LinkedIn is growing in popularity at an unsurprising rate, considering how digital our world has become. As a result, many companies are using the business networking site as their sole platform for offering new positions. Once you’ve joined LinkedIn, how do you maximize your chances of getting hired?
The first thing you should do is join groups and follow individuals that share your job interests. You can then add input to forum discussions and become recognized for your content and style. This showcases your overarching interest in business, not just a job, and you’re more likely to be noticed.
When you’re clicking through pages of job offers, look for positions that you would truly enjoy and have the relevant skills to successfully carry out. Don’t get distracted by unusual, intriguing opportunities that don’t fit with your experience and personality - you’re unlikely to get those positions, and if you do, they may not go over so well. Spend your time investigating jobs related to your skillset.
Knowing that you’re the right fit for the position you want isn’t enough; ensure that your profile emphasises the skills and experience employers are looking for. The best way to do this is by placing multiple keywords in your description, words that closely resemble or match those used in the company’s job posting. This makes you more relatable and familiar to the employer before they’ve even spoken to you.
Another important strategy is to network with the people in the company offering the position you wish to apply to. Reaching out and becoming acquaintances with specific individuals will contribute a great deal to the likelihood of you being hired. If you can, hold off applying for the job you want until you’ve established those connections - sometimes those you’ve networked with can point you towards job offers unseen by the public.
While networking, there are a few more profile tips that you should take into consideration. Create a headline that describes your future job rather than your present job to attract potential employers. After that, take a peek at the LinkedIn pages for the college you attended and your previous employers before joining them.
Join any other pages you think would benefit you, update your contacts list frequently, and adjust your geographic location to that of the job you’re applying to if you plan to move closer to work. Lastly, have an experienced photographer take a headshot of you for a clean, professional finishing touch, making sure to take a new one every five years.
Our final piece of advice is helpful, but optional: look into taking a university-level professional development course, in-person or online, for more credibility. The cost is low, the admissions are simple, and adding the institution’s name to your profile will get employers’ attention.
If you’re looking for a new and exciting career, don’t just join LinkedIn - put in the time and effort to make yourself stand out and reach your goal more quickly.