Using LinkedIn to Find a Job
04 February 2009
My recent blog on February 2, 2009 discussed how to get a recruiter to read your resume. Item #2 talked about networking.
Guy Kawasaki’s blog on the same day discussed how you can use LinkedIn to find a job. He mentions the following steps that you can take such as:
- Update your status to let people in your network know that you are looking for a job.
- Get LinkedIn recommendations from colleagues and managers.
- Find out where people with your background are working.
- Find out where people in a company came from using LinkedIn “Company Profiles” feature.
- Find out where people in a company go using LinkedIn “Company Profiles” feature.
- Check if a company is still hiring using LinkedIn “New Hire” feature.
- Get to the hiring manager.
- Get to the right recruiter.
- Find out the secret job requirement.
- Find start-ups to join.
- Build your network before you need it.
- Check out LinkedIn Job for postings. (Note that some recruiters can choose to only receive resume from candidates with a certain number of LinkedIn recommendations.)
- Use LinkedIn Groups to tap into professionals outside of your immediate network. You can join discussion groups and send messages to most of members of these groups.
- Connect with former alumni from your school through LinkedIn Groups.
- Look at “LinkedIn Event” listings to network with other professionals. (Widget located on your home page.)
Update:
A reader asked how she can use LinkedIn Groups with her job search. Instead of just responding in the comments section, I thought it would be best to expand on her question.
· Update your LinkedIn status aka “What are you working on?” . This will notify members to indicate that you are looking for a job. (For example, “Looking for an accounts payable role with a biotech firm in San Francisco.”) Find creative ways to update your status to let others know that you are looking for a job.
· Edit your LinkedIn status setting. Make it visible to everyone or your network so that there is a broader audience who know that you are looking for a job.
· Post your availability on the discussion board. Check that particular LinkedIn Group’s history. Some groups prefer the discussion board to remain on topic while others do not mind job seekers posting their availability. Ask members of the group if they know of any career opportunities in your field.
· Ask for advice. See if any members of your group can critique your resume. See if there are any other resources that might help you with the job search.
· Research contacts. Check the members tab of your LinkedIn Groups to find employees for your target company. See if there is anyone from human resources who could direct you to the correct recruiter. They are usually more open to receiving unsolicited resumes than hiring managers. You can send them a message directly. I would not recommend contacting every single member on the discussion group and spamming everyone.
· Connect with your school’s alumni network. They are usually very good at helping fellow alumni with job searches.
· Join the Job Angels in LinkedIn Group. This group is geared specifically for job seekers.
· Stay relevant. Monitor the discussion groups for topics where you can provide insights. Your knowledge in the subject matter could entice a potential hiring manager to bring you in for an interview. They could also refer you to another contact or a job opportunity.
(Disclaimer: LinkedIn is a client. However, I used LinkedIn heavily for years before they became a client.)
Niall Cook
5 February 2009
10:09 am
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Another great post Kaye – I hope you’ll follow this up and tell us more about how recruiters are using LinkedIn to find candidates.
When you do, can I put in a plea for them to STOP trying to join our alumni group? You would think that recruiters of all people would know what “alumni” means (the “employees, past and present” should be a bit of a giveway too)…
Kaye Monty
6 February 2009
9:40 am
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I will most definitely follow-up with a post on how recruiters use LinkedIn. Have to find the best way to provide enough information but not give away my bag of tricks.
duktu
11 February 2009
10:01 pm
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Checkout how not to use Linkedin @
http://www.duktu.com/blog/?p=16
Feel free to leave a comment
Kaye Monty
12 February 2009
10:48 am
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Duktu,
I’m not so sure if I agree with item #1 from your blog. Some people can get recommendations on the
same day from LinkedIn. As with anything, online recommendations do not take the place
of professional references that the employer takes. It should at least distinguish a
candidate that you don’t know off the street vs. a candidate who has recommendations on LinkedIn.
Kimberly
19 February 2009
12:04 pm
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Hi,
I was wondering how I should use LinkedIn groups most effectively to look for a new job after being laid off?
A few recruiters have told me that it would be fine to post something on the discussion board to say that I am looking for new opportunities and the type of role that I am looking for.
Is that acceptable or unappealing?
Thank you,
Kimberly
Kaye Monty
19 February 2009
2:04 pm
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I updated my blog post to answer your question. Hope this helps!
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