Learn how to improve your LinkedIn profile for jobs in Australia and make it easier for Australian recruiters and employers to find your experience.
For many international professionals looking for work in Australia, LinkedIn isn’t simply an online resume.
It’s part of the recruitment process.
Recruiters use it to search for candidates, understand career histories and learn more about people who have applied for their vacancies.
So what does your profile tell them about you?
Start With Your Headline
Don’t waste valuable space with a headline that says very little.
Make it easy for someone to understand your professional area and expertise.
Think about the terminology Australian recruiters are likely to search for when looking for someone with your skills.
Don’t be afraid to show a bit of your personality to help you stand out!
Make Your Experience Easy to Understand
As with your resume, don’t assume Australian recruiters recognise every overseas company you’ve worked for.
Provide useful context where necessary and focus on experience relevant to the positions you’re targeting.
The more someone can get a full picture of who you are, what you do and the extent of your expertise on LinkedIn, the better chances of that person getting in touch about a role.
This includes translating which of your international experience is relevant to the Australian market and which Australian standards you are familiar with.
Use the About Section Properly
Your About section gives you an opportunity to bring your professional story together.
Keep it clear and focused.
Who are you professionally? What experience do you bring? What areas do you specialise in? What are you hoping to achieve with your career move to Australia?
Use Relevant Keywords Naturally
Recruiters search LinkedIn using skills, titles and industry terminology.
Look at Australian job advertisements in your profession.
What language appears repeatedly?
Where it’s genuinely relevant to your background, make sure that terminology appears naturally throughout your profile.
Build Your Australian Network
LinkedIn can also help you begin developing professional connections before you arrive.
Follow relevant organisations. Connect appropriately with people in your profession. Follow recruiters specialising in your industry.
Don’t immediately message every new connection asking them for a job.
Think about building a professional network rather than collecting contacts. This means connecting with people specifically in your industry – the more people that are relevant to what you’re trying to achieve, the more likely you will achieve it.
Connecting with anyone and everyone will not help your search to the same extent.
Keep Your Resume and LinkedIn Consistent
Dates, job titles and career history should broadly align.
Major inconsistencies can create unnecessary questions.
LinkedIn Is Only One Piece
A great LinkedIn profile won’t compensate for a poor interview, an unsuitable resume or a completely unfocused job search.
All of these pieces need to work together.
That’s the broader approach behind How to Get a Job in Australia, which takes international job seekers through the different stages of navigating the Australian employment market.
Final Thoughts
Your LinkedIn profile may be viewed before you’ve ever spoken to the recruiter.
Make that first impression useful.
Help them quickly understand what you do, what you’ve achieved and why your experience could be relevant in Australia.
