Finding a job in a down economy is a struggle and any tools you can use to help find a job can be essential. LinkedIn is a tremendous networking tool, and if used correctly, can help you find the right job.
Recruiters and job seekers both have moved from the many job portals into finding jobs through social media. LinkedIn has over 150 million members and many employers use it to find employees through the networks and occasionally through an actual job posting.
In this blog post, we’re going to explore 7 tips to finding your next job through LinkedIn. We’ve also written a tutorial on finding a job through LinkedIn.
1. Update Your Profile & Get Recommendations
You should update your LinkedIn profile each month, adding different projects and work experience to ensure you will show up in as many searches as possible. LinkedIn has a recommendations engine and you can request a recommendation from someone you know. This will help fill out your profile and demonstrate that other people care about what you’ve done in the past.
2. Find Out Where People Work with Similar Backgrounds
Search for people who have similar job titles, education, or experience and discover where they are working. The companies those people work for may be hiring for similar positions.
3. Discover Where People Go After a Company
If you have a target company in mind, discover where past employees go after leaving a company. Use the LinkedIn search function and search for people who have worked at a particular company. Read their profile to see where their career path has taken them.
4. Find Hiring Managers on LinkedIn
When we see a job posted, we always search for the hiring manager to see where they came from. We’ve found people who went to our alma mater, worked for the same companies we have, or have the same interests. You may find a good point to connect with people and get a leg up on the interview process.
5. Find Someone Who Used to Be in an Open Position
If a position is open, there was likely someone in it. Search for people who used to work for an organization and review job titles to discover past employees. Find out what experience and education they had. You may discover some training or projects to highlight on your resume.
6. Spend Time Building Your Network (Now!)
If you aren’t yet in the job market, but suspect you will be sometime soon, build your LinkedIn network now. If you are searching for a job, having a network of people who know you and your skill set can help speed up the process.
7. Connect with Recruiters
If you are open to working with a recruiting or staffing agency, connect with recruiters. Many will post in their profile that they are open networkers and you might find one with the right position open. Many of these positions are not posted on job sites, so if you don’t connect with the recruiter, you wouldn’t know the position exists.
LinkedIn is a great tool for connecting with the right people to find the right job.
