If you are a frequent reader of the GetInterviews Blog, then you already know that we value the importance of
using social media in the job search. If you’re a job seeker in 2013, being active in the social spaces can really improve your chances of getting an interview – more importantly, the job you want. While job seekers should always stay active via social media, it’s imperative you spend time setting up a LinkedIn profile that showcases your personality, strengths and what you’ve accomplished.
Why LinkedIn you ask? Out of all the social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.) LinkedIn is the social platform of choice for business professionals. 50% of LinkedIn’s registered members are decision makers within companies, but the fact that truly supports choosing LinkedIn is that
98% of recruiters utilize LinkedIn in the hiring process. With that being said, if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, now is the time to create one! Once you do, here are 3 things you absolutely must do for job search success on LinkedIn in 2013:
Optimize your profile
LinkedIn has SEO value. This means you should include strategic keywords in your profile. Think of all the terms and skills used in your industry and place them in your profile whenever it’s relevant. Keywords such as “salesperson” or “account manager” aren’t going to do you any justice. Think about who you are and what you do. Then, use specific keywords in your headline to help you stand out.
An average headline:
Salesperson at ABC Company
A good headline:
Certified sales professional with a specialty in internet marketing services at an award-winning web development agency.
Your headline is the key to getting people to click on your profile when your name comes up in the search results. How are you going to show recruiters and/or hiring managers that they should click on your profile? You can better your chances with a
strong headline.
Insert industry specific keywords all over your profile but always remember that your profile should be of quality. Don’t oversell yourself by stuffing the same keywords wherever you can. Be natural with it, and also make sure you take the time to fill out every field you can on your profile.
LinkedIn Jobs
Since LinkedIn is the go-to network for career professionals, it would only make sense for companies to place any job openings on the platform. LinkedIn is helping some of the world’s greatest talents get noticed, and it can do the same for you.
LinkedIn Jobs recently received a redesign as well. According to Vaibhav Goel, associate product manager at LinkedIn, "We want to help you find your dream job and the new LinkedIn Jobs experience has been completely redesigned to connect you with the right career opportunities and tools to help you take advantage of those opportunities."
LinkedIn Jobs recommends “jobs you may be interested in” based on what you’ve included on your profile. This is just one benefit of having a complete LinkedIn presence. Once you’ve located a job of interest, you can apply right from LinkedIn (in most cases). You can even utilize the advanced search feature to find jobs based on your personal criteria. Make sure you save the searches so new jobs that match your criteria will show up in the future.
Grow your network (and recommendations/endorsements)
Those with a bigger network reap in the benefits on LinkedIn. Your visibility grows exponentially as the number of connections grow. This proves helpful if you’re trying to increase the number of times you show up in search results.
A great way to grow your connections is to utilize the “People You May Know” tool. This tool scans your current profile and connections to suggest friends, family and/or other people you may share ties with. The People You May Know list updates each time you connect with new people, so get cracking! The Alumni tool is also a great way to grow your connections. The Alumni tool will search LinkedIn for those who went to college with you. You can even change the dates so it reflects the same years you attended.
Along with growing your network, ask those who can vouch for your skills to recommend and/or endorse you. This will provide proof of your skills and knowledge – the factor hiring managers are looking for. While it’s important to grow your network, only connect with people who you know. LinkedIn penalizes you if too many people ignore your request. The same goes for recommendations. Make sure you’re requesting recommendations from people you’ve worked with or have been your mentor in the past. Family recommendations don’t carry that much weight on LinkedIn.
To get the most out of LinkedIn, make sure you’re an active user on the platform. Add LinkedIn to your daily job search in 2013 and you’ll certainly improve your chances of getting the job you want.