Do you want to know one of the things I hear many of my clients say when we are talking about their job search and using LinkedIn?
“I want to get my LinkedIn profile complete so that recruiters will find me and contact me about jobs”
Thinking that just because you have a complete and optimised LinkedIn profile the recruiters will then “find” you, is the wrong way to look at it. There are over 700 million people on LinkedIn, with over 11 million members just in Australia.
Instead, how about changing your approach to your job search. Do your research and find the recruiters and the contacts you think might be able to help you. Then once you have a fully optimised and All-Star LinkedIn profile, reach out and connect with them. The recruiters and potential contacts, can then see your profile at its absolute best, selling your skills and achievements and allowing them to understand what you do and why. Recruiters search for candidates using keywords, so it’s important to build out your skills section (you can list up to 50 skills) with relevant keywords for which you want to be found.
But I have a Great Profile?!
Having a fabulous LinkedIn profile and then doing nothing else with it, is akin to going to an actual networking event in your best suit with a bunch of your business cards. Then you sit in the corner for the whole event and hope someone comes over to speak with you. Maybe they will or maybe they won’t! However, if you go to the event and introduce yourself to people, ask about them and then listen and engage. Then tell them about you and have a conversation, that is how you develop your network and start to make things happen. It’s the same with LinkedIn.
How do you do this on LinkedIn?
Firstly, a golden rule! Never reach out to potential new contacts until your LinkedIn profile is 100% complete. You would not send an incomplete resume to a job advert, so why reach out to new contacts with an incomplete LinkedIn profile? The first thing the contact will do is check out your (incomplete) LinkedIn profile. You do not always get a second chance so make it count. Once your profile is looking fabulous, here are 5 things you can do:
Tip 1
Create a list of 10 companies where you would love to work. Always think about what you have in common with the company. For example, if you have been working in FMCG, then create a list of 10 FMCG companies. Use LinkedIn to research who the companies might be.
Tip 2
Go into the LinkedIn company page of each of the 10 companies. Click “follow” on the company page. You will now get updates on new hires, promotions and changes at this company and even job opportunities. You will also start seeing the company updates on your homepage when you login to LinkedIn. Then using the filters, search and refine contacts who work at each company, that are relevant to you. For example, if you are a marketing manager you might refine the search by “marketing” and then get a list of marketing contacts.
Tip 3
Connect with who would be your boss (if you worked there) and also your peers. Always write a note in your connection request, it is much more likely they will connect if you do this.
An example note for a new LinkedIn connection request:
Hi Adam
I have recently finished up with [name of FMCG company where you worked] and I am looking to build my network within the FMCG industry.
It would be good to connect with you.
Thanks
Angela
Tip 4
Once you have this list, transfer all your new LinkedIn contacts names and emails into an activity tracker in Excel. Contact me here if you would like a copy of the activity tracker I use with my clients. To get the email addresses of your 1st contacts, just click “contact info” in the LinkedIn profile page of your contact. Then you can create some emails that you can use to reach out to your new contacts to let them know about you.
Tip 5
As many people are not on LinkedIn every day, ensure you send these messages through your email, not through LinkedIn messenger. Track all your activity in your activity tracker.
An example email to a new contact might look something like this:
Hi Adam,
Thanks for recently connecting with me on LinkedIn. I have recently finished up as Marketing Manager at FMCG Australia. I have a background in strategy, marketing, operations and CX within FMCG, pharmaceuticals and the construction sectors. I am exploring opportunities in the FMCG industry and would be very interested in working at [insert the name of Adams company]
If you hear of any opportunities that may be suitable or if there is anyone that you can refer me to, I would be extremely grateful.
I can be contacted on my mobile 0400 00 000 or email – [email protected], at your convenience.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Angela
And Finally……
Doing all of this takes a fair bit of effort, but it is something you control. The worst thing that can happen is they ignore your email, and you do not hear back from them!
This is also how you start to access the infamous “hidden job market” where according to the stats, 70 to 80% of jobs are actually found! Who knows if this figure is really true! However, one thing is true, recruiters cannot find jobs for everyone, so take control of your own job search and use LinkedIn, and your network, to work for you and help you.
Don’t just be a fabulous profile on LinkedIn, use it as the amazing resource that it is.
Want some one on one help? I can show you how to improve your job search strategy and get more meetings and interviews. Contact me today.