Nus Reach Out to Software Engineers at Companies that Have Job Postings
I’ve found that LinkedIn is also a great tool for reaching out to software engineers at companies that are currently recruiting. This is because each company profile shows the people that work there as well as the business’s information.
Those currently working within an organization are an excellent source of information that will help you decide whether it’s the right kind of company for you or not. Indeed, as software engineers are already working for a potential employer they are on the front lines so asking them about both the advantages and disadvantages of working within that organization can give you a valuable insight that it would be very hard to get anywhere else.
Make A Great Profile
I’ve found that to truly succeed in using LinkedIn for job hunting as a software engineer, making a great profile is crucial. The good news is that by completing each of the following steps, I was able to optimize my LinkedIn profile, and you can too!
Add A Good Profile Picture
First of all, I’ve found that adding a clear, professional profile picture works best. The best LinkedIn pictures need to be mostly face, so a face and shoulders portrait is best.
Define The Headline And The ‘about’ Section
Having a clearly defined header and about section on my LinkedIn profile has also been helpful. To do this, I like to think of these sections as adverts for myself and what I can do. That means before writing anything I think about what the software engineer recruiters and businesses will value the most about me and my experience and make sure to include that first.
Also, I’ve discovered that it doesn’t hurt to have a catchy headline that makes someone viewing my profile want to click through and discover more about me, and how I can benefit their business.
Showcase Your Skills And Projects
Another thing that I’ve found useful about LinkedIn when searching for a new job is that it has specific sections where you can upload your top skills and projects. This gives potential employers a good idea of what I can offer their business, and whether I match their needs by just looking at my profile.
Request Recommendations And Endorsements
Just like selling anything online, personal authentic recommendations and endorsements matter on LinkedIn. To that end, whenever I work with a new team, client, or even team member I always set a reminder to request a LinkedIn recommendation from them. This then ensures that when I do come to look for a job my profile is already very strong, and signals all the right things to potential employers that are viewing it.
Choose The Right Keywords
I always thought that as a software engineer, I wouldn’t need to worry too much about SEO or keywords. However, I’ve discovered this is not the case when it comes to LinkedIn. This is because LinkedIn algorithms will pick up on keywords and boost the people that use them in an organic and high-volume way to the top of their results pages. That means I had to get good at making sure I included any keywords that I wanted my profile to be associated with such as:
- Software development
- Project management
- Adaptability
- Software design
- JavaScript
- Innovation
- Problem-solving
- Collaboration
- Computer programming
Final Thoughts On How Software Engineers Can Utilize LinkedIn For Job Hunting
LinkedIn is a crucial tool for software engineers when they are hunting for their next job. However, to be successful engineers must optimize their profiles to show their strengths
