Any job seeker, whether employed or unemployed, should be using LinkedIn as part of his/her job search. In fact, because of the many networking opportunities LinkedIn provides, it should be a good portion of the search. If you haven’t used LinkedIn much, or even at all, don’t worry. I’m going to give you some tips on how to create and utilize your profile so that it will optimize your job search efforts.
The first tip is to start using LinkedIn before you need it. Ideally this would be while you are still gainfully employed, and long before that unforeseen layoff. You want to be able to build your network of contacts so that if that day comes, you will be prepared to immediately utilize your connections to find a new position.
Never leave your LinkedIn profile unfinished! The best way to think of it is like a search engine, but not for a website…….it’s to find you. Include parts of your resume, and key words for your industry. You will see when building your profile that the more positions, education, skills, and recommendations you list, the easier it will be for recruiters and hiring managers to find you. The vast majority of recruiters and hiring managers alike are using LinkedIn to source candidates for open positions, so the more visible your profile the better.
You can also increase your visibility by answering the “answers” section. Respond to questions, and ask a question if you need information or assistance.
Build up your connections. You can do so by adding professional colleagues, former classmates, past employers, friends and even family. The more contacts you can build, the greater the span you will have when it comes to searching for specific companies, industries, or names of people. Your contacts have the potential to help you grow your career or find a new job Unlike CareerBuilder or Monster, where you post a resume and wait for employers to contact you, LinkedIn gives you an opportunity to be proactive. You have the tools at your disposal to conduct searches that will lead you directly to people in your industry, or within target companies.
Start by searching for specific companies and/or industries. You can do this by searching the company directory on LinkedIn within your industry, or target industry. Locate companies in the city you live in, or in cities you hope to relocate to. Then search your network (”People Search”) for that particular company name. As long as you have built up your contacts, you will be amazed at the names that pop up. Now you have people you can contact directly! Why is this so important? It’s important because a good number of the positions that exist out there are not advertised online. Having a direct contact is the only way you will find out about new jobs at that company.
I also suggest you search for jobs on LinkedIn within the job search section. Some jobs posted there will not be found on other sites, so it is important to look regularly. You can search the Jobs section by keyword and location, or use the Advanced Search option to search by more specific criteria.
Another important thing to do is get recommendations. These can essentially serve as built-in references for those who come across your profile. The more you have, the better. Join employment groups, college alumni associations, and employer alumni associations. Joining groups will help tremendously in networking, and even in building your own network of connections.
As a warning, LinkedIn is meant to be a site for professional networking. Treat your posts as if you were on a job interview. LinkedIn is not the place to be posting funny pictures, offensive material, or other information that could hurt your professional reputation. Be very careful about what you do on Facebook too (see my previous post entitled “Let Social Media (Facebook) be your friend, not your enemy”).
By following these suggestions, you too can experience the results so many others have on LinkedIn. You will be more likely to be found by hiring managers and recruiters, and you can expand your network of contacts substantially. Hopefully you will find the same results as those who found new jobs through LinkedIn as well.
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