Construction professionals are avid users of LinkedIn, and also active job searchers. Darain Faraz, head of global consumer communications at LinkedIn, offers some tips.
Darain Faraz
Chances are that one in 10 people reading this will be somewhere on the road towards moving jobs. According to LinkedIn data, 12% of professionals in the construction industry changed their role in 2015.
Our data also suggests that, as a group of professionals, they are three times more “connected” than the average LinkedIn member – so it looks as if they weren’t afraid to harness the power of their network to grow their careers.
LinkedIn recently announced it had reached 20 million members in the UK, making it a fantastic platform for finding new opportunities. However, competition for roles is fiercer than ever, so we have compiled a few tips to help construction professionals stand out from the crowd.
1. Polish your profile
With more than half of the country’s workforce on the platform, it’s important that your profile tells people exactly what they need to know about you.
Your headline and summary are the first things recruiters and potential employers notice when viewing your professional profile, so keep these clear and concise to grab their attention. If you’re actively looking for a new job – and don’t mind your current employer knowing this – then cut to the chase by stating it in your headline.
Don’t underestimate the importance of uploading a professional photo. Profiles that include a photo are 14 times more likely to be viewed by potential employers.
2. Flaunt your skills
Be sure to include all your relevant skills and experience on your profile, including more “niche” skills that will show up in very specific searches made by recruiters. Your connections can endorse these skills to back up your competencies, and don’t forget that you can also ask contacts to add a reference to your profile to demonstrate your abilities.
3. Beware buzzwords
If you want your skills to differentiate you from others, don’t list them in a way that makes you sound like everyone else. LinkedIn recently released a list of the most overused buzzwords on people’s profiles in 2015, with “motivated”, “creative”, “enthusiastic” and “passionate” coming out among the worst offenders.
To avoid “job-seeker jargon” aim to show rather than tell what you have to offer through evidence and example. Instead of saying you’ve got a great “track record”, prove it by including figures and tangible results in your job descriptions to demonstrate positive outcomes that resulted from your efforts. Or if you have great design skills, upload an example of your work.
4. Join the conversation
Expand your industry knowledge and make valuable connections by getting involved in discussions on LinkedIn Groups. And if you want to showcase your expertise to a wider audience, write a post on LinkedIn’s publisher platform – this is a great way to show that you’re committed to what you do to prospective employers.
5. Keep tabs on your favourite companies
Finally, if you’re interested in working for a specific company, make sure you follow their Company Page. That way, you’ll be kept up to date with news about the organisation, and will be first to know when new roles become available.
And if you’re wondering what you’re competing against in your sector, here are the top ten skills among construction professionals on LinkedIn:
- Construction
- Contract Management
- Construction Management
- Procurement
- Commercial Management
- Project Management
- Project Planning
- Value Engineering
- Cost Management
- Contract Negotiation
