A LinkedIn expert on the hacks that'll get you hired.

It’s no secret that being a woman in the workplace is a challenge in itself. In Australia, we have a workforce that's 45 per cent female, but only 32 per cent of our leadership positions are held by women. And I’m afraid I don’t come bearing good news — we’re also in the midst of what’s referred to as a "labour market downturn", which disproportionately affects women in leadership roles. 

But having women in the workforce is — of course — critical, not just because, um, we need the money, but also because studies show that women leaders are far more likely to advocate for policies that support flexible work arrangements, career progression and internal mobility for other women. 

With that said, in a tough job market, we’re all on lookout for tips to help us stand out, which is why Mamamia spoke to LinkedIn Career Expert Cayla Dengate for her advice on insights on how to get hired.

1. Highlight your personal brand upfront with a compelling headline.  

If there’s one thing that will make you look polished in a competitive job market, Dengate says firstly that it’s having a complete LinkedIn profile. 

"If you want LinkedIn to work for you, you're going to need to complete your profile — so filling out every section, writing a compelling headline and providing potential employers with a comprehensive picture of your capabilities and experiences," she recommends. 

Attracting the notice of potential employers can be tricky, so Dengate's advice is to make sure you stand out from the very beginning using the executive summary feature on LinkedIn. 

Dengate says: "In today’s competitive market, personal brand is crucial so make sure your personality and passions shine through. You can add these details in your executive summary on LinkedIn and help to personalise your profile."

"A compelling headline will help you get noticed more quickly by recruiters and hiring managers. It's the first thing employers see when they visit your profile. It should be concise, attention grabbing and reflect your professional identity."

As a final touch, it’s useful to have a friend or family member do a proofread: "Spelling mistakes are never a good look. It’s always wise to proofread content before publishing on your feed."

2. Sometimes your most impressive skills don’t come from the workplace at all. 

For women who've taken some time out of the workforce, especially to take on caring responsibilities, it can be tempting to ruminate on the hard skills you lack — including recent work experience in the relevant industry. But that approach disregards the importance of your soft skills, which can be just as useful in the roles you’re applying for. 

A shift towards skills-based hiring in many workplaces means that those soft skills are becoming increasingly valuable, so Dengate emphasises that it’s critical not to sell yourself short to hiring managers. 

According to LinkedIn data, a skills-first model increases the representation of women in roles where they are currently underrepresented — which could lead to a 32 per cent greater increase in gender diversity in leadership roles within Australia.

"Skills-based hiring is an approach to attracting and retaining talent that pulls focus away from the university degrees, other formal education, relevant industry experience and job titles, and instead shifts the focus onto a candidate's core skillset," she explains. 

Watch: What would happen if employers hired based on skills instead? Meet Lucy. Post continues below.

"Any parent knows that caring for children is a masterclass in soft skills, from negotiation, to adaptability, empathy, leadership and multi-tasking. It's these key skills that are increasingly in high demand thanks to workforce changes brought about by AI. Skills-based hiring allows parents to claim these skills they've been perfecting day in, day out, without feeling the need to 'prove' themselves with additional qualifications."

Dengate recommends including your key skills — soft and hard — in your LinkedIn profile or CV so recruiters and potential employers can find what they’re looking for more easily. 

3. Highlight the learnings from your career breaks.

Similarly, there's no need to hide your career breaks online, or on your resume. 

Dengate says: "LinkedIn has a feature where you can add Career Breaks to the Experience section on your profile. This addition to your LinkedIn profile allows you to add context to your career breaks for potential employers. The feature allows you to select a specific type of career break or leave the career type blank and add details in the description section." 

This lets you give context to any career breaks, and also highlight what skills you've learnt that you could apply in your next job.

4. Ditch the negativity if you want to impress. 

If you're looking for a new role because of a bad experience in a prior workplace, it's easy to fall into the trap of over-emphasising the reasons you’re leaving. 

Dengate warns against getting too negative too quickly, advising: "Complaining about your boss or co-workers in an interview is a no-no. Negativity is an instant repellent to others in the workplace. At the hiring stage I would try to keep it minimal and professional, unless there is a particular reason you need to be mentioning prior negative experiences in the workplace. It’s always better to be positive, although it's perfectly acceptable to mention why you are choosing to leave your current workplace if it is relevant to the discussion."

5. Use your 'weaknesses' to show a culture fit. 

"Tell me about your weaknesses" must be one of the most fraught interview questions of all time. Should you reveal a genuine weakness, and risk coming across like a less appealing candidate, or answer with a weakness that’s really a strength ("My weakness is I work too hard and care too much?"). 

Dengate says: "When employers ask this question, they're not trying to sniff out a problem. Rather it's a chance for you to show that you'll be a good culture fit. Tell an anecdote that demonstrates your self-awareness and desire to improve yourself. It's an opportunity to link back to the role you're applying for."

6. Dress for the job you want. Literally. 

Knowing what to wear to a job interview can be another stressor on top of an already nerve-wracking process. Dengate recommends planning an outfit that reflects the job you’re going for, rather than your work history or the job you’re currently in. 

She says: "It’s very industry dependent. Do your research and check what type of work attire is appropriate. An outfit can showcase your personality which can help you in the role, particularly for creative industries. Make sure you look presentable and if it’s virtual, making sure you have a decent backdrop is always a good idea to show you are making an effort."

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Feature Image: Getty.