In this lesson, you learn how to use LinkedIn as an effective job search tool, find and apply to job postings, and use LinkedIn’s many other features for job seekers.
LinkedIn is an excellent tool for job seekers, but you need to create a stellar profile and develop a solid network if you want to maximize your results. Here are seven tips for making the most of LinkedIn as a job search tool.
See Lesson 2, “Creating Your Profile,” and Lesson 10, “Requesting and Providing Recommendations,” for more information.
Keep in mind that many recruiters now search the web for background information on potential candidates. It isn’t enough to have a professional presence on LinkedIn. Review any other social networking profiles you have to ensure they also reinforce your professional image. If not, remove your “digital dirt” before you begin your job search. Also, verify that your contacts don’t post photos or other content about you that would compromise your professional reputation.
LinkedIn offers a large database of job postings that are posted directly on LinkedIn and on its partner site, Simply Hired.
Although the Jobs page is LinkedIn’s primary job search tool, you should also search the Jobs Discussion Board for any group you belong to and the Careers tab on the company profiles for your target employers. To do a quick search for jobs, use the search box on the top navigation menu.
To search job postings on LinkedIn, follow these steps:
Figure 9.1. On the Jobs page, you can review suggested jobs based on your profile or search for jobs by keyword.
Figure 9.2. Viewing a list of jobs that match your criteria.
On this page, you can do the following:
• Sort jobs by relevance, your relationship to the job poster, or the date posted (most recent or earliest).
• Identify the company by its logo (not available for all postings).
• Open the job posting by clicking the job title link.
• Save this job search and have results sent to you via email on a regular basis, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.
• Save a specific job posting by pausing the mouse over it and clicking the Save Job link. You can review the jobs you save at a later time by clicking the My Jobs link on the Jobs page.
• View jobs similar to a specific job posting by pausing the mouse over it and clicking the Similar Jobs link. LinkedIn displays jobs that are the most similar to the one you selected.
• Refine your search criteria using the fields on the left side of the page. The fields in the Job Search box are nearly identical to the fields on the Advanced Search page. See “Performing an Advanced Job Search” later in this LESSON for more information.
The content listed on a job posting varies according to what the hiring company chooses to display. The content that you see will also vary according to what type of connection you have to the poster and the connections you have to the people working at that company. A job posting (see Figure 9.3) might include some or all of the following features:
• A header listing the job title, location, and company URL.
• A detailed job description.
• The Apply Now button. Click this button to apply for the job from LinkedIn. See the “Applying for a Job” section later in this lesson for more information. Alternatively, the Apply on Company Website button might display if a company prefers to use its own application process.
• The Request Introduction button. Click this button to open the Introductions page where you can request an introduction to the job poster. You can request introductions only to job posters in your network. Otherwise, the Request Introduction button doesn’t appear. Refer to Lesson 6, “Communicating with Other LinkedIn Members,” for more information about LinkedIn introductions.
• The Save Job link. Click to save this job for future viewing on the My Jobs page.
• The Share Job with Others link. Click to send a message to a connection who might be interested in this job.
• The Follow Company link, which enables you to follow this company’s activity on LinkedIn.
• The Bookmark link, which enables you to bookmark this job on Internet Explorer. You won’t see this option if you aren’t using Internet Explorer as your browser.
• The Posted By box with a link to the job poster’s LinkedIn profile. A connection icon appears if this person is in your network. For example, if a job poster is connected to one of your connections, the 2nd degree connection icon appears.
• The You’re Linked to [Company Name] box. Click one of the links in this box to display the LinkedIn members in your network who work at this company. These people could provide you inside information about potential job opportunities at the company. If you aren’t linked to anyone at this company, the You Aren’t Linked to [Company Name] box opens, which encourages you to expand your network.
• The Similar Jobs box, which lists jobs that are similar to the one you’re viewing.
Figure 9.3. Viewing a list of jobs that match specified criteria.
If you want to search for jobs based on specific criteria, try an advanced job search:
Figure 9.4. Performing an advanced job search.
• Location
• Job Title
• Company
• Functions (such as Accounting/Auditing, Engineering, Finance, Information Technology, Marketing, and so forth)
• Industries (such as Banking, Biotechnology, Computer Software, Insurance, Real Estate, and so forth)
• Experience (ranging from executive-level jobs to internships)
• When Posted (the date the job was posted, such as in the last day or at any time)
• Sort By (specific criteria such as date posted or relevance to your keywords)
Refer to the earlier section, “Searching Job Postings,” for more information about the job search results page.
You don’t need to specify criteria in all the fields available on the Advanced Search page. Start with a few choices and then narrow or expand your search based on your search results.
LinkedIn offers two ways to apply for jobs, based on the way the company posting a job handles its recruitment. If the Apply on Company Website button displays on a job posting, clicking this button takes you to the company’s external website where you can apply for the job. If the Apply Now button displays on the job posting, clicking this button directs you to a job application form on LinkedIn. In this section, you learn how to complete LinkedIn’s own job application form.
To apply for a job from a LinkedIn posting, following these steps:
Figure 9.5. Applying for jobs directly from LinkedIn.
The good news for job seekers: Thousands of recruiters and hiring managers maintain profiles on LinkedIn. To find them, select People in the quick search box on the global navigation bar. Then click the Advanced link to the right of the box to open the Advanced People Search page.
There are several ways to find recruiters and hiring managers on the Advanced Search page. Some examples include the following:
• In the Industries field, select Staffing and Recruiting and enter keywords related to the type of job you’re looking for. If applicable, enter location criteria.
• Enter Recruiter in the Title field and the name of a company you want to work for.
• Enter Recruiter in the Title field plus relevant location information.
• Enter the name of a company you want to work for and select Hiring Managers from the Interested In drop-down list (if you have a premium account).
Searching for appropriate contacts is a combination of art and science, so you might need to revise your search criteria several times before you find the appropriate people.
Remember that LinkedIn is a networking and research tool, not a means of spamming prospective recruiters and employers. When you do find good targets for your job search, review their profiles carefully to determine the best way to contact them. Some recruiters provide links to external sites for job candidates. If your target is a hiring manager, determine whether you can reach this person through a network introduction. Alternatively, consider sending a brief message to hiring managers who indicate they are open to job inquiries.
LinkedIn offers many free features and opportunities for job seekers. If you need access to LinkedIn premium features to aid in your job search, however, consider upgrading to a Job Seeker premium account. For example, these accounts can provide access to InMail, the Profile Organizer, and the OpenLink Network and increase your available introductions.
All Job Seeker premium accounts enable you to display a Job Seeker badge on your profile, receive placement as a featured applicant when you apply for a job, use premium search features, view who is interested in your profile, participate in the OpenLink Network (described in Lesson 1, “Introducing LinkedIn”), and receive priority customer service from LinkedIn.
Table 9.1 shows the specific features for each level of Job Seeker account.
Table 9.1. Job Seeker Account Comparison
To upgrade to a Job Seeker premium account or learn more about upgrade options, select Job Seeker Premium from the Jobs drop-down menu on the global navigation bar.
In this lesson, you learned about LinkedIn’s many job search tools. In addition, you learned the most effective way to conduct a job search on LinkedIn.
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