Get Hired: The Guide to Using LinkedIn to Land Your Dream Job

LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools for job seekers today. With over 722 million users, LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for professionals to connect, network, and find new job opportunities.

In today’s competitive job market, it’s important for job seekers to leverage LinkedIn to its fullest potential in order to increase their chances of landing their dream job. And if you’re based in slightly job challenged regions such as the Westcountry, there are definite benefits to knowing how to land a job on Linkedin.

So we’ll take a look at the best practices for using LinkedIn to get a job. We’ll also show you how to effectively use Linkedin to build your professional brand, expand your network, and find new job opportunities not just across the country, but around the world.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, an experienced professional, or anywhere in between, you’ll learn how to use LinkedIn to get ahead in your career.

Step 1: Complete your profile

Think of your LinkedIn profile like an online CV that represents you and yourself as a professional brand. So it makes sense that a complete and well-crafted profile can make a great first impression on recruiters and potential connections.

And yes, optimising your Linkedin profile really does increase your chances of being discovered for job opportunities .

Here’s how to make the most of your profile:

1. Professional profile picture: A professional headshot or portrait is the first thing people see when they visit your profile. Invest in a high-quality picture that accurately represents your professional image. At the very least take a smiling head shot with a plain background.
2. Headline and summary: Your headline should be a brief description of your current position or your professional objective. The summary section should be a short paragraph that provides a more in-depth look at your experience and skills.
3. Work experience: Optimise your Linkedin profile to highlight your experiences and list your jobs and work experience. Be sure to use keywords relevant to your industry and position, as this will make your profile more discoverable in LinkedIn searches. You don’t need to include that bar job (unless it’s relevant) or add in ‘career break’ or ‘gone travelling’ – but keep your experience focused on your job goals.
4. Education: Most people simply list their university if they studied at one. You can list colleges if that helps, but you can skip older education such as secondary.
5. Skills: List the skills that are most relevant to your industry and position. Consider also adding any skills that you’ve acquired through coursework, projects, or volunteer work if your professional experience is thin on the ground.

Step 2: Build your network

Networking is an essential part of your job search on LinkedIn. Think of Linkedin like a big business networking event where you get to meet and greet people from all walks of life. And, by having a good network, you’re also more visible to recruiters and HR professionals.

In short, the more connections you have, the more opportunities you have to be discovered by recruiters and potential employers. This is a big part of knowing how to secure a great job on Linkedin, so pay attention to how to network.

1. Reach out to connections: Consider connecting with former colleagues, classmates, or industry professionals you’ve met at events or conferences. A strong network can open doors to new job opportunities.
2. Endorse skills: Endorsing the skills of your connections is a great way to build rapport and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. In turn, you may also receive endorsements for your own skills, which can help boost your visibility to recruiters.
3. Ask for endorsements: Don’t be afraid to ask for endorsements from your connections. Recommendations from colleagues, managers, and clients can add credibility to your profile and increase your chances of being discovered for job opportunities.

By leveraging your network on LinkedIn, you’ll increase your visibility, build valuable relationships, and increase your chances of finding a job. Make sure to regularly engage with your connections by liking, commenting on, and sharing their posts to maintain a strong network.

Step 3: Be active and engaging

Engaging with content and groups on LinkedIn is an effective way to showcase your expertise, build your brand, and connect with potential employers and recruiters.

Here’s how to make the most of these features:

1. Share content: Sharing relevant articles, blog posts, and updates in your industry can help establish you as a thought leader and demonstrate your knowledge to potential employers.
2. Comment and participate in discussions: Engage with content by commenting on posts and participating in discussions. This will help you build relationships with other professionals in your industry and expand your network.
3. Join groups: Joining groups relevant to your industry can provide valuable insights, connect you with like-minded professionals, and increase your visibility to recruiters. Participate in discussions, share content, and engage with other members to establish yourself as a valuable member of the group.

By actively engaging with content and groups on LinkedIn, you’ll demonstrate your expertise, build your professional brand, and increase your chances of being discovered for job opportunities.

Step 4: Find and apply for jobs

Of course one the main reasons to use Linkedin is to search for and apply for jobs. And yes, LinkedIn Jobs is a great tool for job seekers to find and apply for job opportunities.

Make sure to optimise your profile for the job you’re searching for, upload a good quality CV and have a complete work experience profile.

And then, you can apply for jobs on Linkedin:

1. Refine your job search: Use the job search filters to refine your search based on location, job title, company, and other criteria. This will help you find job opportunities that are a good match for your skills and experience. Remember, you might not be restricted by your location so keep an eye out for remote or hybrid roles.
2. Save job searches: Save your job searches so you can receive regular updates on new job opportunities that match your criteria.
3. Apply with your LinkedIn profile: When you apply for a job on LinkedIn, you can use your LinkedIn profile to pre-fill the application, which saves time and makes the process easier.
4. Follow companies: Follow companies that you’re interested in working for to receive updates on their job postings and news about the company.

By using LinkedIn Jobs, you’ll have access to a wide range of job opportunities and be able to apply for jobs quickly and easily. Be sure to tailor your cover letter and resume to each job you apply for, and make sure your LinkedIn profile accurately reflects your experience and skills.

Step 5: Keep updated and active

Staying connected and keeping your profile up-to-date are essential to your job search success on LinkedIn. To maintain an active presence and ensure your profile is always relevant follow these steps:

1. Regularly engage with your network: Regularly like, comment on, and share updates from your connections to maintain a strong network. This will also keep you informed about new job opportunities and industry trends.
2. Update your profile regularly: Keep your profile up-to-date with your latest work experience, education, and skills. This will ensure that your profile accurately reflects your professional brand and increases your visibility to recruiters.
3. Seek recommendations: Regularly ask for recommendations from your connections to showcase your skills and experience. Recommendations can increase your credibility and make you more attractive to potential employers.

If you remain active and visible on LinkedIn, you’ll increase your chances of finding your next job opportunity, or better still getting approached or headhunted.

In summary

By having a well optimised profile, being active and regularly engaging with other users on Linkedin, you stand a higher chance of landing your ideal job. If you’re also applying for flexible or digital jobs, you’ll find your chances of success even greater.

If you’re thinking of creating content on Linkedin then it’s a good idea to study a few courses to understand how to do it right. Putting it simply, identify your ideal audience and post regular useful content to help them.

Probably the master of Linkedin is Justin Welsh, who has made Linkedin an artform. His course is also excellent and well worth signing up for – check it out here.

Or, check out this review of the course.

Whatever you goals on Linkedin, good luck with your search!