One of the best ways to find a job is to use your network. I recommend using the online networking tool, Linkedin to build your online presence and help you find a job. Even if you’re not looking for a job today, you can start building your profile now so you can be prepared whenever you do want to find a job.
If you’re not familiar with Linkedin, go to the Linkedin Learning Center to get your basic questions answered. Then register (there’s no cost to start a basic account) and design a complete business profile that highlights your accomplishments. Think of this as your online resume. What would you want a prospective employer to read about you?
Also, remember that anyone at your company can see this profile, so if you don’t want your current employer to know that you are looking for a job, don’t mention it.
After you finish your profile, you can start to invite your current colleagues and friends to connect with you. You can also reconnect with people you worked with in the past. Search for colleagues at past jobs by using the “Search” button at the top of the page or go to the bottom of the page and look under “Just Joined Linkedin”. It will show people at the companies that you worked for that you might know.
Next, you want to expand your profile by asking colleagues to write references for you on Linkedin. Make sure to write references for them also.
Now you’re ready to find a job using your online network. Click on the “Jobs” link at the top of the page and search for jobs that interest you. On the right side of the page look for the name of the person that posted the job. If this area says “Your connections know (this person)” or “Your connections know friends of (this person)” click on it to see the connections. If there is a direct connection, contact your friend or colleague and ask for a recommendation and introduction. If there is a link that says “Request Referral” click on it and send a note to your contact and ask them to forward an introduction to their contacts who can forward it to the person posting the job.
If there are no connections, you can click on the name of the person that posted the job to get more information about him or her. Look for information such as how long this person has been in the job, what groups and associations they’ve joined and previous companies they’ve worked for. This information can help you to tailor your cover letter or help you in the interview.
You can also easily find out more information about the company by clicking on the “Companies” link at the top of the page. This area also lists people in your network that work for the company or used to work for the company. You can contact people that used to work for the company to find out more about it and see if they still have colleagues there. If they do, ask them if you can send a resume so they can refer you. A personal referral is much more powerful than just sending an application.
Use the information you’ve found about the company to fine-tune your resume and cover letter to make sure they are appropriate for the job.
Don’t forget to thank everyone in your network that helps you. And be sure to help them when they need your assistance. That’s all part of creating and maintaining a strong online network.
Whether you are looking for a job now, or just want to expand your network, I recommend that you start using Linkedin to help you in your career.
Laura Browne is the author of “Why Can’t You Communicate Like Me? How Smart Women Get Results at Work” available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. She also offers individual business coaching sessions and success workshops for companies. Contact her at Laura@LauraCBrowne.com for more information.
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Comments
Thanks for posting this. I've been a member of Linkedin for a couple of years and never noticed the Jobs link.
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Great information. The other thing is to go deeper. Find a company and see who joined recently and then you can go back to that "previous employer" and seek out a connection to see if that position is still open.
Also, join "User Groups" and search for new postings there, I post all my jobs in various user groups...IT is a plethora potentail!!! Keep searching and use LinkedIn to it's fullest, most don't...most should!!!!!
Hi Laura,
This is a very useful piece. Thanks for sharing!!
HI laura hope it is will be more benefit for job seekers and recruiter too so thank for your guide fro them.
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Thanks you so much for the information on this blog because. I joined this website for about a month or so and I want to utilize the website to benefit me and my buisness ventures
Thank you for the information, Laura! I joined Linkedin because it was recommended in my Human Resource Management textbook, but wasn't entirely sure how to utilize it to its fullest potential. I will soon be looking for a job in HR, or preferably, training and development. I hope that linked in will help me make those important connections to find a new position!
linkedin.com/in/vickileigh1
Great summary of the benefits of LinkedIn. I joined about a month ago and have been able to "reconnect" with a number of former associates, all who are happy to be a connection or help make a connection. This becomes another tool to help with your job search. Thank you again.
Sure, but there are also unfriendly types who configure their account in such a way you need to know their e-mail address in order to send a request to them. Why join a network site if you don't want to actually build your network?
Anyway, great article. Thanks!
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