This post was written by our contributor, Kristi.
LinkedIn has become increasingly important in the job market.
If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, and you’re looking for a job, stop what you’re doing (right after you read this post) and create a LinkedIn profile.
Whether a company initially finds you on LinkedIn, or first sees your resume in their pile and then goes to your LinkedIn, most companies looking to hire will look at the LinkedIn Profile of their prospective job candidates.
LinkedIn is a truly invaluable social media account in that you get to decide what someone’s first impression of you is. If your LinkedIn profile matches your skill set on your resume, you’ll most likely be added to the top of the pile.
So which skill sets should you have on your resume to make yourself look like the most worthy candidate? The following 15 job skills will help you make a great impression on LinkedIn and with potential employers, hopefully landing you your dream job.
1) Social media management
Social media management is an essential skill for most companies now. Make sure to include this skill on our resume, but be ready to prove yourself in an interview. Have active accounts so that you can demonstrate that you understand the nuances of each different social media outlet. Show that you know how to use social media platforms for a company’s benefit.
2) Data analytics
Companies are always looking for new employees that can take data and turn it into a business plan. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that in the next ten years, one of the fastest growing career markets will involve analytics. People with a strong career as a statistician or information security analyst will get swept up in a heartbeat if that list that career skill on LinkedIn.
3) SQL
SQL, which is short for Structured Query Language, is a special-purpose programming language that data analysts use for stream processing or managing data. Listing SQL will show interviewers that you have the technical knowledge necessary for data analytics.
4) Middleware and integration software
Understanding middleware and integration software systems are a valuable and attractive skill set. It allows you to integrate different products from different companies into one system and makes you a valuable asset to any company’s IT team.
5) SEO/SEM Marketing
Most businesses use search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) to help their website rank well in organic search engine results. The higher a website ranks, the more visibility it will have to users, and the more likely that business is to have more customers. Understanding the ins and outs of SEO and SEM will make you a valuable asset to any company.
6) Digital and online marketing
People who can claim digital marketing as a skill are good at a broad range of marketing strategies, including SEO and SEM, content marketing, e-commerce, email marketing, and social media marketing, among others. Apply this catch-all term for targeted and efficient advertising skills to your resume and you will land a new job in no time at all.
7) Perl/Python/Ruby
Perl, Python, and Ruby are coding languages for software development. Having the ability to parse software code and fix programming issues will help set your resume apart from the rest.
8) Second language
As more and more companies go global, knowing a second language will make you an asset to any company. Especially since, according to Forbes, only 18% of Americans claim to be proficient in a second language, listing bilingual on your LinkedIn will set you apart.
9) Computer graphics and animation
Companies see those with computer graphics skills as the people who will be able to take the data and advertising they use and turn them into beautiful or effective advertisements to make the company more successful.
10) Java development
Java is one of the most popular programming languages for client-server web applications. With an estimated 9 million program developers using Java, you almost need to know the programming language just to keep up. Knowing Java is great skill to add to your resume.
11) Web development
With so much business conducted online anymore, from web design, building websites from the ground up, or the creation of content management systems, web development is a hugely marketable skill.
12) Mac, Linux, and Unix systems
Mac, Linux, and Unix systems are operating systems for computer hardware and software that are used for game development, internet servers, and mainframes, etc. Having a strong background in these systems would make you a great technical asset to any company.
13) Network and information security
In this age of computer hacking and stolen information, no company can survive without a team to look after information security. Prevention of unauthorized access, malware, and viruses are just a few bits of this job description. IT security specialists keep companies secure from malicious cyber attacks that could cost them thousands, if not millions, of dollars. List this skill on LinkedIn and you won’t be unemployed very long.
14) Cloud and distributed computing
Computer science majors should be sure to add distributed computing skills to their LinkedIn resume. It also allows organizations to add software in smaller increments as needed as their business grows. They’re able to provide a better price for performance, saving companies money.
15) Data engineering
Data engineering jobs require a deep and comprehensive understanding of information processing programs to help organizations with strategic planning. These jobs require knowledge in data mining, programming experience, and a strong background in statistics. Data engineers are invaluable to organizations.
With a killer LinkedIn profile and any of these skill sets added to your resume, you won’t be on your job hunt for very long at all. Employers will pounce if they see even just a few of these hugely marketable skills.
What skills would you recommend for a LinkedIn profile? What would you add to this list?
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This is a great list Kristi! I try to go through my LinkedIn profile several times a year, on some sort of regular basis, to add things to my profile. We get business through both of our profiles, so it makes sense to continue to tweak it.
Awhile back I signed up with Team Treehouse. I don’t work for them nor anything. Anyway, I started learning skills through them and I’m learning a lot. It’s definitely more fulfilling than actually shopping out of habit. Not being judgey, I really did shop out of habit, and that becomes a problem when you’re not actually enjoying your things. I scaled back on my shopping, I’m happy to say.
Anyway, I think C#, Python, Ruby, are all helpful and a second language is also helpful. I have an acquaintance that was able to keep her job during the great recession when she told her boss that she spoke Spanish fluently. The acquaintance lives in the southwest where there is a huge Hispanic population and on this particular day they laid off EVERYONE in the office except for her.
They were going to lay her off and she salvaged her job because she spoke up and said she speaks Spanish. She’s doing great now though. You never know when these skills become critical in this new era that we’re living in.
I guess I’m in the world’s hottest field right now (recruiters reach out often, so I think it’s fair to say that you’re right about these).
I will say, knowing how to do these things is different than enjoying them. Just as a resume is a marketing document, your LinkedIn Profile is too. I would avoid adding these skills unless you are trying to find a job in IT or BI.
This is an awesome list! I know so many clients/friends who have gotten jobs or job leads just because they had great descriptions or skills in-demand on LinkedIn. It really has become a great tool for job searching and if you have any of these, it’s a must.
FrugalRules That’s a great habit to be in! LinkedIn can be a powerful business tool if you know how to use it to your advantage.
EverydayMoxie That’s a great story. It goes to show just how powerful certain skils are for getting you a job or, like your friend, helping keep your job.
Hannah UnplannedFinance Absolutely, Hannah. Only list skills you would be happy getting paid to do. But even just knowing how to do them could help set you apart for an interview.
blonde_finance Absolutely! Using SEO to optimize your Linkedin skill descriptions really is a must when you’re looking for a job.
This is some great information! Everyone needs to have a kick ass LinkedIn profile. Many of my job opportunities have come through LinkedIn!