What is the difference between my resume and my LinkedIn profile?

​In today's job market, having a strong resume and a compelling LinkedIn profile are both crucial elements for any job seeker. However, it's important to understand that although very similar, these two documents can serve different purposes and audiences. In this article, we'll explore the key differences between a person's resume and their LinkedIn profile content.

Length and formatting
One of the most obvious differences between a resume and a LinkedIn profile is their length and formatting. A resume is typically one to two pages long, with clear section headings and bullet points to make it easy to scan quickly. In contrast, a LinkedIn profile can be much longer, which provides an added opportunity to showcase even more details regarding your career history - details that were limited in your 1-2 page resume. LinkedIn allows you to write up to 2,000 characters per position which is an incredible amount of space to discuss your career history. LinkedIn profiles are also more visually appealing, and can be enhanced with the use of other multimedia including images, videos, and other elements to help showcase your personality and professional brand.

Target audience
Another key difference between a resume and a LinkedIn profile is their target audience. Your resume is typically tailored for a specific job or industry, and its main goal is to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for a particular position. On the other hand, your LinkedIn profile is more general and aimed at showcasing your overall professional brand to a broader audience, including potential employers, recruiters, and colleagues.
Greater exposure
Also keep in mind that as a social media platform, your LinkedIn profile has the potential to reach millions of viewers - it helps you to cast your net widely. This means that having both a resume and a LinkedIn profile can help increase your exposure in the job market. Employers and recruiters often use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates, so having a strong profile can increase your visibility and help you get noticed. With the right keywords and key phrases included within your LinkedIn profile, you can greatly increase the odds of your LinkedIn profile showing up in the search results of recruiters searching for candidates with your skillset. Additionally, having a well-crafted resume and LinkedIn profile can help you network more effectively and make connections that can lead to job opportunities.

Detail and language
When it comes to detail and language, a resume and a LinkedIn profile also differ. Your resume should be concise and focus on your most relevant skills and experiences, using strong action verbs and quantifiable results to describe your accomplishments. In contrast, your LinkedIn profile can provide more detail about your career history and accomplishments, as well as your interests and passions outside of work. It's also important to keep in mind that the language used in a LinkedIn profile can be more conversational and personal, allowing you to showcase your communication skills and personality, for a much friendly read in comparison to the very traditional resume.

Frequency of updates
Finally, it's worth noting that the frequency of updates for a resume and a LinkedIn profile can also differ. Your resume should be updated whenever you're applying for a new job or making significant changes to your career path, while your LinkedIn profile should be regularly updated with your latest accomplishments, experiences, and industry news to keep it fresh and engaging for your network. As a social media platform, it is important that you post often, engage with others, and expand your network by making connection requests.

So, while a resume and a LinkedIn profile share some similarities, they are distinct documents that can serve different purposes and audiences. For a well-rounded job search, it is important for job seekers to take advantage of not just a well-written resume, but to also optimize your LinkedIn profile as well to give you even more opportunities to be found by recruiters and hiring managers. Understanding these differences and tailoring each document accordingly is crucial for any job seeker looking to stand out in today's competitive job market.

To learn more about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, schedule a call today to speak with one of our career experts. 
 
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