Career Coach: Maximize Your LinkedIn Impact

In my first post of the month, I wrote about the importance of crafting a terrific LinkedIn profile. In this one, I am going to give tips on using LinkedIn for networking and for your job search. 

Connect, Connect, Connect with everyone you know—colleagues, former colleagues, peers, former professors, etc. Any time you meet someone new, grab their business card and make sure to connect with them on LinkedIn with an inbox message saying “Nice to meet you” and remind them that you are looking for a position in their industry.

Use the Search Features. LinkedIn’s job postings not only list available jobs, but tell you who you are connected with at those companies. Use those connections to help you contact the decision makers directly or get appropriate introductions made through third-party connections.

Follow Companies you are interested in. Use the LinkedIn company pages to find companies within your field where you’d like to work. Click “Follow Company” and news about that organization will appear on your homepage to keep you posted on any new job listings or important events at the company.

Be an Expert. Use LinkedIn as a tool to brand yourself as an expert in your field. Share links to relevant articles in your field, news about seminars or workshops you are attending and news about your career or company.

Prepare for Job Interviews. Prior to any job interview, be sure to check out the profiles of any people you are scheduled to meet. Read about their background, groups they are affiliated with, even the college they attended. You can be sure they are looking at yours too! 

Good luck, and don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn!

—Pamela Weinberg, Career Coach