Using LinkedIn for job searching
Posted by AccountingWEB in Education & Careers, Social Networking on 08/24/2009 - 11:24
LinkedIn is a professional networking tool that many people are turning to when searching for a job. People with job experience can use LinkedIn to scour their network and look for connections that go with available jobs, ask for introductions, make contacts, send pertinent data, and set up interviews. If you're a first time job searcher, you might be new to LinkedIn and haven't had a chance to build a strong business network. So now's the time to get started!
Start by setting up a LinkedIn account - there is no charge for this - and entering your own resume information in LinkedIn. Your resume might be limited to your education and some part-time jobs, maybe an internship or two. That doesn't mean you can't make the most of what you've got to offer. Here are some tips for enhancing your LinkedIn profile, even if your information seems sparse:
· Update your profile by adding information about job experiences - not just the names of jobs you have held and the companies where you have worked, but descriptive information about what type of work you did, things you accomplished, promotions you received, and skills you acquired.
· Add information about your education. Don't stop with your school and when you graduated, but list courses in which you excelled and specialized training you acquired, include groups and organizations you belonged to, and activities and teams in which you participated.
· Add any honors and awards you have received.
· Add connections to your network by searching for people with whom you have worked, professors and other associates from school, personal acquaintances who might be able to recommend you. Also search for people whom you know who are connected to people at potential employers that interest you.
· Ask members of your network to post recommendations for you on LinkedIn.
· Use the Jobs section of LinkedIn to search for jobs in your area(s) of expertise.
· Join some groups and participate by joining discussions, answering questions, asking if there are ways you can help promote the group.
· Make recommendations of people you know.
· Send messages commenting on issues of mutual interest to your contacts.
· Check back frequently to see updates, add to your own descriptive information, change your status, respond to inquiries, find more contacts, and so on.
· Participate in the Answers forum on LinkedIn, asking questions and posting answers.
· Mention in your status that you are actively looking for a job.
· Search for people with skills like yours, and then see where they work. Consider making inquiries about job availabilities.
Also here are some links to additional information about using LinkedIn to find jobs:
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Additional related posts
Here are links to two related articles:
http://www.accountingweb.com/item/107738
http://www.accountingweb.com/blogs/bbmarketingplus/top-line/social-media...
-- Barbara Bix, Principal BB Marketing Plus 617-964-8193 Want free marketing tips? Subscribe to the BB Marketing Plus blog, Or sign up to receive free articles.
Linked In Late
I totally agree that engaging in networking is something that everyone in business should be doing before the curve. These social networking opportunities are remarkable for career advancement, or business development, as well as a unique exposure for those who are in the difficult and now common position to seek new employment.
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Michael Calhoun
It's too late if you wait until you need a job to join LinkedIn
You should form meaningful connections while you are employed. Joining late only when you find yourself unemployed ,smacks of desperation and seems self-serving.
And don't get me started on people asking for recommendations (and reciprocal ones at that.) If I like what you do, I will comment about it without being asked. And if you ask me to write one and I do, I do not want you to write one back for me. And don't wait until you are unemployed to fill out your profile. It's too late.
Join now, start making connections. And better yet reach out and help others, answer questions, make suggestions and then, should the need for help arise, you will have already established relationships you can rely on. And while you're at it, start putting yourself out there with Twitter and Blogs.
Your story is important - get it out there.