According to the 2010 Global Brainstorming Day LinkedIn is now the #1 online networking platform for active and passive job searchers. Career coaches, resume writers, and outplacement specialists all agree that if you are looking to impress, be found, and get results online, you need a well-branded LinkedIn profile.
Today’s hiring managers use LinkedIn to source and research candidates. Devote time to establishing a quality, branded LinkedIn profile that will attract recruiters and job opportunities. Job searchers, who don’t take time to write a strategic, keyword rich LinkedIn profile, may be overlooked by recruiters.
About LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the largest professional network online, hitting a milestonein May 2011, with over 100 million members in over 200 countries and territories. About one million new members join LinkedIn every week. Originally created as a place to build an online resume, today it is primarily used for professional networking.
Users create profiles promoting their work history or online resumes. LinkedIn profiles include career history, education, connections and professional recommendations. Additionally you can join groups for networking purposes.
How to Find a Job Using LinkedIn
Build Your Personal Brand: Use your LinkedIn profile to manage your professional brand or career footprint. This self-packaging is all about differentiation you in the job marketplace. You want to leave an indelible impression on your contacts and the community that is uniquely distinguishable.
Profile Perfect: Your LinkedIn profile must match your resume and needs to be complete and flawless. No spelling or typographical errors. This is your resume online and it will be critiqued by recruiters, hiring managers and HR staff.
Professional Photo: Get an updated, professional headshot made and communicate to your prospective employer who you are through your energy, warmth and approachability. If you don’t have a professional portrait, post a flattering, professional picture of yourself.
Headline: Your headline will automatically display as the last job you held unless you change it. Consider making your headline your professional brand, or the job you are targeting. Brand yourself for the job you want – for your future.
Example: My husband has Interactive Marketing Professional as his headline: www.linkedin.com/in/larrymaslin
Experience: Don’t just put the last 2 or 3 jobs you’ve had. Put down every single job you have had that relates to your job search. Easiest way to complete this section is to cut and paste from your professional resume.
Keywords: Flood your entire LinkedIn profile with keywords, so recruiters or other individuals looking for talent can find YOU!
Example: Let’s say you are a Corporate Event Planner. Consider filling your resume with relevant keywords such as event, trade show, specialty events, event marketing, event planning, etc.
Applications/Websites: Showcase your expertise with a job related website, blog, Twitter, or Facebook site. Slideshare Presentations and Box.net files can also be used to allow employers to view your portfolio as well.
Recommendations: Recommendations show hiring professionals you have a career history of excellent work performance. Some argue the validity of LinkedIn recommendations because they come from your closest allies. But in my opinion, LinkedIn recommendations matter! When recruiters look at two candidates the one with several “thumbs up” usually gets the nod. Take time to seek recommendations from managers and colleagues.
TIP: Best way to get a recommendation is to give a recommendation
Networking: Develop your network and build as many 1st degree relationships as possible.
2nd Degree Rule: Wanted to get introduced? The LinkedIn site shows 3-degrees of separation but the general rule is to stay within 2-degrees of separation when asking for an introduction on LinkedIn.
Import Contacts: Take advantage of this valuable feature. LinkedIn allows you to important contacts from Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL and more. You can also search through your college or workplace and add people you’ve worked with or attended school with.
Be Open: Accept contact requests and continue conversations, it will help you build relationships.
Use the "Share an Update Bar": Post only professional messages on your LinkedIn status bar. LinkedIn is a career oriented, professional network and recruiters and hiring managers are watching. And remember, if you decided to announce that you are looking for a new job via the status bar, EVERYONE will see, including your current employer.
Position Yourself As a Leader: Join or start professional groups and associations. Also, consider asking or answering questions. LinkedIn rates and posts best answers, showcasing your business knowledge.
Look for Job Opportunities: Locate job opportunities by searching the LinkedIn job database at the SEARCH JOBS tab. Get INTRODUCED
More LinkedIn information coming, til then -- Happy Hunting
Marilyn Maslin is Chief Job Strategist for Resume Footprint, and Senior HR Consultant for the Maslin Group. She helps companies with their people, and people with their companies. On a daily basis Marilyn Maslin might assist a CFO by writing her resume or LinkedIn profile, and also help a small company to recruit an engineer. This 360 degree view of the hiring process produces a synergy where both Marilyn's commercial and individual clients achieve their objectives faster and at a greater value. You can read more of Marilyn Maslin's advice at examiner.comor www.ResumeFootprint.com/JobTrends. Please feel to contact Marilyn Maslin on Twitter, Facebook, Marilyn.Maslin@ResumeFootprint.com with any questions.
By Marilyn Maslin @ Resume Footprint, April 22, 2011
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