How LinkedIn plays an upper hand in Job Hunting

LinkedIn is one of the best business networking sites around to help anyone searching for new job opportunities to maximize their job search. An extraordinary large number of people are already using this site – far more so than other business networking sites that I know of.
It is easy to regard LinkedIn as another distraction, but it can in fact be a very sophisticated relationship management and effective job search tool. By understanding how you can use LinkedIn to differentiate yourself, you can increase your job search effectiveness exponentially. A core ingredient of any job search is to develop and enhance your personal brand.
About a year ago I started to develop my own website, with some blogging and other social media initiatives to develop my own personal brand. When I started, I would get less than 20,000 hits when I searched for my name. Today, it is almost reaching the half-million mark.
Most people have a shortage of time, so be economical with your profile building and first get it right on LinkedIn. At a later stage, you can easily clone the profile and update other sites, such as Plaxo, Xing, Naymz, Ecademy, to name a few.

1. Picture

– most people use a picture. Unfortunately many miss the opportunity and use an obscure picture hiding behind a ski mask. Using a picture that presents you in an authentic way is the best choice. The absence of a photo raises more questions and is not the best way of building your personal brand.

2. Headline

– though you get 120 characters, think of a compelling headline – highlight the typical position title you are aiming for and add some flavour to make you stand out from other candidates. Think of it as a by-line that will catch the eye without being over the top, but may be a typical key word.

3. Profile

– the summary section provides you with an opportunity to provide a snapshot of your career. Here is an opportunity for some of your style and personality to shine through, by adding a story about your experience and skills. It is very important that this is consistent with your resume; otherwise you can expect some difficult questions during an interview.

4. Getting Connected

– building connections is an on-going process. After networking and meeting new contacts, LinkedIn is a great way of adding them to your network and staying in touch. As you continue to network and connect with others, your contacts will increase as well.

5. Groups

– by joining selected groups, you can easily expand the reach of your network. One of the main advantages of groups is the ability to send emails to people in your group. This is useful to make contact with relevant people and engage in further communication.

6. Personal Invitations

– though LinkedIn saves you time with a standard invite, always add some personal comments to make it more compelling for your business contacts to respond to your invitations. Try and introduce your contacts to others, as a way of sharing information. Quality of contacts are important and it is best to only invite people that you have connected with either in person or through phone/email.

7. Companies

– this is a great new feature and you can include your target companies, as a way of keeping track of any departures or appointments. Doing research on a company prior to your interview has just become a lot easier.

8. Jobs

– I have left the most obvious for last. In the jobs section LinkedIn will display potential jobs that you may be interested in. You can also request an introduction through one of your existing contacts. The difference here is that you can connect jobs and contacts – leveraging your relationships and exponentially enhancing your job search.
Lastly, technology is a great enabler. It works while you are busy with other things, creating touch points. Ultimately, it is not just about how who you know, but also who knows you. LinkedIn is a great way of helping you with your job search.