Today’s job search is much different from just a decade ago.
You can be at a real disadvantage if you focus on the tools that are typically used such as trade publications, online job boards, or Craigslist. Networking with close friends isn’t as effective as it once was.
In this tough economic market, you need to take advantage of the entire arsenal you have at your disposal, and one tool that often gets overlooked is LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is the world largest professional network.
If you aren’t familiar with LinkedIn, you should be.
LinkedIn is a social networking site, like Facebook, but designed for professionals who wish to connect with past and present colleagues, and who want to grow a network that includes potential colleagues.
What is LinkedIn?
Job seekers socialize on LinkedIn to market themselves by connecting directly with employers, managers and recruiters.
LinkedIn is not only for networking (i.e. contacting colleagues and industry professionals) and branding oneself, but it is also good for job search.
It can be used as an effective tool for receiving useful information about the current job market as well as hot tips for your job search.
Yes. LinkedIn is today’s the best location on the Internet for social networking and for job searching for professionals.
I’d say that today, joining LinkedIn is a must for effective (and successful) job search in many fields.
However, you should learn how to make an effective use of this social network not only for your current job search challenge but also for branding yourself and advancing your career.
Read on,
How to Use LinkedIn to Boost Your Job Search
LinkedIn has millions of members covering hundreds of industries.
This site is made up of executives from Fortune 500 companies and other successful companies.
The members on LinkedIn aren’t looking to socialize with each other for no reason.
They use this network for their career needs – This platform is target rich and focuses on creating environment for professionals where they can connect, communicate, discuss and eventually find better jobs and advance their career.
LinkedIn provides niche job boards where companies and recruiters post new job openings of their industry.
Best of all – it’s all free.
4 initial steps for a successful job hunting on LinkedIn
You have to take some initial actions for a successful job search on LinkedIn website.
Join the LinkedIn social network, build your “name”, brand yourself, socialize with friends, learn some trends, and participate discussion.
1. Register/Join LinkedIn and create a profile page
You should create an impressive profile page.
Give this profile page special importance just as you treat your resume. This is because as part of connecting others on LinkedIn, recruiters and employers will most probably visit this profile page. Add a photo and include employment history and qualification such as – education, key skills and job experience.
2. Using Keywords
Make use of keywords on your profile page just as you did when you wrote your resume.
Keywords on your profile page are the key job search tools. On your profile page, make sure you include industry keywords which are specific key skills and industry buzz words. On LinkedIn keywords are also the companies you work in and educational institutions you’ve attended because this is how LinkedIn search and connect people.
3. Join groups in your field
Being part of professional groups is one of the best ways to communicate and receive information and advice on the job market including industry news, market trends and most importantly job postings.
Participate in some group discussions to increase your visibility and promote yourself in your industry.
4. Connect
Start connecting with people such as colleagues and friends.
Gradually leverage your network by adding more and more connections.
7 Golden tips to find a job using LinkedIn
Now, let’s find a job,
- The LinkedIn Search Engine – LinkedIn has their very own search engine, which allows you to quickly search through jobs that are available by job title, company name, or keywords. It’s a very valuable tool that is often overlooked.
- Learn Where Others with Your Work Experience are Employed – Use LinkedIn to find companies that employ people that have your skills and work experience. For example, if you live in California and you are a web developer, you can search by keywords and zip code to find companies that employ people with your skills and experience.
- Find the right HR Manager – The best way to get a company “in” is to find the HR manager responsible for hiring. You might know someone that can get you that “in,” but if you don’t then LinkedIn is an excellent way to find that person and make sure your resume lands on his/her desk.
- Find Out What Company Looks for When Hiring – There is a section on LinkedIn called “New Hires,” which lists the latest employees to be hired by a company. If you are really crafty you can contact these people, and see what they did to land the job. But at the very least you can get a good idea of what it is an employer looks for in their hiring.
- Spread the Word – Let your network knows that you are looking for a career move. These days it’s all a number game. It’s about networking and getting the word out to as many people as possible. You can use the LinkedIn “status update” to continuously let your network know your status.
- Learn About Secret Job Requirements – Job listings don’t always tell you the “full details” about what the hiring manager is looking for. If you find a company connection you can get the scoop on what they are really after, and then be sure to incorporate those skills into your resume or application.
- Build LinkedIn Colleague Recommendations – Building a network of recommendations from your colleagues can be a powerful tool, especially if you are laid off. Be sure to ask your manager for that recommendation after they’ve laid you off. They’re feeling bad and will likely do it right away.
All About LinkedIn Recommendations: The Ins and Outs
Why You need Recommendations after all
A well written recommendation may help you get promoted in many ways,
- Some hiring managers research candidates prior to inviting them to job interviews in order to learn more about them. The make their research on the Internet and one of the main social networks for professionals is LinkedIn.
- Recruiters and headhunters search on LinkedIn to find talents and best matches for job openings.
- We live in a small world and there’s a chance that the employer knows/respects the person who wrote you a recommendation.
- This is one of the best ways to get a good reputation and brand yourself.
Use it Right!
Recommendations are a key part of the LinkedIn site still it requires some good practice.
- A large part of LinkedIn involves recommendations. When used right LinkedIn recommendations are a powerful tool; but when used wrong LinkedIn recommendations can do more harm than good.
- If you do not choose the right people, or if you have too many recommendations, potential employers could be scared off. They may see all those recommendations as a red flag rather than get you the vote of confidence you were looking for.
So, let’s delve further into learning about LinkedIn recommendations.
Let’s look at how to do this right.
How to Send a Recommendation Request
Follow these initial following steps,
- Log into your LinkedIn account
- On the left navigation menu scroll down to “Profile” and then click on the sub-menu that says “Recommendations”
- Once on the recommendation page click on the “Request Recommendations tab”
- From there you will be walked through a 3 step process. Name the job that you want a recommendation for by using the drop down menu. Decide who you will ask for that recommendation.
- Write your customized note to that person, telling them why you asked them for a recommendation.
4 essential Tips about LinkedIn Recommendations
Now let’s learn how to send a recommendation request tactfully.
1. Getting the Best Recommendations
When trying to decide who to ask for the recommendation asking your boss to praise your abilities seems blatantly apparent, but there are also others that you can ask for a recommendation.
Of course, take the recommendation from your current or past boss, but if you want to show you are an excellent team player then have some of your peers give you a recommendation. You might also look to clients for a recommendation. If you want to show you are effective as a manager, then you should have recommendation from those above your and below you. The key here is to find recommendations from all around you.
It will help you build a balanced profile that potential employers will take notice of.
2. Set Expectations for Your Recommendations
A recommendation with your guidance on what facts you are looking for a recommendation on.
You should not put words into their mouth but feel free to ask them to elaborate on a couple of points. You don’t want to control the recommendation so much that you lose out on a good point that could benefit you.
3. Take Quality Rather than Quantity
Feel free to give your recommender a little guidance about the length your want your recommendation to be.
Stress that you are more interested in the quality of the recommendation than the length of it. Quality always trumps quantity.
4. Give a Recommendation Then Ask for a Recommendation
Before you can assume you’ll get a solid endorsement from another person, you should be willing to give them an endorsement.
LinkedIn is all about building strong social karma. If you want to get excellent recommendations, then you need to be willing to give recommendations.