Do you still believe your resume is your most important career document?
Sorry, it is not.
Today, your LinkedIn profile is far more important because it is usually the first thing recruiters, hiring managers, clients, and business contacts see.
Twenty five years ago, your resume opened the door.
Today, it’s your LinkedIn profile that opens the door. Your resume supports it later.
When I search for executives on behalf of my clients, I do not start by looking for resumes. I search LinkedIn.
Within seconds, I decide whether to keep reading or move on to the next profile.
Think about what I see first.
- Your banner.
- Your photograph.
- Your name.
- Your headline.
I call this your LinkedIn Shop Window.
If it does not immediately tell me your industry, your role, your level of responsibility, and your expertise, you have probably lost my attention before I even reach your experience.
Many professionals still use headlines such as "Experienced Professional" or "Results Driven Leader." Those headlines tell me almost nothing. Recruiters do not search for "great people."
We search for job titles, industries, functions, technologies, and other keywords.
That is why your LinkedIn profile should be written for people and for search.
Remember these two thoughts:
"Hard skills are for your profile. Soft skills are for your interview."
"Your profile gets you the interview. Your personality gets you the job."
A strong resume is still essential. It plays an important role once you are in the recruitment process. But if your LinkedIn profile never earns you that first conversation, your resume may never be seen.
The next time you update your career documents, start with LinkedIn. Make sure your profile tells recruiters exactly who you are, what you do, and why they should contact you.
Your LinkedIn profile and your resume should support each other, not compete.