LinkedIn is being called the new resumé by some professionals. So whether you’ve created a LinkedIn account a while ago, but haven’t touched it since, or don’t yet have a LinkedIn account, here are some suggestions to help you make the most of the social media tool.
Check out these tips you can do right now to prepare yourself to land your dream job.
- Fully complete your profile. Make sure you’ve added your education, experience and skills. Also include a professional photo and links to your other social networks and web sites.
- Grow your network. LinkedIn allows you to import contacts from your mail programs. Start with this to see who you already know who’s on LinkedIn. Later on, LinkedIn will make recommendations of people you might know. When inviting people to connect with you, always include a personal message – not just the canned invite.
- Get recommendations. Recommendations are a great way to demonstrate to potential employers that you have what it takes. Don’t be afraid to ask your connections for a recommendation. If they give you one, consider returning the favor.
- Follow companies. LinkedIn allows you to follow companies. Company pages let you know who in the company is on LinkedIn, allows you to see career postings and more. This can be a great way to research and understand a company you are interested in working for.
- Research career paths. If there are specific positions at a company that you are interested in, consider researching existing employees at the company in that position to what experience and skills they had that led them to that position.
- Search for jobs. LinkedIn has a robust job board. One of the great aspects about the LinkedIn job board is you can see who posted the job and if you have anyone in your network who could refer you or introduce you to the company (as shown below).
As with any social network, you need to invest in the network before you can expect dividends. So don’t create your account today and expect to land your dream job tomorrow.
Do you think social media tools like LinkedIn will influence your job search activities?
