I’ve talked about LinkedIn before. It’s the social network that almost seems
like it was designed for job searchers.
So, you’ve likely signed up and you have an account, maybe you’ve filled
in some of the sections – but do you know what to do with it now? Most people don’t, so don’t feel too bad if
you haven’t gotten any further than that.
These techniques are specific to LinkedIn and are sure to
put your just search on steroids!
Start Networking
You know what networking is. We’ve talked about it lots
before and if you have completed the job search section at Robertson College
you likely know that networking is the #1 way that people find jobs. Networking can open doors that were
previously closed to you.
One of the keys of successful networking is knowledge. It’s almost impossible to be an effective
networker if you know nothing about people, the company they work for, or the
activities that a company is involved in. LinkedIn is great for gathering
information. You can also see what kinds
of people are connected together, what businesses people are connected in,
groups that they are active in and more.
Connect with Companies
You’ve likely heard of the hidden job market right? But no one can really tell you what it is – because
it is hidden. Ok, I’m going to reveal it
for you….
The hidden job market is the jobs that aren’t available yet
but are going to be in the future. They
haven’t been advertised yet but you can get a jump on them by connecting with
the companies that will be hiring before the jobs are out there for everyone
else to find.
How? Start by
choosing a few companies you want to work with.
Find out who are some of the key players in the company that may have
some influence over who gets hired. Connect with those people. Ask them questions. Thank them for the information they
share. By doing this you will appear on
their radar.
Next, observe the company’s LinkedIn profile carefully. You can find out who works there, what they
do, and even statistical data that is made public. By doing this you can get a good feel for the
company and you can make sure YOUR profile is in line with their needs and
their company ethics.
If that company shares things on LinkedIn, make sure you are
following them. Then comment on their
shares. Demonstrate that you are
authentic and that you have a passion for what they do. They will notice!
Connect with Recruiters
Many companies use recruiters to help them fill job
positions. This is especially true of
large companies. But recruiters often
have so many applications to wade through that it is hard to make yourself
stand out. If you are on LinkedIn and
you have connected with those recruiters though, they will recognize your name
if you are already interacting with them.
You can fine recruiters by simply searching for them but you
can also find recruiters in groups.
Groups are a great way to connect with people without having to send
them a connect request. They may even
send that request to you if you stand out!
