Business social networking site LinkedIn has been around for 18 years, and has grown to be the largest professional online networking site. LinkedIn has over 760 million users from people just starting out in their careers to those with established careers. The platform lets you connect with professional networks and personal contacts. It’s like other social networking sites however its purpose is to build your professional contact list. You can choose a basic free subscription or a premium paid subscription for different features. Recruiters and businesses also use LinkedIn to recruit potential employees and advertise job vacancies. If you’re not sure if you need an account, read on for our tips on how to use LinkedIn to land a job.
Why should I have a LinkedIn account?
Here’s our picks for the best ways to use LinkedIn to help you land a job:
Search and apply for jobs
Spreading your job search across different job boards increases your chances of landing a job. You will see different jobs advertised on different sites. LinkedIn has its own jobs board where you can search and apply for jobs directly through the site.
Network
Use LinkedIn to build your networks to find out about job opportunities, gain endorsements, or connect with people in your industry. Use your networks to find out about the hidden job market and it can give you an advantage in your job search. There are different ways to build your LinkedIn network by:
- Searching for people you already know using the search tool. For example, people you have worked or studied with.
- Exporting contacts from your email.
- Searching for special interest groups.
- Using your connections to introduce you to their connections.
- Searching for companies that you are interested in. For example, places you want to work.
- Searching for hashtags that are relevant to your area of work or interest.
Complement your written CV
Most job applications still require a traditional CV, but LinkedIn can be a great way to add to this. Your LinkedIn profile can host additional information that you can’t fit in your two-page CV in addition you can list your LinkedIn URL on your CV. After that you can list your previous jobs, qualification, interests, volunteer work and accomplishments. While you can use your LinkedIn profile to apply for jobs, often recruiters will see your profile and reach out to you via the messaging function. By adjusting your settings, you can let recruiters know you’re open to job opportunities. This will increase your chances of finding out about jobs that might suit you.
You can improve your chances of being approached by:
- Uploading a photo of yourself (you’ll have a considerably better chance of being viewed).
- Adding relevant skills to the type of jobs you’re applying for.
- Writing a profile summary.
- Proofreading for typos and grammatical errors.
- Adding people to your network.
- Keeping your profile up-to-date with your latest skills and experience.
