Zoltán G.
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Verified by
Sander D.
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Last updated: July 14, 2024 —
(0)
Creating a decent, professional looking resume is one thing. But did you know that most American hiring managers check your LinkedIn profile as well?
And if they see unprofessionalism there you could end up losing the job opportunity no matter whether you created the world’s best resume or not.
It doesn’t have to be like that tough! Because you can create fantastic resumes and equally good LinkedIn profiles; all you need is to pay attention to the differences between the two and how you can use those differences to your own benefit.
When you apply for a job you create a job-specific resume that only contains information which is relevant to your employer. LinkedIn, however, is a professional profile that tells more about you. In other words, it works as a complementary resume: your primary resume draws attention to you which results in the hiring manager checking out your LinkedIn (and Facebook, Twitter etc.) profile. In a resume you enlist your abilities. On LinkedIn you can actually prove them, further convincing your employer that you are the ideal candidate.
LinkedIn is the ideal place for networking, which usually manifests in the form of job offers by hiring managers. Sometimes this can be strange, especially if you have a job, but even by forwarding the offer to a real job seeker you contribute to the growth of your own network. LinkedIn is also perfect for receiving recommendations and gathering references, which can prove your work history. And last, but not least, the summary: in this part you can tell about your expertise and personal brand differentiation in 120 words in a somewhat more informal tone you are not allowed to use in a resume.
Despite their differences, both resumes and your LinkedIn profile have the same purpose: build your brand and (possibly) get you a job. Therefore all information about yourself has to be accurate on both platforms: your contact info has to be up-to-date just like your work experience, your studies and, if needed, your references and any additional information your employer wants to see. You don’t have to do that manually though: LinkedIn is capable of importing your base resume in PDF format, so you only have to fill out those sections that cannot be included in resumes for any reason.
This is also true for photos. You can still create professional resumes without photos – in that case you must include a photo on your LinkedIn profile. If you insist on adding a photo to your resume, whether it’s a different one or the same as your profile picture, be sure that your photo suggests professionalism.
Now that you have a convincing LinkedIn profile you might be wondering: why can’t I use it for job applications? Actually, you can: with the help of (online) resume builders. This software can import all relevant data from your profile and turn them into professional looking resume, which you can customize the way you want.
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