How to Best Utilize LinkedIn in Your Job Search
It’s no surprise that LinkedIn is the top professional social networking site, connecting 200 countries worldwide. With over 130 million users in the United States alone, utilizing LinkedIn is one of the best ways to make connections and speed up your job search.
According to LinkedIn’s CEO, making sure your profile is up to date, being comprehensive about current skills and objectives, and highlighting your recent experience are the best ways to maximize the potential of your LinkedIn profile. However, the most important part about a candidate’s profile is authenticity, meaning you should be yourself, and your LinkedIn should represent who you are. Here are 10 ways you can utilize LinkedIn to get a job:
1. Keep your profile up to date
Candidates with a profile picture and updated skills are much more likely to drive traffic to their page. There are over 45,000 skills to choose from on LinkedIn to spice up your profile, so if you want to be noticed it’s important to regularly update your profile, add a photo, and include your skills.
2. Be comprehensive about current skills and objectives
Don’t leave anything out about your current skills and objectives to ensure you’re utilizing LinkedIn as much as possible. Use your headline to showcase your main objective and include all your skills on your page. You want your page to look up to date to avoid recruiters passing you by.
3. Highlight your recent work experience
When you’re actively engaging with connections and companies to land a job, you want your recent experience to be evident to anyone who views your profile.
4. Let people know you are available
It’s beneficial to announce that you are looking for a job, so use their #OpenToWork feature to highlight that you are searching in your headline.
5. Build your network
Your connections can increase your exposure and access to other connections significantly. It’s important to build your LinkedIn network to the first degree.
6. Follow the companies you are interested in
Make a list of the companies you’d be interested in working for and follow them on LinkedIn to stay up to date on company news and job openings.
7. Look for Alumni associated with your alma mater
Searching for your college or university is a great way to connect with alumni from your school. Having this common interest gives you good reason to reach out to them and can help you land a job.
8. Update your headline
When people search your name, your photo and headline are the only items people see. Your headline should stand out and emphasize what you do or what type of position you’re looking for.
9. Be active
Post any articles you write, or content you find interesting as a way of updating your profile. Interact with others and get involved with groups on LinkedIn. The more active you are the more you’ll be noticed.
10. Network after business hours
Statistics show that less than 9% of Americans use LinkedIn during working hours. You may get more exposure and views on your profile if you update your status, connect with others, and follow companies after business hours.
