Using LinkedIn is a very useful way to job hunt, but you need to understand how it works in order to make your pitch effective. These tips show you how to achieve that…
It’s increasingly hard to get a job – and a good one – these days, and although there is a lot to consider when you’re looking to get a job, effective business writing plays a major part in helping you succeed. In this series, HTWB columnist Lynn Tulip from Assessment4Potential explains the best ways to express your career information in your CV/résumé.
And if you want to catch up on all the earlier articles in the series, just check out the sidebar to the the right > > > > and they’re all there for you to help yourself.
Here’s Lynn…
LinkedIn as part of your Job Search Strategy
Here’s a question for you: Should anyone working or not working have a profile on LinkedIn?
True or False?
Certainly if you are a current job seeker you need to have a profile on LinkedIn and you need to be using the site appropriately. LinkedIn is where companies want to be when they are recruiting and where job seekers should be when they are job searching.
If you are actively job searching then you need to think of all the preparations you have made already, your CV, personal presentation and research and ensure that it is collated and uploaded to your LinkedIn profile.
You need to present yourself positively to both prospective employers and networking contacts.
Make sure there is a current and appropriate photograph on your profile
Ensure that your CV and work history are achievement focused, complete, and include relevant key words and skills.
Be creative when writing your professional headline, for example:
- “… Professional seeking work”
- “Experienced …. available for new opportunity”
- “Representative currently exploring new opportunities”
- “….Consultant in transition”
- “Graduate seeking entry level programming position”
Add recommendations, testimonials and references where you can, as these add value.
Use the Answers section to pose or respond to relevant questions within your field of expertise.
Join Groups on LinkedIn, and participate in them. Chose groups not only for their professional value but also the locality. Contributions and comments are all useful.
Build your Network (selectively) The more connections you have the more opportunities are available.
Use the Search option (top right of menu) Search Jobs and Companies for opportunities as well as researching who is recruiting and where people are moving to and from. It is easy to trace career histories with LinkedIn so use the facility and your connections wisely.
Stay connected. Having a strong network helps at all times, it can be as comforting as job security.
Make sure you are open to all opportunities and that you use LinkedIn for developing not only network contacts but also real researched job opportunities. It is a very valuable resource.
Let us know of your experiences in using LinkedIn for your job hunting … which approaches you’ve used and how they changed your chances!
Lynn Tulip from Assessment4Potential
Watch out for more of Lynn’s tips next week…
Now: let’s make sure you get that job…
“Get That Job” by Lynn Tulip … The art of successful job hunting (print, Kindle)
“Can’t Get That Job?” by Lynn Tulip … Seven killer CV mistakes that destroy your chance of job success (print, Kindle)
“How To Write About Yourself” by Suzan St Maur … how to make the most of yourself, whatever you need to write INSTANT DOWNLOAD now available!
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