LinkedIn can provide powerful tools to job seekers, but only if they take advantage of them strategically.

In the past couple of weeks I have provided LinkedIn training for two groups of job seekers, and have also tutored some job seekers in private sessions, making me more aware than ever of the things people often miss when using this powerful site.

Hire Me Sign With Woman Showing Job Seek

Here are some hints for making the most of your time and LinkedIn’s abilities:

LinkedIn Tools for Job Seekers to Land Their Next Position

  • Make your profile work for you in key word searches. From the headline through the summary, the experience section, and all the other possible pieces, be sure you’re using key words relevant to the jobs you are seeking.
  • Enhance your profile by adding visual elements. The summary, experience, and education sections all offer the option of adding videos, presentations, and other ways of sharing your abilities with potential employers.
  • Put the sections of your profile in the order that serves you best. Not only can you change the order in which sections appear, within some sections you can rearrange the listings themselves. This allows you to tailor your profile to reflect exactly the way you want to present yourself.
  • Create hyperlinks in the projects section to take viewers to websites and other places which showcase your work.
  • Join groups related to the kind of position you are seeking. And then become visible within them by starting new discussions and offering comments in in others. This shows the other members that you know what you’re talking about. Once you have “spoken” with other members, reach out through LinkedIn messages or connection requests to those you want to get to know better.
  • Follow the company pages of the places where you apply for work. Contact the first level connections who might be able to open a door for you, and ask mutual connections to introduce you to people they know but with whom you are not yet connected.
  • Use the introductions tool to ask a current connection to introduce you to a second level connection. You have only five of these introductions each month, so use them judiciously. Note that these are not messages, which can only be sent to people with whom you are connected on LinkedIn.
  • Increase your chances of being found in a LinkedIn or internet search by blogging regularly on LinkedIn. Click on Publish a Post (found on your home page), write an attention-getting headline, select an appropriate photo, and then share your expertise, knowledge and/or point of view.
  • Consider upgrading your account to either the Job Seeker or Business Plus paid account options. Better yet, try the free version of either of these for one month and then try the other and see which one you prefer – or if going paid is worth it at all. I like the expanded search capabilities in the Business Plus option and would pick it over the Job Seeker account for that reason.

 

How About You?

What kinds of LinkedIn tools have helped your job search? What tips would you give a job seeker to make the best possible use of their LinkedIn account? Do you have experience with the Job Seeker or Business Plus paid options? Which is your favorite and why? Or, if you tried the trial versions and reverted to plain old free LinkedIn, what factors led to that decision?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel, Founder of Boomers' Social Media Tutor

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 50 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter. She works with business owners, nonprofit organizations, consultants, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.