Resume or LinkedIn? Which is More Important?

Clients seeking employment often come to me with the idea that they just need a resume or a LinkedIn profile to successfully land their next job. As a result, they think one meeting to brush up one or the other will be all they need. After all, if you’re sending out your resume, why would LinkedIn matter? And if you’ve got a great LinkedIn profile that is getting attention, why do you need a resume? Isn’t it all the same information? The truth is, both are important for different reasons, and no, they don’t contain the same exact information. Some believe resumes will become a thing of the past, and I don't disagree, but for the time being, they remain an important element of any job search.

I like to think of LinkedIn as your ‘public resume’. It’s the information that you’ve decided to share with the world to show your expertise and your brand to garner the attention of potential hiring managers and recruiters. But it should just be a glimpse into the full value you bring to your work. Yes, highlight your experience and particular areas of expertise, but leave them curious and wanting to know more about you. That will encourage them to reach out to you.

That’s where the resume comes in. Your resume is more specific, listing accomplishments that you’ve achieved throughout your career. And, yes, your resume should be adjusted for each job you apply for, to highlight the experience you have that is directly relevant to the position you’re applying for. Not every resume should include your entire body of work. Once you’ve caught the attention of someone via LinkedIn and they reach out to you wanting more, you can supply them with a resume that shares the relevant in-depth detail about your work with quantifiable data to demonstrate your value tailored to the position in question. Sure, you may have experience with bookkeeping, but if the position is in learning and development, why include that experience? Keep it relevant.

If you’ve provided the right amount of information and piqued their interest, an interview is bound to follow. That’s when they get to experience the full YOU with all your experience and value up close!

So, don’t ignore either one. They are both important and both play a role in your job search. Not sure where to start? There certainly is a lot to it, but a career coach can help you get their faster. They’ll help identify your brand and develop the materials to properly broadcast that brand to the right audience.

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