Start your new week of job searching on the right foot!
For some it may be old news, but for many others, LinkedIn is either a brand new resource for your job search, or you are still experiencing resistance in taking the plunge.
Whether you are a degreed engineer, an internet or mobile application developer, a rocket scientist, or a computer tech, rest assured that companies in your industry are recruiting candidates for employment through LinkedIn.
For unemployed job seekers, it’s one of the best tools available on the internet. No matter how hard you focus your efforts on job boards, Craigslist, and good old fashioned networking with your close friends, if you are not on LinkedIn looking for work, you are not giving it your all.
LinkedIn has more than 150 million members in over 175 industries are represented in over 200 countries. So, that’s a little too much information if you’re looking for a Mechanical Engineering job in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I get it. (With on quick search by the way, there are roughly 25,531 Managers listed to companies in Tulsa).
Here’s a general idea of LinkedIn’s bragging rights and a spotlight on how the Professional Network actually works:
Immediate Advantages
Let’s get to the point. What are your immediate advantages to not only posting your profile on LinkedIn, but actually making LinkedIn site visits part of your daily job hunt?
- If you have a resume already put together, it will take you less than 30 minutes to open your new profile (for free of course).
- You will have immediate access to colleagues and peers in your industry. Something you will not find on job boards, Craigslist, or even with your close acquaintances.
- You will have access to Hiring Managers.
- You will have access to hundreds of groups related to your skills set and industry where you can:
- keep in touch with what is happening in your technical field in your absence
- have the opportunity to offer help to peers and gain credibility
- network person to person about possible job opportunities.
- You will have access to LinkedIn’s own job board.
- You will have the opportunity to re-connect with past co-workers and Managers and obtain recommendations you would have otherwise no access to. Prospective Employers will be looking for your LinkedIn profile to verify your skills set, experience, and recommendations. Being on LinkedIn makes you stand out above the rest.
Once you have your profile up, take a look around. You will see names of previous co-workers being presented to you to connect. The most important thing you can do at this time is…CONNECT!
Here’s an excellent article on using LinkedIn to find a job by Guy Kawasaki.
Please let us know your thoughts on using LinkedIn for your job search in the comments below. Do you have a profile on LinkedIn? Do you participate in groups and discussions? Have you found a job through LinkedIn?
Submit your resume at our Career Center.