How to use LinkedIn more effectively to help you get your next job

How to use LinkedIn

If you’re in the market for a job, the world’s largest professional networking site is the place to be. Here are six ways to maximise your chances of success

Do you remember the days when employers advertised job vacancies and people applied? Well, they’re not quite a thing of the past, but the dominance and speedy interactions facilitated by social media have certainly changed the jobs market.

Now, recruiters will most likely have a network of eager candidates at their fingertips the minute a vacancy goes live. The smart ones utilise those networks to match people with opportunities, thereby ensuring a perfect marriage between employer and employee in no time at all.

...if you’re on the lookout for the next exciting opportunity, you need to get online.  

All of this means that, if you’re on the lookout for the next exciting opportunity, you need to get online. And if you want to stand any chance of being spotted, LinkedIn is undoubtedly the place to start building your professional profile. Here are six tips to help you make an impact.

1. Be smart, be professional

The first thing to understand about LinkedIn is that it isn’t Facebook. In other words, this isn’t a place to post pictures of your breakfast or your mashed-up weekend down the pub.

Treat it like a shop window to your professional life. Only project the sort of image you would want to be associated within the workplace. Smart suits and a well-groomed appearance work. Ripped jeans and photographs of your half-naked mates don’t.

2. Add content. Then add some more

Like any online platform, content is king on LinkedIn. The more detail you can add to your profile, the better. That’s because it gives internet search engines plenty to pore over as they search for relevant information, maximising the chances of you scoring well in their results.

Don’t be tempted to add rubbish, though. Your content needs to be sharp, informative, well-written and (here’s that word again) professional. This is about more than posting a glorified CV. You should give a persuasive account of your skills, aptitudes and ambitions. Make people realise your quality, and they won’t be able to resist getting in touch.

How to use LinkedIn3. Summarise succinctly

While it’s important to give as much detail as possible about yourself, it is also crucial to signpost headline information that can be read at a glance.

Use the summary functions on your LinkedIn profile wisely, by writing a witty account of who you are and what you do that stands out from the crowd. Then, if a busy reader happens upon your profile, you’re more likely to catch their attention.

4. Show your depth of character

No one wants to employ an automaton. You may be the world’s best procurement manager, but employers are increasingly looking for a full suite of soft skills to complement raw technical ability.

Use your profile to show something of your interests and passions. Don’t rant endlessly about your fears for global peace (you can use Facebook for that, if you must). But do say if you enjoy political campaigning, or have served as a Brownie leader, or sit on your local school’s governing body.

Not only does that show you to be a person of depth. It will also help smart employers identify where your skills can be used to strengthen their team.

5. Be friendly, make connections

The whole point of social networking is to network, right? If someone takes a look at your profile, take a look at theirs, too. Maybe even invite them to connect, with a friendly message saying that you noticed their interest in you and wondered if they’d like to become a contact.

Worst case scenario, you get ignored from time to time. Best case scenario, you make a connection with a new person, who has the capacity to unlock your future career prospects.

6. Show your expertise

Most LinkedIn users have the ability to add extended, blog-like, posts to their profile. These are a great way to demonstrate your industry expertise and business nous.

Spend some time constructing well-considered, well-argued posts that position you as a thought leader in your field. People will read them, and will have you in mind as someone who knows their stuff. When the time comes to recruit a new member of staff, this will give you an automatic head start in the race to be appointed.

 

Joining a top recruitment agency is also a great way to find your ideal role. Our consultants are more than happy to help and advise you. Just follow the link to let us know your contact details:
https://bit.ly/pre-registering-with-just-recruitment
Or call 01376 517079.

 

Published: 21 February 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

Jobs currently available

New job
Design/Project Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £32,000 - £38,000 per annum
Location: Braintree
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913667
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a growing, industry-leading organisation in Braintree to recruit a Design/Project Engineer.

You will be responsible for providing technical support to evaluate existing processes and configure manufacturing systems to reduce cost, improve machine reliability and develop best practices within the manufacturing environment.

Duties include:

  • Manage tooling and fixture design and their manufacture, to support production needs.
  • Design lead for R&D activities, assisting with converting concept models to manufactured parts, through design for manufacture and design for assembly principles.
  • Produce and manage product drawings and layouts for new products, tooling and gauging to allow internal or external manufacturing.
  • Manage and maintain the drawing modification process and document database.
  • Assist Process Primes in the development and improvement of processes within the production environment.
  • Recognise opportunities to adapt and adopt technologies across processes.
  • Lead Continuous Improvement activities within the Manufacturing environment.
  • Analyse existing products and look for opportunities to aid manufacturing and reduce costs.
  • Conduct and participate in team briefings, workshops and training to ensure smooth integration of new processes, equipment and systems to the production teams.

Skills required:

  • Good understanding of maths.
  • Ability to lead, manage and engage with different levels of the business from Directors to the shop floor.
  • Excellent organisation, administrative and communication skills.
  • Formal qualification in Mechanical, Manufacturing or Production Engineering.
  • Understanding of both the imperial and metric measurement systems and able to convert between them.
  • Understanding of precision, working to 0.001 of a millimetre.
  • Conversant with Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement techniques.
  • CAD/CAM experience, ideally in SolidWorks.

