant should provide an introduction. Listen politely and wait until it’s your turn to speak. Speak clearly. Speaking clearly is always important, but over the phone, it is absolutely essential. Don’t mumble. If possible, use a high-quality headset to ensure the clearest connection. Monitor your volume so you’re not speaking too loudly or too softly. If you hear an echo, it could mean that your volume is too high, or it could mean that your voice is transmitting through two speakers – for example, you’re talking on your phone, but your computer speakers are transmitting as well. Don’t interrupt. Without visual cues, it can be harder to tell when another person is done speaking. Avoid accidentally interrupting the other speaker by allowing a brief pause. This will also give you a chance to collect your thoughts and prepare a strong answer. Conference calls with multiple participants can get especially hectic. If there are multiple candidates on the line, or multiple people with similar voices, identify yourself when you start speaking. Avoid dead air. If you’ve been asked a question, don’t go too long without speaking. You can say something like “Let me think about this for a moment,” to give yourself more time before you reply. Have more questions about how to optimize your interview performance? Mulberry Talent can help. Join us by clicking here.

Recruiting top talent can be a major drain on a company’s resources. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, it takes an average of 42 days to fill a position. Working with a recruiting agency like Mulberry Talent Partners is a great way to streamline the process. As with any partnership, however, a good relationship takes effort on both ends. To foster a successful agency partnership, keep these six tips in mind.

1. Be very specific. Set clear expectations up front so you get exactly what you need, when you need it. You should provide your recruiter with a written job description, as well as a profile of the specific backgrounds, experience levels and characteristics that work best in the role. As you develop the profile, think about your most successful current employees and what makes them so well-suited for the position. Share any specific deadlines and timelines that you have in mind.

• Help us paint a picture for the candidate. You want to know about the candidate, but the candidate also wants to know about you. To find a good match, both sides need information. Provide details that will help the candidate determine whether your position is a good fit, including information about your workplace culture, your benefits package and growth opportunities. Share videos, links to key website pages and any other materials available to set your company apart.

• Respond quickly. A highly skilled candidate may have many options, so time is of the essence. In this tight market, you can remain competitive as an employer by reviewing candidate profiles quickly and expediting candidate interviews whenever possible. It’s also important to provide timely feedback after interviews and throughout the process. Regular updates will help us keep your top candidates engaged.

• Keep an open mind. When it comes to finding the ideal candidate, both experience and potential matter. You have a list of skills that you’re looking for in a candidate but finding an exact match may not always be necessary. If a candidate seems like a good match overall and has most of the qualifications you’re looking for, one missing skill may not be a deal breaker. Be open to areas that could be trained.

• Consider the candidate’s career path. The candidate’s career will continue to progress after the hiring and onboarding processes are complete. Think about how the position fits into a longer path. Is the candidate so qualified that the role does not provide room for additional growth? Or is the candidate just reaching the skills needed, creating an opportunity for growth and giving the company a candidate who will be engaged for a long time?

• Be mindful of opportunity costs. The recruiting process is time-consuming. When managed internally, recruiting often takes the back burner behind other corporate objectives. Yet, if your open positions were filled, you could achieve your company’s goals faster. Why incur these expensive opportunity costs? Save team bandwidth and get double the work done by partnering with Mulberry Talent Partners.

Need help attracting top talent? Contact us for a productive and cost-effective recruiting agency partnership.