There’s no escaping it, hiring managers and recruiters use LinkedIn to find and vet candidates. Savvy and experienced candidate screeners can spot a false claim on an online profile very quickly, so make sure you can back up every statement you make. Here are six of the most common LinkedIn mistakes to avoid. Images: Thinkstock

1. 1
Nick Deligiannis
Managing Director, Hays
Australia & New Zealand
There’s no escaping it, hiring
managers and recruiters use
LinkedIn to find and vet candidates.
Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director at
Hays Australia and New Zealand
shares 6 LinkedIn mistakes to avoid
when job searching.
SEARCHING FOR A NEW JOB?
AVOID THESE 6 LINKEDIN
MISTAKES
haysplc.com/viewpoint

2. 2
It can be tempting to go back in
time and give yourself a promotion
on your LinkedIn profile.
Elevating your title from “Finance
Manager” to “Finance Director”
because you worked in a small firm
and you were the most senior
finance person could put your
credibility at risk and see your
chances reduced from shortlist to
dust bin in a moment.
DON’T GIVE YOURSELF
A RETROSPECTIVE
PROMOTION
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3. 3
Responsibilities tell a potential
employer about your job role while
achievements describe your job
performance, and so both should
be showcased on your LinkedIn
profile – but make sure they really
are yours.
Claiming an achievement that
belongs to someone else is
dishonest and will only damage
your reputation in the long run.
DON’T TAKE CREDIT FOR
THE WORK OF OTHERS
ON YOUR PROFILE
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4. Where you worked, exactly when
and for how long is a key focus for
any potential employer. Don’t fudge
dates and try and fill gaps with fake
employment experience.
Make sure any claim you make in
your online profile is consistent with
your resume. Inconsistencies are a
red flag for those screening
candidates.
DON’T PAPER OVER
YOUR JOB HISTORY
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5. Ensure you include a professional-
looking head and shoulders shot of
yourself with your profile –
preferably smiling.
Avoid heavy photo shopping – you
want to be recognised at job
interviews – as well as wedding
shots with your spouse cropped out
or holidays shots showing you in
casual gear.
INCLUDE AN IMAGE,
BUT MAKE IT REAL
5
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6. Whilst it is tempting to try and
connect with as many people as
possible, the real strength of your
LinkedIn network lies in connecting
to those in your industry, profession
or sector.
Accepting every invite that comes
your way weakens the quality of
your network.
Always view the profile of someone
asking to connect with you to
ensure they are relevant to your
network.
DON’T CONNECT WITH
EVERYONE
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7. LinkedIn recommendations work
best when they are authentic and
given by managers, clients and
other people you have provided an
excellent service to.
Recommendations provided by
peers and friends are not a credible
way of building your personal
brand.
DON’T MAKE TIT FOR TAT
RECOMMENDATIONS
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8. 8
ABOUT HAYS
Hays is a leading global
professional recruiting group, the
expert at recruiting qualified,
professional and skilled people
worldwide.
With over 8,748 staff operating from
244 offices in 33 countries across
20 specialism's, last year we placed
around 57,000 candidates into
permanent jobs, and around
212,000 people into temporary
assignments.
haysplc.com