Did you graduate with a liberal arts degree and are now facing the tough job market? Maybe it’s time to embrace your inner geek by leveraging your strong communication skills and passion for technology to try finding a career in the tech industry says, William D King.
From Silicon Valley to Seattle, more than half of all major companies are now using social media networks like LinkedIn as their primary source for recruiting new talent. What this means is that if you’re still sending out paper resumes, writing cover letters on Microsoft Word, and attending career fairs without success — maybe it’s because you aren’t making yourself visible online to employers or networking with them through social media. Making connections online can help get your resume noticed and help you get your foot in the door for an interview.
Here are 10 tips to help you get started with LinkedIn for job search:
1) Fill out your profile completely.
This is your chance to make a good first impression and show off your skills and talents. Be sure to list your work experience, education, and volunteer work. You should also add a profile photo, which can make it easier for potential employers to find you.
2) Connect with friends, colleagues, and classmates.
The more people you connect with on LinkedIn, the more likely it is that someone will know someone who knows someone who can help you find a job.
3) Use keywords in your profile.
When recruiters are searching for candidates, they will often use keywords related to the job that they are hiring for. Be sure to list the keywords that you want employers to see in your profile.
4) Join groups related to your field of interest.
LinkedIn has thousands of groups where members share job opportunities, discuss industry news, and offer advice explains William D King. Joining a group can help you network with professionals in your field and learn more about what employers are looking for.
5) Use the power of endorsements.
When someone endorses you for a skill, it sends a powerful message to potential employers that you have the skills they are looking for. Request endorsements from colleagues and friends who can attest to your skills.
6) Connect with recruiters.
Recruiters are often on LinkedIn searching for potential candidates. This is a great opportunity to make connections with recruiters and job opportunities if you don’t already have many people in your network yet.
7) Use LinkedIn groups to research companies.
LinkedIn groups are a great way to learn more about the industry that interests you and hear from employees who work at specific companies, including competitors. Keep an eye on the group feed to find out when members leave new comments or update their profiles. Companies often post about job opportunities within the company, open positions they plan on filling soon, and upcoming events or conferences that you can participate in. You can also reach out directly to HR managers at different companies through LinkedIn messaging services by finding them through the member search feature in the “more” drop-down menu says William D King.
8) Submit your resume to LinkedIn Recruiter.
LinkedIn launched a new service called “LinkedIn Recruiter” that can help you get in front of hiring managers and HR agents at companies where you want to work. Just select jobs you want employers to see, enter your keywords (the same keywords you used in your profile), and submit for review.
9) Be sure to add skills when updating your resume online.
When updating or creating a new resume on LinkedIn, be sure to add the same keywords that you added to your profile in the section labeled “skills”. This will ensure that recruiters and hiring managers can find and view your updated resume in their search results for any job where you have the skills they are looking for.
10) Upload your resume to LinkedIn.
In December 2014, LinkedIn announced a new feature that allows you to upload. And share your resume directly with potential employers and recruiters. The “Add a Job” feature is in the Jobs You May Be Interested In the section on your profile’s sidebar and can help potential employers find you.
While we certainly don’t want our resumes anywhere on the Internet for just anyone to see. LinkedIn can be a great tool for professional networking and resume building. Do you have tips or questions about using LinkedIn?
Conclusion:
LinkedIn is a great tool for professional networking and resumes building. It’s important to remember to use keywords in your profile. And join groups related to your field of interest says, William D King. You can also reach out directly to HR managers at different companies through LinkedIn messaging services. Be sure to upload your resume to LinkedIn so potential employers can find you. Lastly, don’t forget to add skills when updating your resume online. These tips will help you make the most of LinkedIn! Thank you for reading!