As technology continues to take centre stage in our day-to-day lives, ensuring our LinkedIn presence and online profile are informative and current has never been more critical. Below are some key areas to consider when ‘re-vamping’ that personal profile.

Include a good headshot

Receive 21 times more profile views and up to 36 times more messages.

Be well connected

Unless a paid subscription is used, the search results will only include the people connected to the user as first, second, and third-degree connections.

Location is key

According to LinkedIn, advanced search based on location is one of the most used search tools by consultants when engaged in the research phase of a project.

Highlight your experience

Provide detail, and make it easy for the reader to understand your particular specialism and areas of expertise. The key is demonstrating your impact, the change you’ve enacted, the initiatives you’ve led, and the results you’ve delivered.

Use keywords

Your LinkedIn Profile will appear higher in Google search results, especially when job titles are used accurately.

Use your professional name

A LinkedIn survey found that 47% of employers say that if they can’t find an applicant online, they are less likely to call that person in for an interview.

Ensure a complete profile

An “All-Star” profile is the minimal effort needed to be found in LinkedIn search results. Focus your Profile on the job you want next so that it contains the right keywords for you. LinkedIn’s search algorithm likes connections and profile completeness.

Expand your headline

Your headline lured visitors to your profile; your summary must expand upon that branding further while supporting what you say in your headline. Consider including a call to action.

Skills & Endorsements

Members who use skills are contacted up to 33 times more often.

Summary

Whilst tax specialists can pull on their knowledge and experience of operating in what is a highly skilled and niche market, the broader finance agencies, the CFO practices’ of the executive firms, and organisations’ internal recruitment teams are reliant on LinkedIn to provide them with the necessary insights and required research to deliver on assignments; presenting yourself online in the correct way is therefore vital.

Step 1 – Including the correct keywords, job titles, skills and location will help ensure you appear in a consultant’s search results. You will then make it onto the necessary mapping documents collated during the research phase of a project.

Step 2 – Once “found, “you must ensure you educate the reader by promoting an insightful, informative profile that displays the required level of detail. This is especially important if the consultant is not used to carrying out tax assignments regularly. Doing so will help prevent you from being excluded during the first screening stage.

Your online profile is more important than ever; being “visible” is the first step to ensuring you are approached about that next career move.