Why Should You Use LinkedIn for Professional Success? – Many people, however, treat their LinkedIn page as an afterthought. Furthermore, many are only halfway through, have copied and pasted bits and pieces from their resume, and haven’t logged in for months. These individuals believe that LinkedIn is just another social networking platform, similar to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and that it does not assist them in obtaining their ideal job.
However, it is the opposite. LinkedIn offers numerous opportunities for job seekers, such as the ability to network, keep track of businesses and events, and even have their job search done for them. Some of the primary reasons why every job seeker should be on LinkedIn are listed below.
Who is on LinkedIn these days?
LinkedIn may work wonders for your job advancement if you use it appropriately and with panache. Recruiters and companies use LinkedIn to find candidates for jobs, and recently departed or freshly placed employees are sometimes used for their own career networking chances. However, as with many other job search tools, it has the potential to be a waste of time.
The Advantages of Creating a LinkedIn Profile
It’s completely free. Although there is a paid edition with additional features, the free version has plenty of them. One caveat: while creating and maintaining an account is free of charge, it does require time (another cost).
Influential people use LinkedIn. Recruiters and hiring managers frequently look up a prospect on LinkedIn after receiving a job application or résumé.
It’s a different approach to look at job openings. On the site, you can look for employment openings. Furthermore, people frequently post job openings that are less well-known.
It could be a requirement of the application. As more organizations transition to standardized online forms, you’ll notice a LinkedIn section near the resume upload button, where you can upload your LinkedIn profile with your CV. This is a tremendous benefit if it is well-crafted, because potential hiring managers will look at both your CV and your LinkedIn page.
It’s a simple, modern approach to keep track of contacts who could help you advance your career. That person you met five years ago at a conference might end up working at your ideal company, or that colleague from your first job might know a hiring manager you’d like to approach. You can reconnect and pursue a new lead with just a simple message.
It’s a useful tool for conducting business research. Company research is an important step in the application and interview process. LinkedIn can help you with this endeavor. You can also use the platform to look up people you’ll be interviewing with, which may help you prepare for the conversation.
It can aid in the development of your brand. People can give you endorsements and recommendations, which can assist recruiters and anyone who are looking at your profile get a sense of your skills and experience. In general, your LinkedIn profile may be thought of as a useful approach to establish and build your brand. When someone searches for a person’s name online, their LinkedIn profile page is frequently one of the first results.
How to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage?
To begin, create or update your profile. This is how you communicate with others in your network. Because your profile contains information about your talents and expertise, which is crawled by the bot to meet recruiters’ employer search parameters, it is also how you get found on LinkedIn.
If you don’t identify yourself on LinkedIn, it won’t help you. Setting up a LinkedIn profile with the words “Private Profile” or “Human Resources Manager” (if you’re looking for candidates) instead of your name and requesting someone to connect with you isn’t going to work.
Don’t be concerned about secrecy. LinkedIn is one of the most exclusive social media platforms available. Only connect with folks you’re familiar with. If you’re looking for a job while working, be clever and don’t tell your coworkers. There are ways to conduct a secret job search without risking your existing employment.
Why Could LinkedIn Be a Waste of Time and Money?
While it is highly suggested that you create a LinkedIn profile, the site can consume too much of your time for which you are not compensated. Here are some things to be on the lookout for:
It can be costly—and it doesn’t always deliver. “Job Seeker Premium” is one of the LinkedIn features. You get a month free, after which you must pay a monthly charge of $29.99 per month as of 2021. 2 You can see who has viewed your profile and how you compare to other applicants with Job Seeker Premium, as well as access video courses and wage data and send direct messages to recruiters. As a “featured applicant,” you may also elevate your application to the top of the list using Premium. The recruiter, on the other hand, notices a badge next to your name, showing that you paid for the job.
It’s easy to lose focus when using social media as a tool. LinkedIn, like every other social media platform, needs active members who visit the site frequently and stay for a long time. Spending hours browsing deep down into the profiles of hiring managers isn’t useful, just as submitting hundreds of applications to positions that aren’t a suitable fit for your background. It eventually becomes more like reading Instagram or Facebook than actually looking for work.
LinkedIn is where job recruiters and managers hang out.
LinkedIn will help you find a job faster because most hiring managers and recruiters already use it. When it comes to screening candidates during the hiring process, 87 percent of recruiters say LinkedIn is the most effective, particularly for those under 45. ((90%)).
Having an active and well-designed LinkedIn profile will boost your chances of being discovered by numerous firms trying to hire people with your talents and expertise.
In other words, instead of you actively seeking and contacting each company, potential employers will contact you if they believe you will be a good fit for their organization. Furthermore, 75% of workers who recently changed jobs used LinkedIn to help them make their decision.
Your LinkedIn profile establishes credibility and trust.
A well-written LinkedIn profile will help you establish your credibility as a reliable potential employee. You can be confident that every recruiter who contacts you has reviewed your profile. Your LinkedIn profile will demonstrate that you are a genuine person, rather than someone whose CV or resume appears to be too good to be true.
Excellent Opportunities for Networking
LinkedIn also provides a wonderful platform for networking with other professionals in your sector. And the sooner you begin networking, the better off you will be in the long run. If you are looking for another job, you can leverage your network of connections regardless of whether you are currently employed.
To put it another way, you can think of this network as an emergency fund that you can tap into anytime you need it. Furthermore, your connections will have their own network and may be able to introduce you to people from companies where you are interested in working. You can also use LinkedIn as a digital Rolodex to add fascinating people you’ve met months or even years ago.
You’ll Stay Ahead of the Game When It Comes to Job Openings
You’ll be able to keep an eye out for numerous career chances that interest you if you have a LinkedIn account. The vast majority of businesses will advertise any job openings they have, and you can keep track of them in real time.
Conclusion
To summaries, having a LinkedIn profile will greatly assist you in obtaining your desired job. And the sooner you get it, the better for your career it will be.