Finding Work through LinkedIn

If you're an active job seeker, you probably have already completed your LinkedIn profile, posted your resume and connected with acquaintances. That's a good start. Today, we'll talk about more steps you can take to use LinkedIn to get noticed and find that job you want. If you haven't yet finished your profile or created your network, we've posted some tips on our blog, An Introduction to LinkedIn.

Getting Noticed

You can improve your chances of getting noticed by adding to your connections and by sharpening your profile. For example:

• Invite former co-workers (at any level) to connect with you. Send a personal note with the invitation.
• Use the LinkedIn site's "People You May Know" tool (located under the "My Network" tab) to reach out to people with similar backgrounds and connections.
• Ask for recommendations from people you've worked with. Offer to write one for them.
• Add keywords that relate to your job field. Put those words in your summary statement at the top of your profile. You can even add a specific location where you'd like to work. The more specific you are, the more likely someone is to find you.

Getting Engaged

After you've added to your connections and keywords, here are a few more actions you can take to make LinkedIn work for you:

• Engage with what other users are saying or sharing. Comment on their posts, notice when they change jobs, and congratulate them on their achievements.
• Use the search function at the top of your homepage to find and join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your field.
• Identify people you want to meet. Invite them for coffee. You don't have to ask them for a job. You can seek advice or ask questions about trends in your field.
• If you're interested in working for a particular company, go to its page and click to "follow" it. Ask your friends for introductions to their friends who work at that company.
• Look at the list of people who work at the company you're interested in to find potential connections. Find employees whose paths are similar to one you would like, invite them to connect. Write notes to contacts that show that you've researched the employer and the employees' personal accomplishments.
• Maintain your relationships. Stay in touch with those people you think could be helpful in your job search by reaching out to them 3 or 4 times a year.
• Help someone else with their professional goals. Perhaps you can introduce 2 people who can help teach or mentor a student who is looking for his first job.

Finally, check in to LinkedIn every day for a few minutes and once a week for 30 minutes. That's how much time you'll need to write to a new connection and to participate in a group discussion. Be an active user. According to a career expert at LinkedIn, hiring managers are 10 times more likely to look at your profile if you post something at least weekly.