We live in a fascinating world where growing a digital network has proven to be one of the key components of many success stories.
Simply put, a well-developed network might boost your chances of getting a new job or even position you as a top professional in your area of expertise (and beyond).
But before we discuss the pros of all this, let’s see what the first step to growing your digital network is. Now read this carefully:
If you want to reap the benefits of a wide professional network, you need to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date.
And if you’ve just started a new job, you might be wondering what the best time for sharing more about it on LinkedIn is. We’ll get there in a bit.
First, let’s talk a bit more about why you need to make sure your profile is up-to-date.
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The importance of having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile
If you’re new to LinkedIn or feel like your profile needs a full refurbishment, you can start by adding all your new certificates and skills and connecting with some people you’ve met recently.
Another thing worth doing is crafting an attention-grabbing headline that represents your skills and experience fully.
And let’s face it - many times, this includes adding your new job title.
We get it, there might be lots of things that keep you away from sharing about your new job with your network.
You might not want your previous boss to know where you’re working. Or you might want to wait for things to be set in stone before sharing your new challenge with others.
Whatever your reason might be, it’s important to be aware of the pros of keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date. Let’s see…
Start with why: LinkedIn job update edition
One of the benefits of keeping only relevant information in your LinkedIn profile is linked to building a network of like-minded professionals. They might be part of your industry, or might be employed in a totally different area.
Building such a network can help you in many ways. It’s a great way to stay connected with classmates, teachers, and former colleagues, and if you’re motivated enough - even find a mentor!
This can lead to inspiring future collaborations and job opportunities that are much more difficult to find if you don’t have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile. But this social media is much more than just a job-searching tool.
Actually, the LinkedIn algorithm is optimized in such a way, that you get suggestions based on your current job title, connections, and even the school you went to.
Another thing worth noting is your personal brand. Since LinkedIn is treated as a professional social media, it’s the best place to talk about your professional interests.
If you feel confident enough (and even if you don’t, actually!), you can start sharing daily or weekly industry insights and stats. This would help you gain a larger following and connect with other professionals who share your interests.
These are some of the reasons why it’s important to keep all information in your profile up-to-date, even if you’re not necessarily on the lookout for a new job.
But what’s the best time to update your LinkedIn profile with your new job?
Well, there’s no easy answer. It all depends on your individual circumstances, job history, and motivation.
Most of all, it depends on the timing. Let’s dive deeper!
The perfect timing for updating your LinkedIn profile with a new job
Adding your new job might be tricky in most cases.
You don’t want your previous boss to feel betrayed?
Or maybe you’re afraid they can contact someone at your new job to try and sabotage you?
Or it might be just because you’re not 100% sure the new place will be a good fit. Which makes sense, as it’s easier to save yourself the hassle of explaining why you’re interviewing after just a month at a new job.
In fact, you’ll find numerous reasons why you shouldn’t update your LinkedIn with your new job. If you ask people on social media, they might tell you that it’s pointless and no one cares about your new position anyway.
Our tip on this? You don’t need this kind of negativity in your life!
Jokes aside, as with most things in life, adding a new job on LinkedIn depends on the viewpoint.
And the viewpoint of experts is that you should add your new job to your LinkedIn profile no later than 6 months after you’ve joined the company.
If you don’t feel like waiting for 6 months, though, you can update your profile on your first day.
Just keep in mind that if you go for this option, you might need to come back to the job description. As you spend more time in the company, your day-to-day priorities and duties can and most probably will need updating.
And if you don’t feel too spontaneous, the safe choice is to let the standard probationary period (3-6 months) pass before notifying your LinkedIn network about your new job.
Another option would be to wait until you’ve achieved a significant accomplishment. In this way, you can be more sure that you’ll be on the job for the long term.
Once you decide which works best for you, it’s time to finally add your new job to your LinkedIn profile. Let’s look at some of the things worth keeping in mind!
Things to keep in mind when adding a new job on LinkedIn
Generally speaking, there are two ways for you to update your LinkedIn profile with a new job.
- By announcing the new change publicly and notifying your network with a post, or
- By adding the new job to your profile in silence.
In most cases, we would advise you to notify your network. It’s also a good idea to share a bit more about your new position - one sentence including your #1 priority at the new place could be a great starting point.
Another popular way to announce a new position is to write a post where you share the lessons learned in your past position. Link them to some of the goals you’ve set for your future self for guaranteed success!
Regardless of the approach you choose, always make sure to add the following information to your LinkedIn job update:
- Your new job title
- The name of the new company
- Your start date
- Some more details about your new priorities and responsibilities.
This information is crucial not only for recruiters but also for new people you connect with. You never know who might need your professional help or advice.
Last but definitely not least comes your new headline.
Many times, people add all the required details but forget to update their headlines. Don’t be one of those people.
You have three options:
- Simply put your new position and company - e.g. Data Analyst at XYZ Inc.
- Write your position and a top interest or skill - e.g. Creative Director | Passionate about Graphic Design
- List only your top interests and/or skills - e.g. BizDev | AI | Big Data
The choice you make depends on many things.
For instance, if you’re working in a creative industry and/or are someone who wants to grow their digital presence by sharing insights into your areas of expertise, then the 2nd and 3rd options would probably suit you best.
But if you’re someone who rarely shares updates on LinkedIn, then option #1 would work better for you. The reason for this? It will make your profile easier to find for recruiters and potential employers.
Pro tip
If you choose to list only your interests in your LinkedIn headline, don’t be surprised if your network expects you to share insights and interesting industry facts. What a cool reason to challenge yourself!
Conclusion: When to add a new job on LinkedIn
By now, you should be familiar with the importance of keeping digital dust off your LinkedIn profile.
To sum up, this can help you find exciting opportunities, connect with inspiring people, and build your personal brand by sharing industry insights with a digital audience.
The first step to conquering all LinkedIn peaks, however, is to add your new job to the equation.
This will work miracles for you - especially because the LinkedIn algorithm will know exactly who to pair you with.
What’s more, it will also bring you a step closer to finding fascinating professional opportunities.
Just make sure to take your confidence, previous employer, and job history into account. And don’t wait for over 6 months!
If you’re still unsure of how, when, or why you should add your new job on LinkedIn, talking to a career counselor can help! Book a call with one of our experts and skyrocket your career today!
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