Hours:

  • Monday to Thursday: 7.30am to 4.00pm.
  • Friday: 7.30am to 3.00pm.
  • 39 hours per week.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Warehouse Supervisor (2.30pm to 11.00pm)
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Location: Bury St. Edmunds
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913662
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a growing business based near Bury St. Edmunds to recruit a Warehouse Supervisor to join their team.

Responsibilities include:

  • Working with the Operations Manager in order to understand their requirements and expectations, and acting as the senior staff on the shop floor.
  • Supporting the managers and other supervisors in their roles.
  • Training and supporting personal development, motivating staff within the framework of Job Descriptions, and a competency and skills matrix.
  • Optimising the utilisation of all assets across the operations.
  • Ensuring that all staff on site operate within all current legislation.
  • Producing regular reports and statistics as required.
  • Ensuring all staff follow work instructions provided, complying with the ISO accredited standards ISO 9001, 14001, 45001.
  • Communicating any non-conformances within the ISO accredited management system.
  • Raising any upcoming changes which could affect the ISO accredited management system.

Skills required:

  • Numerate and literate.
  • Ability to communicate at all levels.
  • Strong attention to detail, demonstrating and understanding the requirements to provide full, professional, efficient and effective support to the business and the team.
  • Continuously develop and improve service quality.
  • Demonstrating appropriate understanding of business needs by prioritising activity and resources and regularly reviewing the performance of the team.
  • Ability to accept and embrace change.
  • Driven by structure and processes, while at the same time being able to cope with fluid situations.
  • Demonstrate good leadership skills, being able to inspire, motivate and organise the efforts of a talented team.
  • A good team player, working confidently with a very wide range of functions and personalities.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Stock Administrator
Sector: Production and Stock Control
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913657
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a growing business on the outskirts of Colchester—an industry leader in its sector—to recruit a Stock Administrator for a 12-month fixed-term contract covering maternity leave.

Please note: this is a part-time role—25/30 hours per week and is fully office-based.

The key purpose of this role is to manage the stock administration throughout the business, from start to finish.

Key duties include:

  • Stock management
  • Overseeing the regular stock counts and reconciling differences
  • Processing stock adjustments in the system
  • Processing of stock transfers between sites
  • Monitoring levels of stock, raising quotes, and placing orders as required
  • Assisting with the year-end stock count
  • Ad-hoc queries
  • Reviewing of invoices—ensuring profitability of all jobs and flagging jobs that fall outside of expected profit ranges
  • General administration related to raising credit notes, creating new stock codes and moving costs between jobs
  • Reconciling and transferring time between two internal systems
  • Running monthly reports
  • Building good working relationships with the Warehouse Manager and all business teams

Key role requirements include:

  • Well organised with the ability to multitask
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to problem solve, working through queries in a logical manner
  • Able to communicate clearly and concisely
  • Aware of at least basic Excel functions, such as pivot tables and lookups
  • Excellent verbal and written skills
  • Confident and positive attitude

This role offers a competitive pay rate and excellent company benefits as well as a good working environment. This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation on a 12-month fixed-term contract basis.

Free parking is available on site.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Transport Planner
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 per annum
Location: Earls Colne
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913656
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a transport and logistics business based on the outskirts of Colchester to recruit a Transport Planner for their existing team.

You will need to come from a planning background within the general haulage or pallet network industries, and have previous experience managing a fleet of Rigid/Artic vehicles.

Duties include:

  • Routing vehicles and covering deliveries across the UK.
  • Providing good communication with the Traffic office teams and Drivers to ensure customer KPI’s and targets are achieved and maintained.
  • Use in-house planning tools and systems to manage workload and monitor efficiency.
  • Ensuring internal tracking systems are kept organised and updated.
  • Controlling and planning resources (vehicles, drivers, trailers); ensuring all legal requirements are adhered to (Working Time Directive and EU Drivers’ Hours regulations).
  • Plan Rigid and Artic work for the following day.
  • Warehouse checks.
  • CPC Holder is an advantage, but not essential.

Please note: Due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Fitters Mate/Labourer
Sector: Property and Construction
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913655
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Colchester-based Fitter/Labourer for a nationwide manufacturing-based construction company known for high-quality solutions and excellent customer service. With extensive industry experience, they prioritise delivering top-quality products to clients.

This role involves travelling to sites to support the Team Leaders and will involve a lot of heavy work such as digging, lifting and manual labour.

Role requirements:

  • Willing to work long hours
  • Physically able and willing to do manual labour
  • CSCS card would be preferable
  • Manual labour experience is preferable
  • A driving licence is essential
  • Happy to stay away from home as required

Benefits include:

  • Competitive salary, basic salary plus overtime
  • 20 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • Lots of progression is available as this company likes to promote within
  • Opportunity to be put through training courses

This is an excellent opportunity to join a vibrant company on a full-time, permanent basis.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more