As unemployment rates rise over 9% and job search results are down, everyone and their mother’s managers are on LinkedIn trying to social network their way to a new career opportunity.
Except the rest of us think the site is like Facebook’s online schmooze fest and that jobs are going to clutter our home page as do mundane status updates, revealing photos, and odd quiz results. “Not so,” says Lindsey Pollak, LinkedIn Campus Spokesperson and author of Getting from College to Career. Pollak says, “The biggest mistake people make is that they join LinkedIn, and expect it to work for them like magic. It’s a tool and you have to work it to make it work for you.”
It’s true that LinkedIn is the staple for job search success today, but are you taking advantage of all its unique applications? Here are some ways to step up your networking game on LinkedIn, break through the resumes, and make some real connections that can potentially lead to your next gig.
Fill Out Your Profile 100%.
No one is making you fill out some long eHarmony profile, but you should fill out every field in your LinkedIn bio so it appears as though you are taking your job search seriously. People will be more likely to network and share opportunities with you if you have a full, rock star profile. People search for profiles by keywords, so make sure you list all the search terms that fit your desired job descriptions. Look at profiles of people who you have your ideal jobs and see what keywords they have posted on their profile.
Join Groups
There’s one little catch: You can’t send direct messages to people on LinkedIn who are not in your network, but you can contact them if you are in the same group. Again, search for people who have your ideal jobs and see what groups they have joined. College alumni groups are filled with excellent connections and exclusive job opportunities. Join those groups and contact people directly who are working at companies that interest you.
Get Personal
t’s easy to send out the generic invitation customized by LinkedIn, but good luck getting a response. The standard alert “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” sounds as enticing as getting invited to an HR information session about life insurance. When you send out invitations to connect, make sure you write a personal note. Remind your connections how you met or recap your last conversation.
Read Those Updates
Make sure to read your LinkedIn weekly updates, which are opted in when you sign up. Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn founder, says one of his favorite uses of the site is to do “small goods” for people. Networking isn’t about the once in a while chat; instead, it’s about touching base throughout the year. Read your updates to find out what people are up to in your network. Make sure to respond to those updates with a personal note. Something like, “Congrats on your new job!” or “Congrats on leaving your new job!” The way to keep your networking manageable is to do little things to maintain your relationship, rather than reaching out once a year.
Get Searching
You will get better results researching people on LinkedIn over Google any work day. For example, if you want to work at Ralph Lauren, type the company name into LinkedIn’s search fields to find contacts who work there. Connect with employees through your connections or by joining their groups.
Get Set Up with a Job
Friends and contacts can’t help you if they don’t know that you are looking for a job. Put together a letter and explain what you are looking for in a new position and send it out to people in your network who might be able to hook you up. Share your work experience and list your best qualities and send it to former employers, co-workers, and good friends who are great connectors. Make sure you check off individual contacts so that your e-mail blast doesn’t hit the inbox of your current employer.
LinkedIn can be your ticket to a new opportunity if you do more than just sign up and log in. Sure, it’s not as festive as most social networking sites. No one will be sending you cakes, or trivia questions, but use its tools daily and leave the real partying for your new job celebration.
0 comments:
Post a Comment