Want to advance your non-profit career? Recruiters often use LinkedIn to find talent, but if your profile isn’t optimized, you might be invisible. Here’s how to make yourself more discoverable.
Complete Your Profile
A half-filled profile won’t help you stand out. Use a professional photo, a clear headline (e.g., “Senior Fundraising Manager | Global Health & Human Rights”), and ensure your ‘About’ section is strong.
Turn on “Open to Work”
Enable this setting so recruiters know you’re open to opportunities. You can make it visible only to recruiters if needed.
Optimize Your Skills Section
Include a mix of broad and specific skills to match recruiter searches. For example:
- General: Fundraising, Grant Writing, Program Management
- Specific: Major Gifts, Corporate Partnerships, Advocacy Campaigns
- Highly Specific: EU Funding, USAID Grants
Use Standard Job Titles
Recruiters search by job titles, so avoid creative or vague ones in favour of more standard industry terms. For example, instead of “Impact Growth Champion,” use “Director of Business Development.”
Be Concise but Informative
Include key information like your job title, organization, dates, key responsibilities and succinct but pertinent information.
Use InMail Wisely
Reach out to recruiters only for roles where you meet the must-have qualifications. Sending messages for unrelated jobs won’t get responses.
Engage with the NGO Community
Post, comment, and follow organizations and leaders. This increases your visibility and positions you as an engaged professional.
Understand LinkedIn vs. Your CV
LinkedIn is your personal brand, not just an online CV. Use it to showcase your expertise, thought leadership, and professional network activity.
🚀 Extra Tip: Identify the Right Keywords for Success 🔍
Look at job postings that interest you. Identify frequently used terms used in the job listing and add them to your profile’s ‘Skills’ section, summary, and job descriptions to boost visibility.
Need help optimizing your LinkedIn profile? Our experts can refine your profile, boost your keywords, and position you for NGO roles. Get one-on-one support to stand out and attract recruiters.
