So you don't think you need to have a LinkedIn page? Wrong.

LinkedIn is close to becoming the top recruiting website. As the largest professional social medium makes large changes and updates to their IPO, you should be taking advantage of what they have to offer. 

Why LinkedIn is Crucial for Job Seekers:

LinkedIn reported ninety-three percent of their recruiters are using LinkedIn pages to recruit potential candidates. My internship requires me to help out with recruiting efforts. The main social media network we have worked with is LinkedIn. Not only do we use LinkedIn Recruiter, we have branded our career page and when a resume comes in, the first thing I do is find track down their LinkedIn page.

Virtual Resume- Key Features

A person’s resume and cover letter shows off all of their achievements and reasons why they belong in that position, however; having a LinkedIn page, and actively using LinkedIn, let’s you brand and brag about yourself.Best features on LinkedIn:

Ability to have a virtual resume

Endorsements and recommendations

Having a virtual resume online is great, but having coworkers, bosses, and friends recommend or endorse a position you held builds your credibility. Recommendations and endorsements give potential recruiters a better idea of who you are as a person and employee.

Stay Active

If you are already on LinkedIn, you are on the right track. If you are not actively making connections, chatting with groups or searching LinkedIn Today articles, you are falling behind. Sharing interesting articles that relate to your profession and interests will help you get noticed, not only by your network, but by potential recruiters. Recruiters are mainly on LinkedIn to search for passive candidates: candidates who would be great for the position, but may not think to apply. When you like an article you found through LinkedIn, comment on connections or group posts it proves you are active and help builds your online credibility.

Dos and Don’ts:

DO upload a photo to your profile. It lets the recruiter put a face to the name.

DON’T add your company information without writing a description of your responsibilities and duties.

DO display past projects you have worked on.

DON’T skip showing off your skills.

DO ask coworkers and employers to endorse/recommend you.

DON’T forget to get involved with groups.

DO allow your connections, groups, hobbies and extracurricular activities to show.

DON’T have spelling or grammar errors. Remember your page is a professional representation of yourself.