Use LinkedIn to supercharge your job search

Social media like Facebook and Twitter have become one of the most-talked about and most widely used online tools. But there’s more to social media than sharing funny videos and socializing – professionals can use LinkedIn as a powerful tool to build their careers, expand their networks and create an effective online presence that leads to a job offer.

What is LinkedIn?

Also known as “Facebook for grownups,” LinkedIn is an online social networking site with over 80 million users all over the world.

What can LinkedIn do for me?

LinkedIn makes it incredibly easy to find and re-connect with people. Whether it’s a mentor from a college internship 10 years ago, or a former colleague from your first job, or present co-workers at your current job, LinkedIn gives you fast and easy access to all of the people who have mattered to you over the course of your working life.

In addition to re-connecting with colleagues (past and present), LinkedIn also makes it easy to stay in touch. You can post regular updates about your career that will be visible to all of the contacts in your network. (“I’m looking for a new job – anyone who might have a lead can contact me here…”)
You can send messages directly to any of your contacts – whether or not you have their e-mail address. This is a major benefit of LinkedIn – as people change jobs over the years, your e-mail contact list will gradually get out of touch. LinkedIn gives you a permanent place to find people online.

Finally, LinkedIn can give you a foot in the door with your next job interview. You can search a particular company to see who you know that works there – or who your network knows. Chances are, you’re already friends-of-friends (by a few degrees of separation) with your next job interviewer. LinkedIn gives you immediate credibility that you can use to reach out to people – “Hey, can you put in a good word for me with Pat Jones in H.R.? I used to work with one of your favorite former colleagues…)

What are some easy ways to get the most out of LinkedIn?

• Add a photo. This is easy, but many people on LinkedIn don’t do it. Make sure you have a good photo included with your profile. It doesn’t have to be much – just a simple head shot from a digital camera. Or if you want to go all out, spend a couple hundred dollars and hire a professional photographer to take some business head shots that you can add to your LinkedIn page. Adding a photo to your LinkedIn profile is essential. It’s an easy way to add personality and a sense of “realness” to your LinkedIn presence. People will be more likely to click on your profile, and your old friends and colleagues will be able to more quickly identify and connect with you if they see your photo.

• Change your URL to list your own name. Your standard LinkedIn profile will have a URL that includes a random collection of letters and numbers at the end. Instead of settling for a less-than-specific URL, you can create your own URL – for example, www.linkedin.com/in/YourName. A custom URL that includes your full name makes it easier for people to find you online – whenever someone Googles your name, they’re more likely to see your professional LinkedIn profile near the top of the search results.

• Be generous with recommendations. One of the interesting features of LinkedIn is the Recommendations tool – you can post permanent “recommendation” messages praising your colleagues and friends for their past work. People can also recommend you – which is a great way to build up your reputation. But don’t be greedy – instead of only asking other people to recommend you, make a habit of writing detailed, energetic (and truthful) recommendations for other. Give before asking to receive. People will likely reward your generosity.

Ben Gran is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. He is an award-winning blogger who loves to write about careers and the future of work.

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