Challenge
So, a job seeker asked, “Do employers automatically reject applicants who don’t have a LinkedIn profile URL on their resume?”
Response
While I don’t think that many employers automatically reject applicants who do not have a LinkedIn profile, I highly recommend that each applicant have one. I share with you below the top five reasons why I recommend having one.
The reasons why include 1) Your LinkedIn profile is not your resume; 2) Hiring managers expect you to include your LinkedIn profile URL on your resume; 3) Your LinkedIn profile gives you more credibility; 4) Your LinkedIn connections have value; 5) Some employers check candidates’ LinkedIn profiles.
Reasons Explained
Reason 1
Your LinkedIn profile is not a mirror of your mainstream resume. It is a high-level summary of your resume, which highlights your most-significant career accomplishments. So, it subsequently gives you the opportunity to showcase more skills than your resume typically does.
Furthermore, you and a hiring manager could find that you are interested in the same community causes, sports, or other hobbies. This can create an instant connection.
Reason 2
Next, including the link on your resume is expected. I now expect applicants to include their LinkedIn profile URL in the contact information on their resume. Now, I won’t automatically reject them if they don’t have it there; however, my immediate thought is that they may not have an active profile. And I will subsequently search for them on LinkedIn.
Reason 3
After that, your LinkedIn profile is your badge of distinction. LinkedIn is considered the number one professional networking site in the world. As of January 6, 2021, Omnicore Agency reported that LinkedIn has 706 million subscribers.
So, you stand out from the crowd of qualified applicants when hiring managers see your LinkedIn profile URL proudly displayed on your resume. You are saying to the world, I have what it takes for success on the job and I want to be discovered.
Reason 4
Your LinkedIn Connections are worth gold. The phrase, “Your reputation precedes you,” plays to your advantage when you have a positive reputation. You and a hiring manager might have a mutual connection. When that hiring manager views your profile, they will see if you have mutual connections and that person can serve as a very valuable unsolicited reference. So, you could land a new job based on the professional reputation that you have built. How cool is that?
Reason 5
Finally, your LinkedIn Profile Updates Can be Shared Far and Wide. Although some do not consider it so, LinkedIn is a social media platform. So, you can immediately update your profile with your latest project and, depending upon your privacy settings, share it across the globe to all of your connections. Employers could subsequently call you within hours of your update. Think about that.
Conclusion
So, next time you update your resume, be sure to include your LinkedIn profile URL in your heading. You’ll make it easier for hiring managers to learn more about you. Then, when you land your new job, you’ll be glad you did.
If you like what I’ve shared with you today, do me a favor, scroll down and leave me a comment. Or, ask me your very own job search question. Who knows, your question just might become the subject of one of my posts.
Until next time, Career Search Success to You! Go Get Your New Job!
