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IT recruiters use sites such as LinkedIn, Monster, and CareerBuilder on a daily basis.  From searching for prospective candidates to building their networks, these sites provide technical recruiting companies the opportunity to follow trends and updates in the information technology industry.  If you are actively seeking IT jobs and have an account on these sites, be weary of these common mistakes.

Your Profile Picture

LinkedIn is not Facebook nor is it Twitter, so never mix up the two.  Profile pictures should be professional headshots, not full body, a picture of your children, nor a vacation photo of you and your spouse.  If you do not have a professional headshot, be sure to use an up to date photo of yourself with a neutral background.

Keep it Objective

While you can add someone you met last weekend on Facebook, the IT staffing industry strongly discourages you from doing so on LinkedIn.  Leave connecting for those you share a direct relationship with.  The purpose of connecting is not to have the most connections in your network.  Rather, it is the quality of those relationships that is important.  When a technical recruiter requests to add someone to their network, they should personalize the message to explain why they wish to connect.  IT recruiting firms should only request recommendations from those who can provide an accurate review of their skills and performance.

Maintain Your Profile

Your profile should be up to date with an accurate description of your tasks and responsibilities.  Use keywords in your title and maintain a public profile so it appears on Google searches.  Add relevant groups that reflect your career goals and ideal IT job.  Never post a status that makes others feel uncomfortable.  Rule of thumb: if you would not say it in the IT recruiting office, do not post it.

Check in for Technical Recruiters Warn LinkedIn Don’ts: Part II for a realistic perspective of why you should be mindful of your LinkedIn behavior!