LinkedIn Networking Tips and Tricks

One of the best resources available today to create a network in your industry is LinkedIn. There are more than 300 million LinkedIn users, and 25 million profiles get viewed every day. And it just keeps growing: on average, 3 people sign up for LinkedIn every second. It’s no wonder, then, that many employers now turn to LinkedIn to search for potential new hires. Having a well-connected LinkedIn profile can open doors for job seekers.

However, LinkedIn is a tool and, just like any tool, you have to use it properly in order for it to work well for you. That means getting on regularly, having a complete and competent profile, and networking with new connections. It’s this last part that often trips people up. It can be nerve-wracking to reach out to new connections, especially when you aren’t sure how to do it right. So for you today, I have compiled five tips for networking effectively on LinkedIn.

1. Used the Advanced Search function. LinkedIn has one of the more powerful search algorithms currently at work on a social media platform. Use that to your advantage by employing the advanced search button, which allows you to plug in several different requirements. Looking for recruiters in the business supply and equipment industry located within 50 miles of where you live? You can actually use those parameters to find individuals to connect with. Use the advanced search to your advantage to find new connections.
2. Begin with common ground. When you’re trying to network with a new contact, lead with something you have in common. That can be a common connection, a common industry, or a common interest. “Hello, X, my name is J. I see that you know L, how did you meet them? L and I met at a softball class we both took last year.” Providing background information establishes a connection immediately. It also demonstrates that you took the time to examine their profile a little bit.
3. Use private search. Sometimes you want to look at someone’s profile anonymously. LinkedIn defaults to letting individuals know who has looked at their profile, but you can modify how much information about you is shared by changing your privacy settings. Simply hover over your picture in the upper right-hand corner, click “Manage” next to privacy and settings, click on privacy at the top of the next page, and select profile viewing options. Underneath that, you can choose how people will see you when you see your profile. Pretty slick, right? The downside is that when you turn on privacy, your own profile viewing stats will become invisible to you. But it’s still a good tool to have.
4. Point out your qualifications. If you’re contacting someone about a job opening at their company, you want to quickly outline what makes you a serious candidate and not just a job hopper. What qualifications do you have that make you ideal for the position? Briefly explain what your qualifications are and why you think they’d be a good fit in the position. For example, “I saw your company, Generic Company, has an opening for a lead lab technician. I’ve been working as a lab manager in a pharma company for the past four years, and I’m hoping to get back into aquatic lab work.” This gives some quick background and establishes why you would be good for the position.
5. Create interlocking networks. If you have a website, Twitter account, or blog, consider including links to those sites in order to interlock your LinkedIn with your other online presences. This will direct the flow of people to your other sites and engage them with your content even more deeply.

Leveraging a professional network is one of the top ways people are now getting hired. Make sure you have a network solidly in place when you begin a career change. This will make your job search easier, both now and in the future.

Interested in developing a solid career plan and networking approach? Email us at info@careersolutionsgroup.net. We offer free initial consultations and have helped hundreds of career changers make successful transitions.

By: Julia Pillard, Career Solutions Group