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Last week, the IT recruiters of AVID Technical Resources expressed their opinion on the don’ts of LinkedIn.  If you are a prospective candidate or technical recruiter and remain unconvinced, you may need more reasoning to see the points.   Here are some reality checks to keep both IT headhunters and potential candidates in line on their usage of the professional networking site.

Your Profile Picture

It might be tempting to use that photo of you from five years ago, but if you’re not using current photos, it could be difficult for your IT recruiter or client to identify you when you first meet.  Save family and vacation photos for your desk.  Choose a photo that displays your confidence and professionalism.  If you use an inappropriate photo, technical recruiting firms might weed you out of their prospective candidate pool.

Keep It Objective

Imagine calling a client and running through your introduction spiel, then going to add them on LinkedIn.  As you do so, you realize you have already added them.  This not only shows that you do not manage your account, but it also appears unprofessional and a poor reflection on behalf of IT staffing firms.  Worse, if you are just adding random connections, these people can click the “I don’t know this person” button.  If a certain number of people deem you unknown, you will be booted from the site.

Maintain Your Profile

If you start following competitors or random IT recruiting companies, your LinkedIn account will be filled with clutter and could put you on your company’s radar for questionable activity.  Be mindful of where you choose to link your profile and which IT jobs you follow.  Keep your positions and titles up to date so your profile accurately reflects your current standing.

LinkedIn profiles are excellent resources for IT professionals, so do not abuse this privilege!