Having a strong LinkedIn presence is crucial for anyone looking to advance their career or business in today’s digital age. With over 722 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. An up-to-date LinkedIn profile allows you to showcase your skills, experience and accomplishments to potential employers, clients, partners and more. But when is the right time to create your LinkedIn profile? Here are some key times when having a LinkedIn presence becomes especially important.
Before Starting Your Job Search
If you’re looking for a new job or career change, having an established LinkedIn presence can give you a significant advantage over other candidates. Recruiters and hiring managers will very likely look up candidates online before bringing them in for interviews. An optimized LinkedIn profile with a professional headshot and compelling summary section acts as your digital resume and first impression. The more complete and engaging your profile is, the better chances you have of standing out from the competition.
In addition to showcasing your background, creating your profile before starting a job search enables you to expand your network and connect with key players at companies you want to target. This gives you the opportunity to learn about potential openings, get referred for roles and make important connections before ever formally applying.
Before Graduating From School
As a student, having a polished LinkedIn profile demonstrates your professionalism and gets your foot in the door with employers. Whether you’re in high school, college, graduate school or another academic program, building your brand and network on LinkedIn well in advance of graduation can pay dividends.
Here are some key reasons to create your LinkedIn profile before you finish school:
- Gives you an online professional presence and portfolio to complement your resume
- Lets you connect with and learn from alumni at companies you’re interested in
- Provides exposure to recruiters looking to hire students and recent grads
- Allows you to find internships, mentorships and job shadows in your field
- Enables you to join relevant student groups and associations
When Taking On Freelance Work or Consulting
For independent contractors, solopreneurs and freelancers, a compelling and keyword-rich LinkedIn profile serves as a 24/7 selling tool for securing business. Whether you offer web development, graphic design, consulting, writing or other services, LinkedIn allows you to display your expertise and achievements to prospective clients all in one place.
A robust LinkedIn presence does the hard work of pitching your services for you while you sleep. By populating your profile with rich media examples of your work, reviews and testimonials, and any certifications, you can passively attract leads and build authority in your niche. Just be sure to customize your public profile URL and add it to any freelance or consulting website you have.
When Starting a Business
LinkedIn is also invaluable when starting a new business. Beyond just creating your personal founder’s profile, you can create a Company Page to establish your business’s brand and presence. This allows you to:
- Share your company story, mission and offerings
- Promote content like blog posts, ebooks and case studies
- Build an engaged follower base with status updates
- Partner with and attract influencers
- Recruit top talent
- Garner referrals, partnerships and investors
The sooner you create and optimize your Company Page, the faster you can leverage LinkedIn to grow your brand and authority in the marketplace.
When Job Searching While Employed
If you’re casually exploring new career options while currently employed, LinkedIn is a discreet way to establish your professional brand and see what’s out there. You can set your profile to only be visible to recruiters, prevent your connections from being notified of any profile changes, and customize your public profile URL.
This allows you to control the visibility of your profile while showcasing your background. You can also research potential employers, join industry groups and connect with key players at companies that interest you without signalling to your current employer that you’re job seeking.
After Being Laid Off or Fired
Losing your job can be a very difficult and emotional time. Updating your LinkedIn profile is likely the last thing on your mind. But creating or sprucing up your profile should become an urgent priority after being laid off or fired.
As soon as it’s official, you want your profile to be ready to go so you can kick your job search into high gear. Be sure to add your newly “Open to work” status and abbreviated version of your resume. Recruiters often search for professionals who were recently laid off, so you want to appear in their results.
Reconnecting with past colleagues, joining career-oriented groups and messaging contacts at target companies can all be done quickly from LinkedIn to get your next opportunity lined up.
After a Major Achievement or Promotion
Major career accomplishments are the perfect time to update your LinkedIn profile. Did you earn an advanced degree or professional certificate? Receive a promotion or award? Complete a key project or reach an impressive milestone? Refresh your profile to include your latest achievements.
Promoting your wins not only keeps your profile up to date, but can catch the eye of recruiters, peers and potential new employers. So don’t be shy about showcasing your hard work and advancement on your LinkedIn profile when the timing is right.
Upon Relocating to a New City
When moving to a new city, LinkedIn is invaluable for tapping into the local job market and building community. Before your move, join LinkedIn Groups tied to your new location and professional industry. You can connect with locals and discover which companies and hiring managers you should target once you arrive.
Update your profile with the name of your new city once relocated. Recruiters often search by location, so this will instantly make you discoverable by employers in your area. You’ll get access to localized job opportunities and be able to expand your local network organically over time.
After Going Inactive for a While
It’s common for LinkedIn activity to dip during certain life stages, such as being a full-time caregiver, student or stay-at-home parent. Don’t panic if you’ve gone months or even years without updating your profile. The important thing is to refresh your presence once you’re ready to relaunch your career.
In your summary, briefly explain any résumé gaps in a positive light. Then focus on adding any new skills, achievements or certifications since you last updated your profile. Spruce up your profile with a new headshot, banner photo, contact info and experience descriptions. You want your profile to reflect who you are today, not years ago.
Before a Big Career Shift
Switching careers or industries can be daunting. LinkedIn enables you to gain exposure to and credibility in a new field before making the career pivot. Strategically enhancing your profile can help you successfully transition.
Highlight any transferable skills or relevant experience you already have for your new career direction. Join niche industry groups to build connections and knowledge. Follow key companies and talent in your desired field. Attend virtual events. These efforts establish your commitment while allowing you to identify where you can develop the hard and soft skills needed to change paths.
Conclusion
LinkedIn is no longer optional – it’s essential for every professional at any career stage. Whether you’re a student seeking your first internship, an entrepreneur launching a business, or simply exploring what’s next, strategically creating and updating your LinkedIn presence at the right junctures can pay dividends.
The key is not waiting until you urgently need to job hunt or promote a new venture. Maintaining a robust, up-to-date profile at all times ensures you’re ready to capitalize on opportunities when they arise. By actively managing your LinkedIn presence during major life and career shifts, you’ll always put your best foot forward professionally.