But I have a resume. Why do I need a profile too? Because each plays a distinct role in maximizing a job search. These days, most hiring companies hit the web when scoping out candidates. In fact, a Jobvite survey found that 94% of U.S. companies perform social recruiting. And where might you guess the majority of this online recruiting is happening? The survey found that 94% of survey respondents named LinkedIn as their dominant recruiting network. So, do you need a LinkedIn profile! Yes, you do! Joyce Lain Kennedy, author of the Careers Now column and multiple Dummies job search books, has this to say about a presence on LinkedIn, “The online profile is not a customized document, but is more like a one-size-fits-all pitch posted on a digital billboard that’s located on a busy information superhighway and seen, hopefully, by hordes of unknown viewers.” Here are some tips for getting the most mileage from this must-have job search document.

• First things first, your name. Simple enough, right? Keep it that way. Resist the urge to include such descriptors as Production Lead Extraordinare or Kingpin Material Handler. Save those highlights of your awesome skills for the headline.
• Then it’s on to your photo. You must, must, must include one. Choose a color headshot, from the chest up, of you smiling at the camera. Please, no selfies, vacation destination backgrounds, or friends peeking over your shoulder. Just YOU dressed professionally in a well-lit focused shot. Profiles with a solid photo are 14X more likely to be viewed.
• Up next is the headline. LinkedIn will use your current job title and employer, by default, but you can edit it to say anything you want. So, use this 120-character section to showcase your most enticing expertise and overall awesomeness. This is the place to sell yourself, to make hiring managers eager to take a closer look at you.
• Then it’s on to the “meat” of the profile—the summary. Just so you know, “objectives” are out—as in out of date. Summaries are in.

  Would you believe some people leave this 2000-character section blank? And miss the opportunity to share stories and accomplishments in a less-formal-than-the-typical-resume style that puts the spotlight squarely on the applicant’s personality. Whether told in the casual tones of first person or the slightly more business-like third person, the summary is the place to open the door to the real you. Share your most interesting, professional self with the world via the World Wide Web through a well-constructed LinkedIn profile. Maximize the potential of this FREE medium that leaps beyond the resume’s ability to present you to hiring and recruiting departments. Let MPS Technical be your one-stop career center. From temporary to long-term employment, we want to be your connection to the best precision manufacturers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We’ll match your skills, personality, and experience with the best position to fit your dreams and objectives. Contact our team today.