In final rounds with a company and after the interviews, they've continued to check out my LinkedIn.

11 Comments

1. AnonymousMarch 22,2023 at 6:50PM UTC

   If you want the role with this specific company, then make sure your LinkedIn clearly matches what you’ve told them about your background. Don’t give them reason to be confused or to wonder if you’re not being truthful.

2. AnonymousMarch 22,2023 at 7:49PM UTC

   I appreciated your advice and added the positions to my LinkedIn. If they browse my LinkedIn again, I wanted to have them listed. Thank you!

3. AnonymousMarch 22,2023 at 7:48PM UTC

   I've got the same issues with wanting to do something from my "distant" past.

   I'm currently using a Top Voice LInkedIn coach who is very well known and respected in the industry to revamp LI, resume, cover letter, etc.

   They had me put my "older experience" in a separate experience section in the description box of my furtherest back employer I list, as the jobs were with that company - goes back to 1996.

   I so disagree with putting freelance and overseas' positions in volunteer. To me, as a recruiter, it would appear you don't know how to use LinkedIn.

   Additionally, I don't really think that career coach had your best interest at heart. PLEASE move those things back under experience. Actually when inputting your experience there is now a drop down menu where you can choose the type of work such as Freelance, etc. CHOOSE THAT where appropriate.

   Make sure to also address your experience in your About section and cover letters. Find a way to show transitional skills from earlier to your current jobs, because I'm quite sure you couldn't do your current jobs without the older ones. Good Luck to you.

4. AnonymousMarch 22,2023 at 7:53PM UTC

   Thank you, Carrie. I added the relevant positions back into my experience section. I'll need to spend time figuring out the best way to include the multiple roles from overseas and freelance. The coach wanted me to remove them as it pushed some of my relevant experience further down the page and she worried that recruiters would overlook the director and SLT positions in favor of the one-off roles.

5. AnonymousMarch 23,2023 at 7:10PM UTC

   My suggestion for the LinkedIn freelance positions (I'm assuming there are several things you worked on), is to click to add a new work experience, title the project you did, choose freelancer as employment type, enter name of the company, their location (US or Overseas), complete location (hybrid, office, remote) if you want, enter dates, industry, and in the description put your achievements/successes with the project.

   I've also included an article from LI on how to enter freelance work on both your LI profile and on your resume. I hope this helps you out.

   I wish you so much success. Hey, connect with me on LinkedIn if you'd like.

   https://bit.ly/40a43wJ

6. Sandy NagelMarch 22,2023 at 8:36PM UTC

   I agree with Carrie. Move those back to experiences. I was at one company for 21 years. (Only left because the church closed permanently). On my resume, i inserted 1 position prior to the 21 years position because the experience and skills gained there are still relevant and the position afterwards which is the one I currently work in. I also agree with Carrie in showing your skills/experience in the ABOUT/SUMMARY and/or cover letter. Your freelance and overseas positions are just that positions where you used your skills. Highlight not just your experience but specific accomplishments. I.e. increased sales by. % by implementing a new sales approach. GOOD LUCK

7. AnonymousMarch 23,2023 at 12:37PM UTC

   I recommend having your LinkedIn match your resume as much as possible, so that it doesn't look like you are trying to hide something.

   LinkedIn doesn't require you to put in the dates for prior jobs, but keep in mind that not listing dates might cause the jobs to appear out of order. But as long as the jobs on your resume appear on your LinkedIn, it shouldn't look like you're hiding something.

   You could also consider using a "functional resume" format in the future, which doesn't tie experience to specific roles you have had. I get more interviews using this format.

8. Shelly EdwardsMarch 23,2023 at 1:26PM UTC

   My advice is to get a new career coach. Yours sounds terrible. Your LinkedIn should match your resume. Your experience should not be under education. Volunteer opportunities should be listed as such. The more difficult you make your profile or resume, the less likely an HR person, recruiter or hiring manager are to review it.

9. Jennifer TaylorMarch 23,2023 at 1:33PM UTC

   I agree. Work experience, especially experience that shows achievements and value, don’t belong under volunteer roles.

10. AnonymousMarch 23,2023 at 5:35PM UTC

    There is a place in LI where you can uncheck the updates button for showing updates to people who are in your network and following you. Uncheck that box. Additionally if you are past the point of interviews with the hiring manager definitely if they are the one that is looking at you send them a direct note and let them know that your coach has been moving things around for you on the page without your knowledge and that you put a stop to it immediately. Let them know of your continued interest in the role and also if you think you need to explain the movement in greater detail offer up the opportunity in a call vs in writing as you definitely don't want to suggest a cover up. As you are in an active search it's not atypical for folks to move things around on LI, every time you make a move there it bubbles you up to the top in the feed of people whom you are connected to and in your network. That's just the way their system works. Hope you get the job!

11. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMarch 23,2023 at 5:48PM UTC

    LinkedIn doesn't send updates on previous positions - only your current one. But if she is looking at your profile, I can't see how removing older/more junior roles would work against you.