One of the most important aspects of being a contractor is marketing yourself. The better you are at networking, the more opportunities you have to find new clients. Today, one great way of networking is via social media. LinkedIn is one of the best social networks to focus on if you are a contractor. It has over 347 million members, 40% of users check the site daily and 85% of hiring managers and recruiters will check out contractors on LinkedIn before inviting them for an interview. It has become the largest candidate database in the world and is a key place to source both work and contractor talent. Therefore the more you use LinkedIn to your advantage, the better your chance of finding opportunities. Contact Aston Black Milton Keynes for further contractor advice and small business tax services.
If you’re new to the platform, LinkedIn can seem a little confusing. However, once you get to grips with it, it will just become another part of your workday. Here’s our guide on how to use this social network to grow your business:
Your Profile
Your profile needs to be 100% completed for it to start ranking higher in people’s searches. That means all fields need to be accurately filled out from your educational history to your employment experience. To really succeed, you need to make sure every aspect of your account makes you look appealing to potential clients. This also means that you need a clear, professional profile picture and a concise profile headline to describe what you do clearly and succinctly. Try to include terms that people are likely to search for when looking for someone with your skillset, including that you’re a contractor so people know that you’re not looking for permanent work. If you’re actively looking for new clients, make sure to make your availability clear to recruiters so that they can understand how open you are to new opportunities.
Your Experience
It’s recommended that you list contracts in reverse chronological order on LinkedIn, largely due to the constraints of the LinkedIn interface. There is a strong argument for putting your limited company as your current position to keep in good standing with the HMRC, although this can be confusing to recruiters so I would suggest having a portfolio of case studies in your projects section linking off from each position.
Your Skills
You are 13 times more likely to be found by virtue of having skills listed on your profile. You can list up to 50 skills on your profile, which other users can then endorse you for. Essentially, your connections on LinkedIn can confirm that you know what you’re doing in the area you say you are an expert in. The more LinkedIn endorsements you have, the more valuable you’ll be seen for that skillset. It’s also valuable to add a selection of key skills into your summary so that employers can quickly see your value as a contractor.
Networking
Once your profile is set up, you’ll need to build a network of industry peers and potential employers. There are several ways that you can do this, but the most important aspect is to be active. To do this, you can join groups, and make an effort to find people you know and connect with them. If you have friends on the platform, you can find them and endorse their skills if you know that they are good at what they do, which will encourage them to do the same for you. You should also look for potential clients yourself, and connect with them. Search for companies located in your area, for example, or even ones you’ve worked for before; they may have forgotten you, and seeing you on LinkedIn will remind them the next time they’re looking for a contractor.
If you follow the above tips you will be able to create a strong network of people that could benefit you in the long run as a contractor. For future contracting tips and advice contact Aston Black chartered accountants Milton Keynes.