Does Your LinkedIn Profile Serve as a Good Resume Supplement

Does Your LinkedIn Profile Serve as a Good Resume Supplement A job search can easily move at a fast pace; so fast, in fact, that we dont consider the importance of the steps we take in the process.  This can be true of searching for jobs, writing resumes and cover letters, and even choosing the companies to which we submit. LinkedIn has quickly become an amazing tool, aiding job seekers in finding employment thanks to its networking facilities.  But it can serve as a great way to supplement your resume.  Do you use your profile to meet this goal? Expand on Your Qualifications Your resume provides a snapshot of your qualifications.  It offers a bit of insight into who you are as a candidate, what skills youve acquired from or provided to other companies in the past, and how likely you are to succeed in the role you want.  Typically, your cover letter and interview provide additional insight into these qualifications, but your LinkedIn profile can also be used to fill in the gaps. The recommended length of a resume is in the ballpark of one to three pages depending on your depth of experience.  This means you only have so much space to get your message across.  So you can use your LinkedIn profile to expand on those qualifications.  By using it to provide more examples, you can offer a broader scope of your expertise. Showcase Lengthened Testimonials Many job seekers have jumped on the testimonial bandwagon.  Rather than waiting for the hiring manager to ask for job references, candidates are now adding two- or three-sentence testimonials to their resumes to have others back their qualifications. LinkedIn provides a similar tool known as recommendations that allows the people youve connected with on the site to recommend you as an employee, employer, or business associate based on their experiences with you.  You can use these recommendations to showcase the testimonials youve already added in greater length, while listing more from additional connections. Highlight Commitment to Your Field Another great way to use LinkedIn as a supplement to your resume is by expanding on your commitment to your field.  In your resume, you may only have space to add two or three of your memberships and the links to blogs to which you contribute.  On your LinkedIn page, you can add the complete list of affiliations and provide descriptions for your links. Its worth taking the time to create an in-depth LinkedIn page that expands on the information that shows up in most of your resumes.  With your cover letter already backing you up, your profile may be able to convince a hiring manager that you deserve an interview. For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.