adriana michaels

BY ADRIANA MICHAELS
Senior Operations Recruiter

It’s a red flag when I come across a candidate whose LinkedIn profile doesn’t match their resume.  

This can suggest a lack of professionalism. It can also indicate that you, as a candidate, are not detail-oriented. Worst case, when your resume and LinkedIn profile don’t match, it can make it look like you’re lying or hiding something. 

At the same time, though, this is something I come across more often than you’d think, especially with younger, lower-level candidates who have just entered the job market. That being said, I’d like to share the most common disconnects I see between LinkedIn profiles and resumes. 

 

Education

 

Education is one of the most important sections of a resume, and it makes sense that recruiters will compare education history on a resume versus education history on a LinkedIn profile. 

One thing we watch out for is misleading or false information when it comes to obtaining degrees. Candidates who are currently pursuing a degree should note that on both their resumes and LinkedIn profiles. The same rule applies for incomplete education. Simply putting the dates you attended school can be misleading, indicating you have already finished that course of study.

 

Work History 

 

Work history is arguably the most important section on both your resumes and LinkedIn profiles. This is the section recruiters and hiring managers look to to see if your experience and qualifications match their requirements. 

I’ve had candidates list their true employment dates on their LinkedIn, but adjust those dates on their resume to minimize their employment gaps. With the wealth of information you can find on the internet, it isn’t hard to “fact check” this information; when a recruiter or hiring manager inevitably does, you look untruthful and untrustworthy.  

I’ve also had candidates tailor their resumes to a job they’re applying a bit too much. It is true that you should tailor your resume to each job you apply to, but I advise against removing job history, even if not directly related to the job you’re applying to. That would leave you explaining long employment gaps. 

Instead, use phrases from the job description you’re looking at when describing your previous job responsibilities. For example, if you previously worked as a waitress and are applying to a project manager position, explain how your serving experience has equipped you with the ability to multitask and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment. 

And there’s no need to worry about the length of your resume. The rule of thumb used to be that you should keep your resume to one page, but it is becoming increasingly acceptable to have two-page resumes as long as the information you provide is relevant. 

 

We can help

 

At the end of the day, we as recruiters know that you are more than your resume or LinkedIn profile. Sometimes, the candidates who look the worst on paper end up being strong candidates. 

We want to set our candidates up for success. Before we submit candidates to our clients, we help our candidates workshop their resumes. We’re here to help you avoid mistakes, like an unmatched resume and LinkedIn profile, that put you at risk of looking unprofessional.

let’s talk

SEND US A MESSAGE