LinkedIn has become more than just a place to post your resume and connect with colleagues. It has become synonymous with professional networking and personal branding. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the top methods for hiring managers to find and vet candidates, even in the hospitality industry. Whether you are actively applying for jobs or simply open to hearing about new opportunities, you may be wondering, “How do I get noticed by recruiters on LinkedIn?”. Here are the essentials to creating a LinkedIn profile that stands out to potential hospitality employers:

A Quality Profile Picture

LinkedIn users, like those on any social media, gravitate toward visuals. This means that a profile without a photo of your face can be off-putting to a potential employer. To keep a polished professional image, a classic business headshot against a solid background is always a safe bet. However, LinkedIn has become more casual in recent years, so a more relaxed picture of yourself is fine. Just be sure the photo is good quality (not grainy), you are easily recognizable, and you are dressed appropriately.

A Headline That is To-The-Point

Don’t worry about coming up with a witty or clever headline. This is the first thing that potential employers see when searching for your profile, so it should be clear-cut and to the point. Concisely state what you have to offer, like your current/most recent position, a key skill, or your certifications. This ensures that your profile gets noticed when a hospitality hiring manager searches for candidates with specific keywords on LinkedIn.

A Skimmable Summary

Employers are busy. If you’ve captured their attention with your headline, don’t lose it in your summary section. Expand upon what you stated in your headline, give quick career highlights, and subtly sell yourself. Again, use keywords that focus on your skills.

Experience that Dazzles

Hiring authorities need to understand the scope of your work history, but they don’t need to see the full job description of each position. For example, a restaurant owner knows what a Sous Chef does, so they do not need to see a laundry list of duties. Instead, they need to see why someone would be the best Sous Chef they could possibly hire. Share how many employees you lead, any projects you have completed, or skills you developed and used in a particular position.

Error-free and Reliable Information

Make sure your experiences, skills, and education are error-free. Check that all employment dates align with your resume (and reality). Even if you have a gap in employment, be honest about employment dates and explain the gap separately. In fact, LinkedIn now offers a section in your profile where you can clarify any long lapses in employment. Just be sure to keep it positive! Also, ensure your previous roles are linked to the correct company or property in your experiences section.

Mindful Engagement

It used to be that a LinkedIn profile was a static page, with just your employment details and skillsets. Now, one of the first sections on your profile is your activity history, including other users’ content you have liked and commented on. Newsletter subscriptions, influencers you follow, and groups you are a member of are also publicly viewable. Keep this in mind before engaging in negative or controversial content.

Giving the Green Light

People have mixed feelings about openly sharing that they are job hunting. On the one hand, you don’t want to leave any stone unturned in your job hunt, but on the other hand, you don’t want to look desperate. However, there are more discreet methods that don’t involve public posts or adding a glaring green frame to your profile image. The “Open to Work” setting on your profile alerts hiring managers that you are willing to hear about new opportunities. Don’t worry, only users in LinkedIn Recruiter mode can see it, meaning your job search stays confidential to the public or your current employer.

Once you’ve got a strong LinkedIn profile, you will be well-equipped for your next job opportunity. Start your search for the next step in your career through Horizon Hospitality. Our recruiters connect hospitality executives, managers, sales professionals, and chefs with rewarding positions throughout the country. Browse our hospitality job board to find the newest opportunities.