LinkedIn is one of the best tools to find a job right now. Are you tired of applying for job after job and failing to get anywhere? LinkedIn could be your ticket to your dream job. On the surface, LinkedIn appears to be nothing more than an online CV. However, on a platform where hundreds of employers are looking for top candidates on a daily basis, it's a very useful CV to have.
Not only is it a great way to network with industry leaders, but you can also use it to promote your accomplishments and establish a professional online presence. Plus, if you have the entrepreneurial spirit, you can use it to promote your own business.
The key to properly using LinkedIn is to ensure that you are discoverable to employers and agencies, as well as to utilise those crucial connections. Here's how to do it in 15 easy steps.
15 Easy Ways to Use LinkedIn to Get A Job
LinkedIn is an essential tool for students and graduates applying for jobs; it’s not just a professional networking platform for people in work. Here’s how to use LinkedIn effectively.
We've highlighted the top 10 ways to use LinkedIn to your greatest advantage when looking for your next job. You'll be able to find your dream job fairly quickly if you use these LinkedIn tips:
1. Keep your profile updated
According to LinkedIn's blog, members with a profile picture are 14 times more likely to receive page views, while those who post skills are 13 times more likely to receive profile views. There are over 45,000 skills to choose from on LinkedIn to highlight your profile, so if you want employers to notice you, make sure to update your profile on a regular basis, include a profile photo, and include your notable skills.
Be active on LinkedIn, be authentic, and stay up to date. As updates, include any articles you produce, videos you submit, and so on. Participate in LinkedIn groups and engage with others. The more you connect and publish as a professional, the more likely you are to be discovered and recognised.
2. Be comprehensive about your current skills, goals and objectives.
Don't leave anything out about your current skills and objectives to ensure you're using LinkedIn correctly to find a job. If it makes sense, use your headline to share your main objective, and include all of your skills on your page. You don't want it to appear that you haven't updated your page in a while, as this may cause recruiters and companies to pass you by.
3. Highlight your recent work experience
You want your recent work experience to be visible to everybody who visits your page, especially if you're actively engaging with connections and companies to secure a job.
4. Update your LinkedIn headline
The only things people see when they conduct a search are your photo, name, and headline (which is displayed beneath your photo). Your title should be catchy and emphasise who you are and the kind of job you're looking for.
5. Let people know you're available for work
If you have the opportunity to let people know you're looking for work, do so. Make the statement in your headline. A hiring manager or recruiter may be interested in a resume that includes the headings and catches their eye.
6. Build your network
6. Your connections can improve your exposure and access to other connections enormously. By importing your contact lists from services such as Gmail, LinkedIn makes it simple to connect with individuals you know.
7. Research the companies you're interested in and follow them
When looking for a job, LinkedIn makes it simple to identify and follow businesses. Make a list of the organisations you'd like to work for and, if you haven't already, follow them on LinkedIn. You'll be able to stay informed about business updates and open positions thanks to this.
8. Use LinkedIn Advanced Search.
Make use of LinkedIn's Advanced Search feature to look for your preferred businesses. Make a list of all of your connections who are connected to the position you want. Depending on their relationship with the company, you can get in touch with these individuals. You might inquire about the corporate culture if they currently work there. You can enquire about their experience doing business with them if they are a client or service provider. When you're ready, you can explore how to approach the organisation for a job by being creative and having fun while conducting your study.
9. Ask to be introduced
When you're ready to approach a company, you can ask your connection(s) to introduce you to someone they know inside the company.
10. Look for alumni associated with your college or university
Searching for your college or university is an excellent method to connect with alumni who attended the same school as you. You can contact them and share your mutual interest in order to help you obtain your future job.
11. Get involved in LinkedIn Professional Groups
Use an Advanced Search to find local professional organisations and join them. By participating in online discussions and responding to questions, you may demonstrate your knowledge and potentially build connections with the businesses you wish to work for in the future. You should join groups with recent activity when conducting group study. If a group doesn't participate online on a daily or frequent basis, you might be wasting your time.
12. Interview Preparation: Research your future employer
You can investigate hiring managers and interviewers on LinkedIn before an interview to learn more about their likes, hobbies, and other details. During your interview, you can use this information to establish relatability and demonstrate that you've done your research.
13. Use LinkedIn job alerts
LinkedIn can notify you of new opportunities as they’re posted, even if you’re not online. This is the best way to hear when companies post new positions that you’re interested in.
You’ll get job alerts based on the type of positions you’re interested in.
14. Add your LinkedIn profile URL to your CV
Finally, put a link to your LinkedIn profile in the header of your resume (right after your phone number and email address).
This will show employers you’re modern and up-to-date and will get them to click over to your LinkedIn and see all the great content you’ve added.
This boosts your chances of getting invited to interview and lowers the risk that they’ll glance quickly at your resume and move on. Employers only spend 8-10 seconds reviewing your resume at first. Then, they decide if they want to read more or not. So a link up top can help you stand out and keep them reading for longer.
15. How to apply for jobs via LinkedIn
When applying for a job via LinkedIn, most information will be taken automatically from your profile (you can amend it).
The employer can also ask you to upload a CV and sometimes, in a separate field, a covering letter. If you aren’t explicitly asked for a cover letter, you do not have to supply one along with your CV.
Instead, at the top of your CV include a personal statement that is tailored to the company, one that briefly explains why you are interested in the role and why you would be a good hire. We don’t usually advise including a personal statement on a graduate CV, but this is one time when we make an exception.
16. How to Use LinkedIn to Find Jobs if You're Not Getting Results
LinkedIn can be used in a variety of ways to find jobs.
One way is to use the "People" tab on the homepage, which will display people who are connected to you and who work in fields that interest you.
Using the "Jobs" tab on the homepage, which displays all of the jobs that are offered through LinkedIn, is another option.
To find new opportunities, you can also use LinkedIn's company pages and job search features.
Key Takeaways:
If you’ve read the steps above, you know how to use LinkedIn to find a job quickly.
Remember, if you simply update your profile every now and then, you're not taking use of all that LinkedIn has to offer, which includes saving you hours on your job search. Here are some tactical ideas for maximising your LinkedIn experience in order to increase your professional network and find your next great job.
3 tips to help you make the most of your LinkedIn profile:
- Keep your profile up to date.
- Be comprehensive about current skills and objectives.
- Highlight your recent experiences.
Employers say that authenticity is crucial when asked what they valued most in a candidate's profile and how to use the platform effectively. Be authentic and show who you are. This is not just a CV; it's more than just your experiences. This is a more dynamic method of expressing your experiences, abilities, objectives, knowledge, and areas of interest in a professional setting. The more extensive and up to date the information is, and the more recently it has been updated, the greater the opportunities are out there for you.
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