2. Optimise your profile

Simply inputting your career history isn't enough to make you stand out from the crowd. You have a 120-character professional headline directly underneath your name. By default it appears as your job title, but many users don't realise that you can and should edit this. Use it sell yourself with a statement that is succinct, readable and full of industry keywords. "This will make it easy for recruiters searching for suitable candidates to find you when they use the LinkedIn candidate search function," explains Mills.

Your summary is the place to outline what makes you stand out from the crowd. "You want to be giving a concise and impactful summary that outlines who you are, why you do what you do and highlights your strengths, skills and accomplishments here," advises Foot. Don't forget to invest time in your individual job profiles too; the site gives you 1,000 characters each to describe them, so make the most of it.

Supercharge your career prospects: 6 ways to boost your LinkedIn profile