15 ways to use LinkedIn to find a job

Several practical tips on how to use LinkedIn when it comes to finding a job.

Are you tired of applying for jobs and getting nowhere?

Well, then LinkedIn can help you. In this article and in my webinar on April 29th I explain how.

15 ways to use LinkedIn to find the job of your dreams.

At first glance, LinkedIn may appear to be simply an online CV, but it's actually a platform where dozens of employers are searching for candidates every day; a crucial resource to have on your resume. Plus 80% of jobs are not posted but rather recruiters "search" for candidates on LinkedIn, so this is where your attention needs to be.

Not only is it a great way to network within your industry, but you can also use it to promote your accomplishments and build a professional online presence. Plus, if you have the entrepreneurial spirit, you can even boost your own business there.

The key to using LinkedIn effectively is to make sure we are "discoverable" to employers and agencies, as well as using our network of contacts. The big mistake that most people make is thinking that LinkedIn is there to reactively teach your expertiseWhen the magic of LinkedIn happens when we use it proactively.

1. The first step, of course, is to create your LinkedIn profile.

You can change and update your profile as often as necessary, so keep tweaking any parts that don't work, or add to it as you go along.

The more changes and additions you make, the more "active" your profile will appear in the system, increasing your chances of being seen by potential employers.which increases your chances of being seen by potential employers.

2. Choose the perfect LinkedIn profile picture

Profiles without a photo look inactive and are unimpressive in search results, so make sure you find a picture of yourself in the system. make sure you find a photo of yourself that is high-resolution and appropriate for the job.

Avoid super obvious selfies or group photos (even if you've cropped everyone else out) - make sure you're smiling and look approachable! You're trying to sell yourself as someone good to work with, remember.

Obviously, avoid the silly Snapchat filters, but LinkedIn now has a filter feature that will allow you to adjust the colors of your photo for optimal effect.

You'll also notice the option to upload a background or cover photo. This is less important, but if you have something you think will be relevant, use it. A photo of some work you've created, or "in action" related to the job you're looking for is appropriate.

Even you can use your photo as an opportunity to sell any relevant skills (e.g., think portraits, portraits (for example, think hand-drawn portraits, your face as an application logo, or the opportunity to show off your photography skills). The photo can say a lot about you.

3. Write a LinkedIn headline that makes you stand out.

The headline is the first thing any potential employer will see, so make sure it stands out and portrays what you have to offer.

Avoid something boring and don't mention the company you're currently working for. They will already see that in your professional experience.

I always suggest that you look for inspiration on LinkedIn from other people who have a similar position or the position you want to achieve and be inspired by both their title and their description.

Remember that LinkedIn is a search engine, and therefore, while it's nice to inspire, you have to make sure that you can be found by keywords.. If you want to be found as a photographer you should definitely put this word not only in the title but in your description and in as many places as possible.

• You might be interested in: "7 keys of Psychology applied to Marketing and Advertising".

4. Include a professional summary in your profile.

Use the summary box to showcase your accomplishments and aspirations or present an aspirational tone if you are an entrepreneur. You only have between 50 and 100 words, so make it count..

Try to include keywords that recruiters or others are likely to search for (and don't forget that your profile might also show up in Internet searches).

Include contact details in your summary if you want people to get in touch, but don't use a personal email address unless you like spam. Link to your website instead.

5. Promote your work experience on LinkedIn.

Follow the prompts to list your work experience, any courses you've taken, volunteer work, and test scores: there's a pretty substantial list of things to choose from. You don't have to add them all: pick and choose the ones that add value to your profileyou are proud of, or that you would like to appear in searches.

Use the Media section to link to your works in progress or achievements. Include blog posts, magazine articles, your photography/artwork, a business you created, videos or social media accounts you've helped with. If there's something you're proud of, put it here and show it off! Also, when you upload them, remember to use keywords in the URLs as well, as they will help you rank higher in search engines..

Something important, and it should be the same in your resume, is not to say what you did, but to show your contribution and how it made a difference.

6. Get recommendations and endorsements for job skills.

Ask current or former employers and colleagues to post testimonials on your profile page to add credibility to any skills or projects you have listed (once you receive it you can decide whether to accept it for display on your profile). This makes it much more credibleYou are not the one who is speaking wonders about you but someone else.

