Using LinkedIn to help find a job

It’s tough out there. Ask anyone looking for a job in nearly any field, and they’ll be able to recite a long list of challenges that job-seekers face on a daily basis. Now more than ever, job hunters need to be resourceful in their efforts to secure gainful employment and few websites offer more of these resources than LinkedIn.

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a social networking site designed specifically for the business community. The goal of the site is to allow registered members to establish and document networks of people they know and trust professionally.

Why should you add LinkedIn to your job-seeking toolbox?

Here are some very good reasons:

Professional online presence 

LinkedIn provides you with a professional online presence. Face to face will always be important, but if you don’t have a profile you’re invisible to professionals that are communicating, collaborating and recruiting on the network. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and this is particularly true when it comes to building a professional brand. Potential employers or clients are likely to search for you online before they meet you.

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and this is particularly true when it comes to building a professional brand. Potential employers or clients are likely to search for you online before they meet you.

Naturally, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re great at your specific job role, but a professional brand can be so much more than that. Draw attention to voluntary work, hobbies and other areas of expertise to paint a more interesting picture of who you are.

Resources

The site offers a wealth of practical articles on precisely the topics that job hunters or recruiters need, such as How to Craft a Persuasive Cover Letter, How to Make Your Résumé Stand Out and much more. There is also a wide range of blogs to browse as well as user groups in different categories which registered users can join and with which you can interact, providing an invaluable perspective when you need it the most.

Connections

The importance of making connections when searching for a job cannot be overstated. Many times it is the most unlikely and roundabout connections that help you land an interview. One-third of the world uses LinkedIn to share information, ideas and opportunities. Whether you’re looking for an old workmate or another professional in your field, registering on the site opens up all these connections for you, along with the business opportunities that presents.

Exclusive job listings

The use of newspaper classifieds in a job search is definitely waning. More jobs than ever are being posted online. LinkedIn’s exclusive job listings and advanced job search features make it very easy to browse positions across the country in a wide range of different fields. Users can customize their search by location, company, title, newest listings and other parameters so that they may view only the most relevant positions.

Groups

Join a group to connect to a new industry or passion, it will give you insights into areas your interested in and lead you to make connections with other people in the same field.

Competitive advantage

When you are competing for a vacancy with another group of applicants, you have a distinct advantage if you are being recommended by a trusted connection, are connected to others in the company or even have mutual connections.

There are lots of other websites which help people find jobs, but very few can compete with LinkedIn’s resources and job listings. It’s never been more important for job seekers to explore every opportunity to help them stand out, and LinkedIn helps them accomplish that and a great deal more.

Article by Jeff Tomlin