In my recent blog Snag
Your Dream Job: Searching for “The One” I covered how leveraging your
connections – both real and virtual – needs to be a key piece of any career
search strategy. There are many ways to do this, but in the recruiting world,
LinkedIn is king. The site was launched in May of 2003 and with its
11th birthday on the horizon, membership continues to climb with 277
million users displaying their professional profiles. So can you really
get a job using LinkedIn? Can you make it easy for recruiters to find you among
those millions of users? Are they even looking?
The answer is yes. Take it from me – I first learned of my current role
because of a post on LinkedIn! Here’s how to get noticed…
Build your profile. Include key words that recruiters might
look for in your summary and experience section, and be sure to list every
relevant certification and license. A professional head shot is also very
important. LinkedIn is a recruiter’s virtual first impression of you, so avoid
photos where you are dressed more casually than you would for the job you want.
Also avoid having pets, friends, or a distracting background in your photos
unless it pertains to your line of work. If you can afford one, hire
a photographer for a professional head shot, or ask a friend to take a close up
of you when you look your best.
Build your network. Many users are connected to former
colleagues and friends, but that’s just the start of a strong network. Use the
people search feature to connect with at least one recruiter or hiring manager
at each company on your target list so that you have a built-in connection to
your dream employer. Users can also join up to 50 groups (communities built
around everything from common skill sets to alma mater). Max out your allowance!
Many users accept connection requests from those who share group membership with
them. Send at least two connection requests every day
Monday-Friday. One to someone you know and one to someone you’d like to
know!
Share content. LinkedIn is not a spectator sport; you have
to get in the game. Once you have your profile and network strengthened, share
content relevant to your connections. Perhaps you noticed a post for an
exciting opportunity in IT at a company on your target list – but IT is not your
field. “Share” or “like” the recruiter’s post to allow your network to see
it. I click on the profile of every person that “shares” or “likes” my posts,
and I know many other recruiters do the same, making this another great way to
get your profile noticed. Follow each one of your target companies
on LinkedIn via the company search feature. When you see an interesting post
from your target employer – read it and then share it!
Check your news feed. Many jobs posted on LinkedIn can be
found via the Jobs tab, but posting there costs money, so those jobs are just a
small fraction of what is shared. Recruiters post hot jobs in their status
fields as well as in group discussions. Keep an eye on your
LinkedIn digest emails to see what’s been posted to your groups. I set up a rule
in my mailbox so all my digest emails go to one folder to avoid them filling up
my inbox and I read them later.
Engage with recruiters. When you find your dream job on
LinkedIn, connect with the poster. Ask them if they are the right person to
follow up with and how to best express your interest. Most recruiters are open
to new connections, but they like to see that you have been paying attention!
Schwab Sr. Talent Advisor Donnie Collins says, “I always appreciate when a
job seeker takes the time to connect on LinkedIn about a post, but it really
stands out to me when a prospective candidate mentions that they have made the
connection because they noticed I frequently post the type of role they are
interested in and can explain why that job caught their eye.” Reach out
to recruiters – they’re on LinkedIn to find strong candidates like you. Just be
sure that you’ve done your research and know a little bit about the recruiter,
the role, and the company.
While there are many ways to search for a career, building a strong network
on LinkedIn and genuinely interacting with your connections is an efficient way
to access millions of people, one of whom might just be the connection to your
dream job!
For more information and tips on how to Snag Your Dream Job, check out these
other posts in the series: A
Recruiter’s Top Ten Tips to Work a Job Fair, Schwabbies’
Networking Tips That Work, Five
To-Do’s for Networking Success, Want
to Ace the Interview? Be a Know-It-All, Is My Resume in
a Black Hole?, How
to Snag Your Dream Summer Internships, and A
Dream Job Rejection Letter Doesn’t Mean It’s Over.
http://aboutschwab.com/blog/snag_your_dream_job_getting_a_job_using_linkedin
About the author: Shannon Grimes is a Phoenix-based
talent attraction manager for Schwab, and her work focuses on connecting with
job seekers at networking events, information sessions and career
fairs.
Reposted with permission from the author.
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