By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
You can learn a lot. But if you close your eyes, you’ll miss the best stuff. –PhD. Seuss
For those of you who read No Bullshit Career Advice, you read that my brother passed away two weeks ago. Like all of us, he didn’t do everything perfectly, but he did the important things well. This was a great lesson for me and gave me some tolerance for my imperfections. It might help you at some point in the future to remember that you won’t do everything perfectly all the time.
People hire me for no-BS job coaching because I make finding a job easier. I don’t write resumes, although I will criticize resumes. I leave that to the experts in this area. I am someone who has helped tens of thousands of people find jobs. You can order resume reviews at: job search community.
I can also get free information at: job search community. Scroll down to receive my Wednesday email with job search advice. Becoming an Insider at any level gives you access to all of my video courses, books, and job search guides, the ability to ask me questions, and if you choose the option above the minimum level, you can also get job search coaching from me.
I have some new content on my website. Become an insider and get all the information. I just posted “Quiet Confidence: The Secret Weapon for the Modern Job Search” As a Kindle book and audiobook on Amazon. Last week I misnamed the book I mentioned, saying it was the 15th or 16th. This is the 21st book in the Job Hunting Essentials series; the one that preceded it. I’m waiting for the editor to come back and start a new series. This will be in job search community This week.
This week I’m starting a new series on Amazon with the release of the first book, The No-Bullshit Job Hunting Manual: How Recruiting Works Today. The editor and I have a second one that I hope to post next week.
How Anne got noticed by recruiters—and how you can too
Anne’s story begins like many of today’s job seekers: feeling discouraged after taking a long break, worried that her skills were outdated, and plagued by doubts about her ability to attract recruiters. Anne worked as a financial professional for many years before leaving to care for her family. When she was finally ready to return, her inbox remained empty until she made some strategic changes.
Brand breakthrough
Rather than churning out applications, Anne worked on building her personal brand. She revamped her resume and, most importantly, her LinkedIn profile. Within two days, several recruiters contacted her. It wasn’t just the presentation that changed, but the story she told—she focused on her strengths on LinkedIn, updated her summary and experience with keywords relevant to her desired role, and joined finance-related groups to demonstrate her ongoing engagement with the industry.
Anne’s initial success led to a contract position with a well-known company. She made connections, refreshed her skills, eventually landed a full-time job—paying more than before—and found herself thriving in a team-oriented culture. The transformation began when Anne stopped viewing her resume and LinkedIn as static documents and began using them as tools to market herself to recruiters.
Recruiter’s Perspective
By 2025, recruiters will rely heavily on LinkedIn’s algorithms to find talent for clients. According to research, LinkedIn’s more than 1 billion users are mostly invisible to the algorithm: only 3 million people share content every week. The system rewards profiles that demonstrate expertise, spark meaningful professional discussions, and use strategic keywords. Recruiters actively seek candidates who demonstrate consistent engagement and subject matter authority.
Key actions to get attention:
Publish articles about industry trends, share thoughtful insights, and contribute to professional groups.
Optimize your profile with an impactful title (specific job title + unique skills + measurable achievements).
Use a compelling “About” section to weave keywords into the narrative.
List at least 5-15 skills relevant to your target role.
Your LinkedIn profile is more important than ever
Anne’s story reflects the data: An optimized LinkedIn profile is critical to recruiter visibility. If your title is just “financial professionals,” you won’t show up in searches. If it says “Senior Financial Analyst | Compliance & Reporting Specialist | 30% Audit Improvement,” you will not only be found, you will be memorable.
Profile picture: Recent, professional, identifiable. Your face should take up about 60% of the image.
Custom URL: Personalize your LinkedIn URL for professionalism and easier searching.
Background banner: Use it to showcase key achievements, your company logo, or a slogan that fits your brand.
Effective content strategy
Recruiters aren’t just reading profiles, they’re monitoring conversations. This means sharing posts about market changes, answering questions in groups, and publishing professional success stories will expand your reach.
Best time to post: Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Posting frequency: Aim for 2-3 posts per week. The algorithm prefers consistency over volume.
Content mix: 70% valuable insights, 20% personal professional stories, 10% industry news and your comments.
LinkedIn’s updated algorithm can now show relevant posts up to three weeks old, so evergreen content (such as thoughtful articles about industry best practices) can stay visible on your profile long after you publish it.
engagement strategy
The first hour after posting is critical. Engage with your audience – ask open-ended, thoughtful questions that spark real professional discussion (“How do you see remote finance teams evolving in the year ahead?” rather than “What do you think?”). Respond to comments quickly and meaningfully.
Substantial comments on other people’s posts (not just “Great post!”) will also get you noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. The more you contribute, the more the algorithm boosts your presence.
Strategic networking and advice
Anne not only updated her profile, she also engaged with her network and sought advice to highlight her financial and adaptability strengths. Recommendations act as social proof, often convincing recruiters to lend a hand.
Do not send generic connection requests. Reference specific accomplishments, articles, or shared professional interests. Follow and comment on posts from recruiters at companies you want to work for.
Continuously learn and improve skills
Anne spends time during her contract learning about new trends and skills. Visible upskilling can increase your chances of being discovered and connected, especially if you document your learning journey or certifications on LinkedIn.
What’s the bottom line?
Anne’s story proves that getting a recruiter’s attention isn’t about luck, it’s about strategy. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with compelling, keyword-rich content. Contribute to relevant discussions. Deliver valuable insights at the right time. Seek and give advice. Update your skills. Engage, connect, and show consistency.
People who master these practices are the first people recruiters find. Like Anne, you’ll go from unknown to hot, and when the right recruiter reaches out, you’ll be ready.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2025
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Schedule a free discovery call with me: www.TheBigGameHunter.us/schedule Discuss my guidance for you. My calendar is full. I work with more senior talent rather than individual contributors.
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Jeff Altman, MSW, CCTC Author
People hire me worldwide to provide no-nonsense job search guidance and career advice because I make your job search and success in your new job easier | 5x LinkedIn Top Voices | Career Coach | Former Recruiter | job search community
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