4 Steps to Harness The Power of LinkedIn
So…you’re already on Bitesize Bio AND you’re reading an article about finding a job.
That says to me that you are net savvy enough to know about professional networking sites! There are a lot of networking sites on the web now, from Twitter to Facebook and MySpace and LinkedIn.
But although each of these sites (and many, many others) have their own advantages, in my opinion and experience as a recruiter, none of them comes close to the power of LinkedIn for finding a job.
Everyday, we are hearing about more and more people who are finding positions through LinkedIn.
So how best to harness the power LinkedIn and maximize your chances of getting headhunted? Here are my 4 steps:
1. Build Your Profile
Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your experience and should read like a resume because just like a resume on a job board, people will find you based on key word searches.
It’s worth taking the time to get your profile just right, just as you would your resume. You never know who might be taking a look at it.
I’d advise you to also include a Word version of your resume for recruiters and individuals to download.
2. Be Accessible
If you are actively and openly looking for a job, make it easy for people to find you. Use lots of keywords and build your profile like your resume. and I HIGHLY recommend you include your email address and/or phone number.
Make yourself accessible and you will reap the rewards.
3. Get connected — Invite! Invite! Invite!
As a recruiter, I use LinkedIn to look for people for my clients, but I also use it to get referrals to people who may or may not be on LinkedIn.
People can only be �found� based on how connected they are – or how many people they have LinkedIn with. This should not be reserved for friends and close co-workers. This is a networking site and goal of networking is to �know� as many people as possible.
Plus, if you don’t “LinkIn” with people, then folks that you know and their contacts will not have the benefit of an expanded network. Bottom line – connect with as many people as possible!
So invite anyone and everyone you know. And if you meet new contacts, e.g. at a conference or other event, ask them if you can add them to your network.
This is about exposure and being found by as many people as possible. Speaking as someone with a LinkedIn network that extends to more than 7,000,000 people, the more people you connect with, the more likely you are to be found!
4. Join groups
Take the time to join groups that interest you. This is another way to get exposure, get connected and stay in tune with your interests (if you are looking for a job, they should be within your targeted industry).
The specialists at our firm accept invitations from anyone interested in networking:
To invite Travis: http://www.linkedin.com/in/TravisMedley
To join our Simply Biotech group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1966397
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TwitterAbout the Author
Travis Medley
Travis is the President of Simply Biotech, a specialized recruiting and staffing firm dedicated exclusively to the biotech industry in San Diego County. More information may be found at www.simplybiotech.com
Thanks Travis-
I couldn’t agree more. Linkedin is like having an online rolodex as well as place to keep your resume. I use it almost every day.
Suzanne
Travis,
One of the silly things about http://www.linkedin.com is that if you
invite many people and if only a handful of them indicate that
they “do not know” you, you are then blocked from inviting
others. You are given one warning, and after the second offense,
you are blocked from inviting people without knowing their
email address. To me (and apparently many others), this rule
seems counter-productive to making “new” professional contacts.
One work-around is to provide your email address on your public
profile. Of course, there is a certain downside to that as well.
I have gone to your profile and tried to invite you, but you
do not have your email address there. Since I am “blocked” for
having invited people I “do not know”, I cannot send you an
invitation. You can send me one though, provided you are not
blocked or you already know my email address.
Paul N. Hengen
hengen@earthlink.net
http://www.linkedin.com/in/hengen
Hi Paul,
Excellent points on all fronts. I took your advice and added my email address in two places to my public profile (a little embarrassed I had not done this before!). Also, I have faced being “locked out” in the past. You can contact LinkedIn customer service and tell them you understand the policy and will abide by it and they will “unlock” your account. I have had to do this more than once
Also, I include a reference in my invite stating:
PS I would like to add you to my LinkedIn network. If this is not okay, please do not select “I don’t know them” as that can negatively impact my LinkedIn account. Please let me know and I will withdraw the invitation immediately.
It does not work 100% of the time (people still select I don’t know), but it has drastically reduced the occurrences.
Travis
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