How to use LinkedIn to get a job

Presenting the ultimate LinkedIn cheat sheet that'll help you connect with prospective recruiters and eventually get you the job of your dreams.

How to use LinkedIn to find a job Have you recently received a call or e-mail to discuss a prospective job offer via LinkedIn? No?

When was the last time you updated your work status and profile on LinkedIn?

Don't remember?

You're not alone.

An increasing number of LinkedIn users do not care much about the status bar at the top of the page.

However, if you are really looking forward to see more job leads, you cannot afford to miss this feature.

LinkedIn is an engaging marketplace frequently used by recruiters and job seekers alike to connect with the best in the business.

A good status update not only helps recruiters notice you, it also creates a memorable reputation among your connections.

While doing so, you have to be extremely careful and smart as to what to post and how to use it to your benefit.

For beginners, here's an ultimate cheat sheet to help you decide what to share and how it will help you:

What you must share on your profile

Industry insights
News about target companies
Inspiring quotes
Infographics, interesting images and videos
Updates from your network

What you must post

Job-related tips/ hacks
Interesting questions in group discussions
Information about upcoming events (relevant to career)
Harmless humour

Why this is useful

To get high engagement on your status, you need to share something that is both informative and useful. For this, you may choose to share industry insights, or company news. You may also tweak your Pulse preference settings to get updates relevant to you and your network.
With your well written posts, you could be helping a colleague or person with much needed information. At the same time, you could benefit by reading someone else's success stories and alter your career goals to align with the upcoming trends in the job market.
An inspiring quote or anecdote is sure to interest everyone in your network. But while sharing one, remember to give credit to the original author.
Similarly, if a certain picture, video or infographic interests you and you believe that it might help your network, remember to attribute it to the original author.
If you particularly like a certain status posted by someone in your list, feel free to share it and appreciate the effort.
To engage with your network, asking questions is one of the great tricks. You may ask questions based on any certifications or technology, or even ask for recommendations. You could also post the link to a story you recently read and ask for its feedback from your connections.
It is important to remain active in the various groups that you have joined on LinkedIn. If it's a public group, remember your post and related discussion would be visible in your news feed as well, which is a good sign to show your pro-activeness. Avoid making religious or political statements that can rub the wrong way.
If you are planning to be a part of any event, conference or a workshop, you may post that as well on your LinkedIn status. In addition, you may also ask others to join you.
To lighten the mood, humour is always welcome. Be innovative, be relevant and share some good jokes, or funny memes to lighten the mood.
Do the above at least once a week and you will see the results for yourself.

Photo: LinkedIn's Facebook Page

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