The 10 things you need to know to promote yourself: Tip 5

Use LinkedIn Effectively

There has been a tremendous amount written about the benefits of using LinkedIn for a job search, and I won’t belabor the point.

I just want to mention a couple of things I tell clients, most of whom are in their 40’s and are often suspicious of or disinterested in social networking.

There are two excellent reasons to use LinkedIn, no matter how uninterested in social networking for its own sake. One is to have something on the Web about you, that is totally within your control.  Many senior executives haven’t bothered to do much networking—online or otherwise—and may lack a Web presence. LinkedIn provides you one instantaneously, so that when someone: a potential employer, a former colleague, an old girlfriend (!) Googles you, something will come up.

What may also come up are your former affiliations, and that’s fine, but  you won’t be located that way—by someone who could be a conduit to your next position.

The second reason is to get the word out that you’re looking and to showcase your offering.

Now I will also provide a third reason, for those who are more savvy about social networking: You can search for executives at companies in which you’re interested and reach out to them. If they like what they see, they may help you gain entrée, to warm your reception there. And that in and of itself is worth the price of admission (which is free or minimal).

So get on LinkedIn and create your profile, or polish an old one. There are tons of resources to help you do it right, including the hyper-connected LinkedIn guru Jason Alba. He’s got a new CD and a book.

To read my Tip 4: Write a column for a trade publication, click here.