7. Use LinkedIn's job search function.

It sounds super obvious, but don't forget that there are a lot of jobs listed on LinkedIn. It still amazes me how many job seekers don't have alerts set up on LinkedIn.

Use the search function and sign up for job alerts.Alerts are your best ally because they are doing the work for you!

Follow the companies you want to work with to find out about any job opportunities, graduate schemes or expansion plans first.

8. Share your successes in LinkedIn posts.

It may not come naturally to you to showcase your successes, but LinkedIn is all about selling yourself. If you don't know how to do that, how are you going to convince them in an interview?

If you achieve something, whether it's an award, a successful project or high grades on a particular assignment, write a note and share it with the world. You don't just have to focus on the good, you can also talk about the challenges and failures you've overcome along the way.

You can also post about topics relevant to your industry, as that will position you as a subject matter expert and get you to expand your network and potentially attract the attention of recruiters.

9. Use LinkedIn for networking

LinkedIn, as the name implies, is all about linking up with people in your industry or field of expertise. Be sure to connect with anyone you've worked or studied with, and ask them to introduce you to their connections as well..

Sometimes it's considered bad etiquette to add people you don't know on LinkedIn, but it's usually okay if the other person can quickly see from your profile that you have similar shared interests or connections.

LinkedIn can also be a useful way to keep in touch with interviewers after an interview, or anyone you've been in contact with in past professional or personal experiences.

If you're worried they won't recognize you, write a brief message to help them remember and always, always, write a message when you contact someone to explain why you are contacting them.. This is where the magic begins on LinkedIn. LinkedIn will help you if you use it to proactively contact recruiters instead of waiting for them to come visit you.

One thing I advise is to look at how other people in your field are building their profiles; take note of what career path they took and, more specifically, what companies were willing to employ them when they were starting out.

10. Optimize your LinkedIn privacy settings

The privacy settings on LinkedIn are very different from other social networks, so you need to be careful to make sure you are only showing people what you want them to see..

Firstly, when updating your profile you will notice a "Notify your network" button; if this is selected then all your followers will see your updates in their newsfeed, so perhaps it's best to turn it off so they get notifications when you have bigger news to share.

It may sound like a nightmare, but people will be notified if you visit their profile, and likewise, you will be notified of who visits yours.. I always recommend having this active as you want to know who has looked at your profile and simply reply something like "Thanks for looking at my profile", let's stay in touch. Above all, you have to be social in networks.

12. Personalize your URL

Take a personal (free) URL for your profile. You can use your name, job title or other keywords, and you can change it later if necessary. This will help you to be more detectable in search engines if you use keywords here as well.. Do not leave that URL with numbers. Go to Contact and customize it.

13. Join LinkedIn groups

JOIN and contribute to groups related to Your industry. Get in on the information and learn how your industry works from the inside out, become known for having an opinion or specialty, or find people you know.Get known for having an opinion or specialty, or find people who can tell you more about their career path to see if you're interested.

Once you have joined a few key groups, you can send messages to other group members to introduce yourself or your services (but avoid being seen as a spammer, be sure to send relevant emails to the right people, ask questions or offer to help with their projects).

14. Share articles on LinkedIn and write your own

People often share interesting articles on LinkedIn: texts written by yourself or obtained from other places.

In this regard, having a solid knowledge of the latest happenings in your industry will pay off in interviews.. You can also follow the blogs of companies that interest you to keep up with their latest news.

But if you have something to say that doesn't fit in a quick status update, write a blog post instead. Just hit the "Write an article" button on the home page and write.

Sharing your own opinions and knowledge on a topic will seriously impress employers and help showcase your name more. You can even add videos and images for extra impact.

15. Use LinkedIn for interview preparation.

LinkedIn will be your number one source of information when preparing for an interview. Find out who will be interviewing you and look at them on LinkedIn: examine their career path, their specific interests and any current projects they are working on - use that to your advantage and tailor your answers to appeal to them!

You'll also get great insight into the company by looking at their blog, and you can keep track of industry developments that you can discuss in the interview.

Want to learn more?

As you have seen, LinkedIn is a world of its own, but it is where your focus should be, especially contacting recruiters and HR managers of the companies you want to work for or have applied to. This will help you stand out from other candidates, but always having your profile presentable!

I invite you to register for my webinar on April 29th through the page you will find below in the link in my signature.