Your LinkedIn Profile and Why its Important
First impressions are no longer in-person or face-to-face. Our world is now virtual. Before COVID-19, we already lived in a virtual world, as we submitted our job applications into outer space (or at least a world that seemed like outer space), and had to grapple with the idea that we spent so much time on a job application and no one called us back. The audacity! The beginning of the online application era took some time to get used to because many of us felt like we didn’t have a fair shot since we couldn’t walk in a physical building, meet someone face to face, and show them what we had to offer on the spot. I think we got a vision of the future years in advance but we just didn’t want to see it. We wanted to show up face to face at an office to show employers who we are, not through a system. Trust me I was one of those people. I had so many questions. How can someone know all about me just from my resume? How can I stand out amongst so many applicants? I just felt like it wasn’t fair. When I realized there was nothing I could do, I decided to do what we all find ourselves doing. I had to get with the program. Luckily, my first job was working as a recruiter and I quickly began to realize how employers can learn a lot about you just from a resume and how applicants stand out compared to others. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. Guess what? A resume or LinkedIn profile is what that saying was made for. Well, not really, but I like to think so.
Fast forward, post-pandemic. Now we’re REALLY virtual! So, let’s talk LinkedIn.
Resumes are still VERY important, and I cannot stress that enough, but the fastest way to find someone is online. We have the internet at our fingertips, and we don't pay for wireless data for no reason. If someone wants to find you and review your professional experience quickly. They are probably going to look for you on LinkedIn. Consider networking events or career fairs, (they may all take place on Zoom but yes, networking events still exist). When you meet someone at a networking event, someone will rarely ask for your business card. Instead, they say “can I find you on LinkedIn”? Your LinkedIn profile may be the first impression you make on an employer. Don’t you want to be prepared?