Brad Remillard For The Register

What is the best way to use LinkedIn to find a job?

It starts with a compelling profile. Often, people on LinkedIn just give a job title, name of company and some dates. How does this limited information differentiate you from all the others? Make sure your email address is readily available. Then, join groups in your expertise, industry, geographical area, and career or job fields. I recommend at least 30 groups. The goal is to make you findable and someone that recruiters, human resources people or other managers would want to engage.

Second, you should be searching the groups and job postings on LinkedIn. Most of the groups offer a place to post open positions. Check there regularly. In addition, search for open positions posted by recruiters and companies. This is becoming the key resource that recruiters and companies use to find people. Once you respond to their postings, people will look at your profile. If it isn't compelling, they will probably walk away.

As a CEO, why should I have a LinkedIn profile? I'm not looking for a job.

Not everyone needs to have a profile on LinkedIn. But before you dismiss it, you might want to consider some of the reasons for having a profile. When I hear these types of statements, it reminds of five years ago when I would be asked, “Why do I need to deal with social media? Maybe if we ignore it, it will go away.” Today, companies are embracing social media, and many are generating substantial amounts of revenue from it.

LinkedIn isn't about whether you are looking for job. You might want to think of your LinkedIn profile as your personal, professional home page. A few years ago, the first place potential customers, employees, vendors or other stakeholders would go to check out your company was your website. Today, they go to LinkedIn. Before job candidates think about responding to your job opening, they will check out your profile.

As the CEO, what does your profile say about you? Do you have employees writing testimonials about what a great place it is to work, what a dynamic leader you are? Do your potential customers see your values and mission, backed up by testimonials?

LinkedIn helps promote you as the leader of the company.


More from News

    No articles found.

Join the conversation

Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement
