Hashtags have become an incredibly useful tool on social media platforms like LinkedIn to help users find and organize relevant content. For job seekers, using strategic hashtags on your LinkedIn profile and with any posts can help get your resume and skills in front of recruiters and hiring managers more effectively. But with so many options, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and which hashtags will give you the most visibility.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the best hashtags to use on LinkedIn to showcase your resume and qualifications to prospective employers. We’ll discuss:
- Why hashtags matter for your LinkedIn resume and job search
- The top hashtags recruiters look for when searching LinkedIn profiles
- Industry-specific hashtags to use based on your profession
- Tips for selecting and using the right hashtags
- Common mistakes to avoid
Including targeted hashtags in your profile, summary, experience descriptions, and posts can expose your credentials to far more recruiters and hiring managers than just passively waiting for them to come across your profile. By using the best hashtags, you can proactively boost the visibility of your resume.
Why Hashtags Matter for Your LinkedIn Resume
Here are some of the key reasons why using relevant hashtags on LinkedIn can significantly improve your resume visibility and job search:
- Hashtags help organize content and make it more searchable – Recruiters often search LinkedIn profiles using hashtags to find candidates based on skills, experience, education and other attributes. Including hashtags makes it easier for your profile to appear in those searches.
- Hashtags increase the reach of your posts – Any posts you publish on LinkedIn will reach a wider audience and get more engagement if you use popular hashtags. This gets your credentials and experience in front of more recruiters.
- Hashtags showcase your knowledge – Using niche hashtags in your industry or functional area displays your expertise and familiarity with key topics.
- Hashtags help you stand out – In a crowded job market, hashtags allow you to proactively make your profile and posts rise above the noise.
- Hashtags demonstrate your communication skills – The ability to use hashtags appropriately and strategically reflects well on your overall communication abilities.
In short, leveraging hashtags gives you a simple but highly effective tool to get your resume, skills and qualifications in front of decision-makers and demonstrates your understanding of professional social media communication.
Top Hashtags Recruiters Look for on LinkedIn Profiles
Recruiters rely on LinkedIn extensively in searching for and vetting qualified candidates. Here are some of the most common hashtag searches they use to find potential hires on LinkedIn profiles:
| Hashtag | Meaning |
|---|---|
| #softwareengineer | Highlights experience as a software engineer |
| #projectmanagement | Indicates project management skills |
| #marketing | Shows marketing experience |
| #sales | Demonstrates sales background |
| #accountant | Profiles accounting qualifications |
| #nurse | Indicates nursing credentials |
| #teacher | Shows teaching experience |
| #manager | Highlights management experience |
| #UX | Demonstrates user experience design skills |
| #engineer | Profiles engineering experience |
These are just a few examples of commonly searched hashtags. Make sure to include hashtags on your profile that are tailored to your specific professional credentials.
Education-Related Hashtags
Recruiters also frequently use hashtags to search for candidates based on educational background. Some examples include:
- #MBA – Profiles those with a Master of Business Administration
- #CFA – Indicates you have earned a Chartered Financial Analyst certification
- #CPA – Shows that you are a Certified Public Accountant
- #PhD – Demonstrates you hold a doctoral degree
- #MIT – Profiles graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- #Stanford – Highlights those who attended Stanford University
- #NYUniversity – Shows graduates of New York University
Be sure to list any relevant academic credentials and educational hashtags that would appeal to recruiters.
Industry-Specific Hashtags to Use
In addition to general profile hashtags, also consider including hashtags specific to your industry, niche or area of expertise. Here are some examples:
Technology
- #programming
- #coding
- #javascript
- #python
- #java
- #php
- #rubyonrails
- #csharp
- #iosdevelopment
- #android
- #webdesign
- #ux
- #gamedev
- #startup
Marketing
- #digitalmarketing
- #socialmedia
- #seo
- #contentmarketing
- #emailmarketing
- #marketingstrategy
- #analytic
- #b2b
- #b2c
- #ppc
- #smo
Finance
- #cfa
- #accounting
- #financialmodeling
- #finance
- #investmentbanking
- #stocks
- #trading
- #financialanalysis
- #fintech
Healthcare
- #nurse
- #healthcare
- #medschool
- #medicine
- #digitalhealth
- #doctor
- #healthIT
- #publichealth
Whatever industry you work in, do some research on popular hashtags used on LinkedIn for profiles and posts. Tailoring your hashtags to your niche helps you connect with the right audience.
Tips for Selecting the Best Hashtags
When deciding which hashtags to include on your profile and posts, keep these tips in mind:
- Use a combination of both general and niche hashtags – Mix broad terms like #marketing or #sales with specialized ones like #contentmarketing or #leadgeneration to appeal to a wider audience.
- Include hashtags specific to your skills – Make sure to highlight important hard and soft skills, such as #leadership, #projectmanagement, #dataanalysis, etc.
- Leverage trending hashtags – Look up current popular hashtags used within your industry for fresh ideas.
- Research competitors – Analyze which hashtags other professionals in your field are using successfully.
- Consider location – If geography is relevant, include local hashtags like #sanfrancisco or #bostonjobs.
- Use numbers strategically – Some numbders correlate to years of experience like #10years or seniority like #manager.
- Review regularly – Assess your hashtags over time and update based on evolving priorities.
Aim for a mix of common resume hashtags and niche terms that help you stand out while reaching the right people.
Hashtag Tips for Posts
When sharing posts on LinkedIn, hashtags are also key for visibility. Some tips:
- Include 5-10 hashtags per post maximum – Any more and you risk looking spammy.
- Make some hashtags specific to the content – At least 2-3 hashtags should relate directly to your post topic.
- Vary which hashtags you use – Don’t use the exact same ones every time or they will lose effectiveness.
- Reuse relevant hashtags – It’s fine to reuse popular hashtags that fit with multiple posts.
- Place hashtags at the end of your post – Putting them in the comments or body text looks cluttered.
Strategically using hashtags on your posts gives them a better chance of being discovered by recruiters searching for those terms.
Mistakes to Avoid with Hashtags
While hashtags can significantly boost your LinkedIn profile and job search, there are some pitfalls to sidestep:
- Overusing hashtags – Stick to 5-10 maximum per post or profile section. Too many become meaningless.
- Irrelevant hashtags – Make sure all your hashtags directly relate to your profile details and content.
- Using trendy terms without context – Don’t include hot hashtags that have no real connection to your credentials.
- Hashtag stuffing – Cramming in a long list of hashtags looks desperate and spammy.
- Copying competitors exactly – Draw inspiration from others but put your own spin on hashtags.
- Outdated terms – Regularly refresh your hashtags to use current relevant terms.
- Hiding hashtags – Putting them in the middle of posts or sentences looks sneaky.
Keep your hashtag strategy focused and subtle to effectively boost your profile without looking like you’re gaming the system.
Conclusion
Implementing a thoughtful hashtag approach on LinkedIn can significantly expand your job search reach and resume visibility. By using a targeted mix of popular resume hashtags and niche industry terms in your profile and posts, you can get your credentials in front of many more recruiters and hiring managers.
Focus on including hashtags related to your skills, experience, education, location and profession. Avoid common hashtag mistakes like irrelevant terms, stuffing and hiding them. With a strategic, authentic hashtag approach tailored to your background, you can take your LinkedIn job search results to the next level.
