Is Your LinkedIn Ready? 5 Profile Tips for Nonprofit Leaders
From the desk of Melissa Montoya, Director of Search Services
“Someone viewed your profile...” 👀 Chances are, it was someone like Melissa Montoya—our Director of Search Services and the recruiter behind countless nonprofit hires. Melissa is our talent-hunting MVP, finding great fits for every nonprofit role that comes our way. She spends an average of 15-20 hours per week searching and recruiting candidates, making her an expert on all things LinkedIn. Lucky for us, Melissa has a few trade secrets on buffing up your profile so that it’s search-ready for those nonprofits looking for their next great hire.
The Mask Comes Off: Your Profile Says More Than You Think
“LinkedIn is a great resource,” Melissa states. “So it truly is a missed opportunity when people don’t take advantage.” Her first recommendation is to create a profile that is easy to read and as up-to-date as possible. If you haven’t logged on for a while, do a tour of your page. Does it have your most recent role? Your education? What about a link to your website or portfolio? Melissa stresses that LinkedIn really is the best way to get discovered. Even if you’ve already applied to a role, it’s still beneficial to have a page for recruiters to visit to see your connections, skills and other helpful details (we’ll talk about those a bit later). “If you aren’t on it,” Melissa says, “it’s that much harder for us to find you.”
That Green Ring Isn’t Desperate—It’s Strategic
We’ve all seen that circular green “Open to Work” frame some opt to share on their profile. Does that look desperate to prospective employers? Melissa’s answer is a firm no. “This feature is extremely helpful for us,” she explains. “Recruiters use it to find candidates who aren’t just casually looking for a new opportunity but are excited about making a career move.” The feature is also searchable, which means you will come up in searches when recruits look for candidates who are actively applying to jobs.” Melissa is quick to mention that some may be unable to add this distinction to their profiles for employment reasons, so it’s not a deal breaker. However, it’s a great option if you can take advantage as it makes you more visible to those hunting for candidates, which is what LinkedIn is all about.
Skill Check: Give Recruiters What They're Looking For
“Adding to your skills section is perhaps the most important aspect of your profile,” Melissa explains. Not only can you add as many as 100 different attributes, but you can tag them to specific roles. In other words, skills can be linked to a past or present job, which makes it even easier for a recruiter to verify your qualifications for a given opening. “We understand the meaning of the skills you list and having them easily available allows us to check them off our list of needs when searching for a good fit.” This is another area you’ll want to regularly update as you gain more experience throughout your career.
Remember Your Surroundings
Melissa’s fourth recommendation is to filter your posts and messages with your work-minded brain. “This is not Instagram or Facebook, so act accordingly in terms of what you share.” While there’s room to show your personality and interests, keep in mind that all of the information is searchable, including by those who could be on the other end of a role you’re perfect for.
Your Network Is Your Net Worth
Every connection is valuable when it comes to finding a job. So search for all your friends, family and colleagues and add them to your network. You never know who will have a relationship with the hiring manager of a great nonprofit or the inside scoop on an organization you’ve been dying to work for. Casting a wide net is the best way to find your next opportunity, so be sure to keep all those doors open and see who walks in!
Recruiters are watching... so give them something to find.
Get your LinkedIn in shape, then take a peek at who's hiring: Our current nonprofit job openings