This simple change takes mere minutes and could enhance your professional brand

If you've embarked on a job search, there are many bases you need to cover. While having a glowing CV is a big part of the battle, you should also take the time to consider your online presence.

Nine out of 10 recruiters use social media to research candidates, which means that you need to up your game online if you want to bag your dream role. Aside from cleaning up your Twitter account and making your Facebook private, there's another way to enhance your standing online.

You should have already revamped your LinkedIn profile and started to use it as a job-search tool, but could you be doing more? Customising your LinkedIn URL may seem like an insignificant change, but it could make a real difference. Here's why you should take the time to do it.

It looks ultra professional

Finding the top candidate can be a tough job. Recruiters get a minimum of 54 CVs for each role they post! They have to go through each one to determine whether the person is the right fit for the role. With that in mind, anything that can give you a slight edge is certainly worth doing.

Customising your LinkedIn profile URL may not take long, but it shows that you're willing to go the extra mile. That matters. This small change could be the difference between ending up in the "Unfortunately, you have not been selected" pile and the "We'd love to arrange an interview" pile.

It shows an eye for detail

When it comes to most job roles, details matter. Whether you're applying to be an accountant or a proofreader, proving that you care about the finer things is a savvy move. Not only does having a customised URL mean that you understand how tech works, but it also shows that you've thought long and hard about your profile.

Customising your URL means that you have an eye for detail, want to present yourself in the best light, and care about your public image. All of this puts you in a positive light when it comes to your professional career.

It could make you easier to find

Here's the kicker: There are currently over 800 million LinkedIn users. Unless you have a particularly rare or exotic name, chances are that there is someone out there with the same one as you. It's your job to make sure that recruiters find the right "Tom Smith" profile.

How to customise your LinkedIn URL

Now that you understand the importance of customising your LinkedIn URL, what are you waiting for? Luckily, you don't have to be a genius hacker to make this small (yet significant) change to your profile. In fact, the entire process should take you no longer than a couple of minutes. Here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Go to the top of your LinkedIn homepage and click on the "Me" icon. From there, you should see a drop-down menu. Choose "View profile."

Step 2: Head to the top-right side of the page and click the button that says "Edit public profile & URL." You will find that this option opens up a new tab in your browser.

Step 3: Under the "Edit URL" tab, click the small pencil icon next to your current URL. Doing so will mean that you can edit the link to make it shorter and snappier.

So long as the URL isn't already taken by someone else, you should be able to choose whatever you please. Hit "Save" and you're done!

Choose your URL with care

When it comes to choosing your new and improved LinkedIn URL, keep things simple ‒ the aim is to make sure that recruiters can find you quickly and easily. You can use a combination of five to 20 numbers and letters, but no spaces or special characters.

So what should you choose? The most obvious answer is your name as it appears on your current CV. As this is the main piece of information that recruiters will have about you, it's likely what they will use to search for you on the platform.

Of course, you could also use a mixture of your name and your job role. This is especially helpful if you have a common name, as doing so may make it easier for recruiters to find you when searching for candidates.   

A word of warning: LinkedIn states that you can only change your URL five times every six months. If you're an indecisive person, you might want to think about what you want yours to be before you make the switch. After your fifth attempt at changing the URL, you will be locked out and won't be able to do anything for half a year.

Got a spare minute? There's no time like the present when it comes to customising your LinkedIn URL. This quick edit will enhance your personal brand online and make you a stronger candidate during your job search.  When it's easier for recruiters to find you, you'll make a positive impression and may be one step closer to the interview.

Is your CV as strong as your LinkedIn profile? Submit it for a free CV review to find out.

Recommended Reading:

Related Articles: