When you’re on the hunt for your next career opportunity, you’ll want to make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and really selling you to potential employers. For those who discount LinkedIn or devalue this platform, it’s time to rethink your position. Not only can LinkedIn make you aware of job openings in your industry, it can also make you more visible to those who might hire you. Here’s how to maximize LinkedIn during your job hunt:
Know how you want to brand yourself
LinkedIn is all about branding yourself, so make sure that you’re presenting the right image. Use your headline, for example, to make a statement about both who you are and what you’re seeking. If you’re currently unemployed and searching, don’t hide this fact. You want employers to know that you’re in the market for an opportunity. If you’ve held a certain type of position in the past but are looking to make a switch, your headline should reflect this too. Make it very clear what you’re looking for so that your profile attracts the right kind of attention.
Keep tabs on your ideal employers
If you’re dying to work for XYZ Company, follow them on LinkedIn. You’ll find out about new products or services they’re offering, as well as open positions that become available. You can also see if anyone in your network can put you in touch with someone who might make it easier to get your foot in the door there. Zeroing in on two or three companies to follow can help to make your job search much more targeted and organized.
Use it to avoid the “To whom it may concern”
If you’re not addressing your cover letters to a specific person within that organization, you’re doing yourself a serious disservice. LinkedIn can be a useful research tool to help you figure out how you should be addressing your cover letters, thus giving them a much more personal feel. Instead of just “Dear Sir/Madam”, you can actually put a first and last name and up your chances of getting that individual to read your materials.
How did you use LinkedIn during your job hunt? Let us know in the comments.
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