Laid Off? Here’s How to Make LinkedIn Work for You

Every day, hundreds, sometimes thousands of people are impacted in an instant. How has this become the norm? Remember, behind those numbers are real people with families, dreams, financial responsibilities, illnesses and careers they’ve worked hard to build. A layoff is an unexpected life shift that can redefine someone’s path. I should know; I was impacted last year after 10 years of loyalty and dedication to a company and team I loved and honestly, would have retired from if I had a say. The shame, low self confidence, sadness and anger I felt following that news were waves of emotions I didn't know I could feel all at once.

Having spent my entire career in a niche area of HR, HR Technology to be exact, I’ve worked hand-in-hand with recruiters and led the implementation of applicant tracking systems. I know exactly how the backend works and what recruiters are really looking for when they scan profiles.

Did you know that over 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates? If your profile isn’t optimized, you might be missing out. 40M+ people search for jobs on LinkedIn weekly and a complete profile makes you 40x more likely to get opportunities.

Here are the top 5 things I’d do to optimize a LinkedIn profile, boost visibility, and stand out to recruiters so you’re one step closer to landing the role you deserve.

1) Optimize Your Headline - Your headline doesn’t have to be your job title. Think of it like an search engine optimization (SEO) boost. Include industry-relevant keywords that a recruiter might search for. For example, Operations Manager | Process Optimization | Cross-Functional Leadership. Keep it clear, confident, and aligned with your goals.

2) Customize Your "About" Section to Tell Your Career Story - This is your chance to go beyond the résumé. Share who you are, what drives you, and the value you bring, while naturally using those keywords from above. Make it easy for recruiters to understand your unique strengths within a few seconds.

3) Use the "Open to Work" Feature Strategically - When activated, this lets recruiters know you're open to opportunities, even if you're currently employed. Make sure your preferences (job titles, locations, work types) are updated so the algorithm shows you in relevant searches.

4) List All Relevant Skills - Skills are one of the top filters recruiters use when searching. Add 30 relevant skills (yes, 30!) that reflect your experience and goals. Prioritize those that align with your target roles, especially ones you've seen in job descriptions. Don't be afraid to take directly from the job descriptions!

5) Engage Regularly, Even Once a Week Makes a Difference - Like, comment, or share content in your field to stay active in the algorithm. Posting your own insights, articles, or even a career reflection now and then helps keep you visible and top of mind for your network and recruiters.

Lastly, if you’ve recently been laid off, know this: you are not alone. Take a moment to pause. Give yourself the space to breathe, reflect, and think about what you truly want next. This isn’t the end of your story, it’s the start of a new chapter.

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

#believeinyourself #yougotthis #laidoffmotivation