LinkedIn vs CV

Which is best for finding your dream job in 2024?

Photograph: Pexels

Text: Luke Hannon

The case for Linkedin

In November of this year, LinkedIn surpassed 1 billion members.

Let that sink in. LinkedIn is unequalled as a website when job searching, especially if you're in the tech industry. On your LinkedIn profile, you have prime real estate to showcase your skills, experience and knowledge to LinkedIn's vast audience.

Don't waste the opportunity.

By filling in the "Experience" section on your profile, you'll become searchable by every recruiter using the platform. Recruiters use Boolean keyword searches to find candidates for their jobs. Including relevant keywords in your profile will dramatically increase your chances of being found.

Your LinkedIn profile becomes your online CV.

Now that you've got this sorted, the next thing is to start building your brand. By creating a solid personal brand, you can develop your thought leadership. Build this by writing and commenting on your expertise.

But what should I write about?

Write about what you know. Write about your experience. If you're a software engineer, talk about the project you've worked on. If you work in sales, share insights on your sales process. Whatever you write, ensure it's informative, interesting and (most importantly) relatable. Building a personal brand on LinkedIn is the best thing you can do to skyrocket your chances of landing your dream job. It'll mean that recruiters and hiring managers will come to you.

Speaking of which…

LinkedIn's biggest strength is its ability to help you build a network. LinkedIn's single most unexplored capability is how it can create lifelong connections. Not just "Please accept my invite. I'd love to connect" surface-level connections. I mean targeted connections. Mutually beneficial connections. Connections to last a lifetime. You'll multiply your chances of landing your dream job by strategically building your network of recruiters, hiring managers and industry connections.

So build away friends.

"In November of this year, LinkedIn surpassed 1 billion members."

The case for the CV

If LinkedIn is for everyone, the perfect CV is a precision-focused tool.

A recruiter will look through dozens of LinkedIn profiles a day. With the right CV, you can ensure the recruiter stops at yours. The CV's greatest advantage over LinkedIn is that you can tailor your CV specifically for the job you're applying for. You can use all the relevant keywords to maximise your chances of being invited to an interview.

In short, you can make your CV unique.

The key criticism people get against using a CV is its strength. Critics say a CV is worse than a LinkedIn profile because it can only be viewed by a small handful of people at a time. They say that CVs do not have the reach of a well-written LinkedIn profile.

In fact, that's their greatest strength.

To write a strong CV and maximise your chances of getting an interview, you want to read through the job description and then, in painstaking detail, highlight the keywords, themes and essential character traits.

Specificity is key!

The final result?

The reality is both a CV and a LinkedIn profile are crucial to landing your dream job.

Both are excellent tools for finding your new job, with different strengths and weaknesses. LinkedIn is best for reaching a wider audience, building your brand and connecting with your dream company.

In short, it's your broad brush.

On the other hand, your CV is best when you've already found the job you want to apply for. Its strength is that, unlike your LinkedIn profile, you can tailor it to each job application. You can emphasise different skills and experiences for each job, maximising your chances of an interview.

Your CV is your precision instrument.

To land your dream job, you must have a strong LinkedIn profile to build awareness of your skills and knowledge and a tailored CV to close the deal.

Good luck finding your dream job in 2024!