To succeed in your job search, you need to cover all the right bases, including one-on-one and group networking, as well as making the best use of all your social platforms – starting with LinkedIn, which still reigns as the leader in recruiting and business connections.
- LinkedIn now has almost 740 million members, with more than 55 million registered companies. And 40 percent of its users access it daily, adding up to more than a billion interactions every month.
How do you use your LinkedIn network to the fullest extent as you find the job you’ve been waiting for? Start by keeping up with the following steps.
Update your profile regularly.
A step beyond your resume, your LinkedIn profile provides a more dynamic look into your experience, skills, objectives, knowledge and interests. The more complete and fresh and the more recently this information has been updated, the more opportunities that are likely to come your way.
- Highlight your recent experience and keep your headline and photo up to date. Your photo, name and headline are what people see when they do a search. So be sure they stand out in a professional, positive way.
Identify the people you know – and start meaningful conversations.
Look to current and former colleagues, fellow alumni, and personal acquaintances to connect with on LinkedIn. Build your network from there, and continue to keep relationships fresh by initiating and participating in useful conversations.
- Nurture your relationships over time. Provide relevant updates, offer helpful advice or support, share posts, and consider arranging group discussions or video coffee chats.
Ask for help.
That’s kind of the point, right? Reach out to your connections for career advice, introductions, recommendations or referrals. Provide context and any useful details that will empower them to help you out.
Use Advanced Search.
LinkedIn’s Advanced Search option enables you to search for your favorite companies and reach out to people depending on their connections with them. If they work there, you can dive into details about the work environment and culture. If they’re a client or service provider, you can learn what it’s like to do business with them.
Stay active.
Don’t be a LinkedIn wallflower. Be active and authentic. Post and/or write articles, distribute relevant images and videos, and remember: the more you interact as a professional, the more you’ll be noticed and recognized.
- Get involved in Professional Groups. Do an Advanced Search to identify them. This will help expand your network and may connect you with organizations you want to work for. Aim to participate in groups that have recent activity for the most productive results.
For the best ways to use social media and other tools, techniques and strategies to find your next great job, reach out to PrideStaff Fresno today. In fields including accounting, finance, administration, customer service, IT, management and more, we can be your networker and career coach, all rolled into one. Contact us today to learn more.