Using LinkedIn To Enhance Your Job Search

The bloom of social media platform has facilitated the growth of many businesses. Many brands and businesses are tapping into the benefits of social media because it gives them the opportunity to communicate with their audience, respond to comments and complaints and build a community of loyal followers. Another use of social media is the professional connection with LinkedIn taking the lead. One of the benefits of LinkedIn is giving organizations the chance to reach out to a wealth of various professionals at all levels. Hence HR personnel of various organizations use LinkedIn as a fishing tool with which they reach out to top talents that they can bring on board their team.

As a professional, the necessity to utilize LinkedIn for your job search cannot be overemphasized. This article intends to highlight various tips and strategies that can be used to enhance your job search result.

KEEP YOUR PROFILE UP TO DATE

To harness the opportunities LinkedIn has to offer, you have to create and update your profile frequently. You must keep your profile fresh by constantly adding any new acquired skill and updating relevant experiences. Your profile is the first point of contact for employers when checking you out. If you wish to capture their attention, you must ensure that your profile is authentic with no misrepresentation.

BE COMPREHENSIVE ABOUT CURRENT SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

When updating your skills, it’s crucial you provide detailed information on how you have used those skills to gain certain experience. Adding your skills makes it easier for you to appear on search results done by employers looking for candidates with such skills.

UPDATE YOUR HEADLINE

Once an employer locates on your profile, the first thing they see is your profile picture, name and headline. Your headline should concisely your achievements and, the kind of opportunities you are looking to explore. Your headline must be written in clear and attractive manner in order to make the recruiter continue looking at your profile.

BUILD YOUR NETWORK

Create connections with as many professionals as possible. But it is advisable to start with familiar people. Creating connections helps you discover other professionals especially HR officers. Connect with as many professionals within your field of interest as possible in order to stay updated with any job vacancy posted on their timelines.

FOLLOW COMPANIES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

Do you have any company of interest? Make a list of such companies and search for them on LinkedIn. Follow them one after the other in order to expose your profile to such companies and also be in the loop whenever vacant positions are posted on their company page.

USE ADVANCED SEARCH

Use LinkedIn advance search to look for HR personnel who work at your company of interest or any other company. When searching for HR personnel use these keywords: HR, HR personnel, HR officer, HR manager, Recruiter etc. You will discover that most results from either of these keyword searches are HR professionals who are looking to fill one position or the other.

REACH OUT

After successfully connecting with these professionals, it’s safe to forward a well-structured CV and Cover Letter to any of them. But before proceeding, get to know them by liking, commenting and engaging with their content. Do not be afraid to shoot your shot, you never can tell who might get back to you with a job offer.

Research has shown that employers spend more time on LinkedIn. So, by following these tips as a candidate, you are just a step away from landing that new job.