Using LinkedIn Successfully What and Why LinkedIn is an online social community that allows users to build a professional profile, make connections with other professionals online, and engage with these individuals. The value of LinkedIn is found in the mass use of the website. There are so many different individuals from a range of different industries that it has almost become unprofessional not to use LinkedIn. Many companies will use LinkedIn to find new applicants for their hiring pool. Often headhunters will be employed to scour LinkedIn looking for individuals who possess the desired qualifications for a job position. The headhunter will reach out to these individuals offering job positions. Businesses have also found that the success rate in finding the right employee is much higher when they reach into the contacts and referrals of their current employees. In this way LinkedIn is a way for you to advertise your skills for different job opportunities 24/7. LinkedIn also provides the opportunity for individuals to reach out to company officers of desired job positions. You will probably make connections with a company before you are invited for an interview and LinkedIn makes it that much easier. So let’s go over a few of the ways you can succeed on LinkedIn Build Your Profile This is essentially your resume that you are broadcasting to all potential employers. If you are new to LinkedIn make sure to fill out your profile completely. Use industry keywords in your past job experiences. Make sure to include a personal bio to give a feel for who you are as an individual. Add a professional photo to your profile and don’t change it often. Having the same photo will make it easier for individuals to recognize you online. Reach out to your current contacts and make sure you are connected on LinkedIn. After you have made these connections visit your most trusted contacts and go to the bottom of their profile and recommend them for different skills and then message them asking for their recommendations on some of the skills you have listed at the bottom of your profile.
Stay Up to Date If you are already on LinkedIn make sure to keep your information up to date and to go onto the website to reach out for new contacts often. If you graduate from a St. George College add it on LinkedIn. If you are hired at a new job do the same. When you make professional associations in real life reach out to them on LinkedIn so you don’t lose contact even after you no longer work directly with them. You can use the job search provided on LinkedIn or offsite job searches to identify companies you would like to work in. If there are companies that you have interest in connect and message with some of the individuals in the company describing your interest and asking for advice in seeking a job position. You will be amazed how much more likely you are to be hired if you are networking rather than simply sending in your resume. Keep using and updating LinkedIn over the years so your best professional image is always present for recruiters. Build your professional network as you make new associations and spend time assisting individuals in achieving their goals so in turn they may end up helping you in yours. Photo Pin: Sheila Scarborough, Wirawat Lian-udom, Sara Ashley