Spoiler alert! Updating your resume is NOT going to get you your dream job. (Don’t get me wrong – your resume is an important piece of your job search strategy, but it’s not the only piece.) You know what CAN help you land your dream job? Sprucing up your LinkedIn profile!

There’s a lot of talk about resumes and LinkedIn: Which one is more essential in the job search process? I’ve read several articles, participated in polls, and attended webinars dedicated to this topic. Some experts go as far as to say that LinkedIn will replace resumes! Although I don’t think that will happen any time soon, as a former recruiter, I believe LinkedIn is more important than your resume. Here’s why.

LinkedIn provides a comfortable + easy way to connect with other professionals—virtually. And has an extensive reach. Check out these stats: 

• 57+ million companies are represented on LinkedIn.
• There are 300+ thousand jobs posted on LinkedIn.
• LinkedIn generates 3x more conversations than Twitter and Facebook.
• And my favorite stat: 3 people are hired every minute on LinkedIn!

Where else can you click a button to connect with 774 million professionals around the world?! If those statistics aren’t enough to raise an eyebrow, read on for a couple more compelling reasons to update your profile.

Engage with decision-makers.

Most job seekers use LinkedIn to apply for jobs the minute a new posting pops into their feed. That “easy apply” button is tempting! But LinkedIn should be so much more than that—kick your strategy up a notch by engaging with decision-makers. This helps break the ice and invites a gentle introduction.

Here’s a quick story to put this into context.

In my last corporate role, I was hiring for a position on my team. Naturally, I wanted to find the best of the best for this opening. So, the first thing I did was share a few posts on LinkedIn to inform my professional network that I was hiring and what I was looking for.

Then, I noticed a job seeker who began engaging with my content. She left genuine comments on my posts and recommended the open role to others in her network. After a few of these interactions, I peeked at her LinkedIn profile—she highlighted a lot of the skills I was searching for. Although she didn’t have the actual work experience, this simple interaction led to an interview! This wouldn’t have happened if she had just clicked “apply” and submitted her resume.

LinkedIn also provides an informal opportunity to learn more about a company before applying for a job. When job searching, the last thing you want to do is waste a ton of time and energy in the process. Think about it—updating your resume, writing a cover letter, prepping for an interview, negotiating a new salary takes A LOT of dedicated energy. And then you realize the company is not a good fit… and you’re back at square one. Trust me: I’ve been there. So, why not use your LinkedIn feed to your advantage?

Replace mindless “doomscrolling” with strategic scrolling!

Did you know that some companies have job-specific hashtags? For example, #WeAreCisco or #PepsiCoJobs. Following hashtags and critical decision-makers will help you gain insight into jobs before they’re even posted.

A former client of mine used this strategy and realized the leaders at his top company had conflicting political views, and it caused him to re-evaluate this company’s inclusion on his list. Good thing he figured this out before exerting all that energy going through the job search process!

If you’re going to spend time scrolling, you might as well make it worth your time.

In summary, LinkedIn is a powerful tool when job searching. Unlike your resume—which has to be submitted, open, and read—your profile works for you when you sleep! It makes you discoverable by recruiters. With over 774 million professionals plugged into this platform, think about all the potential mentors, connections, recruiters, colleagues, AND new opportunities!

Ready to spruce up your LinkedIn profile?! Good news! I have a detailed resource guide to help you craft a compelling profile.

DOWNLOAD your comprehensive LinkedIn Resource Guide

For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn.