Securing your financial future can be difficult without employment. However, today’s competitive job market can make finding that job easier said than done. But fear not, there are many tools at your disposal, including LinkedIn, a social media networking tool used by millions of professionals all over the world.
LinkedIn was launched in 2003, and has since grown to service over 200 million users in over 200 countries and territories. This website gives users the opportunity to connect with professionals and companies all over the globe. But how does one take advantage of this vast network? By following a few simple steps, you can master LinkedIn and help secure your financial future.
Update your profile frequently. When you first log into LinkedIn, add your work history, skills, and previous projects. Stay on top of these areas and update them frequently, as you always want people who find your profile to see the most current information possible.
Use a professional profile picture. While those pictures from Cancun may bring back glorious memories, keep your profile picture on LinkedIn appropriate and professional. The profile picture is a very visible aspect of your page, and can be the first impression a connection makes when viewing your profile.
Be personal! When asking to connect with other users, stay away from the standard LinkedIn greeting (“Hi. I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”) Try personalizing that greeting by stating why you would like to connect, how you might know the person or simply write your own, friendlier greeting.
Keep it Simple. Much like a resume, simplify the amount of information on your profile. No one wants to read large blocks of text that describe every single task you performed at your last job. Think of the most important aspects of your work and put them in a bulleted list for easy reading.
Follow companies. Not only can you connect with individuals on LinkedIn, you can follow companies and organizations. Every time a company updates their status, adds a job or posts content, it will show up in your news feed. This is a great way to get the pulse of a business and discover new openings in real time.
Post content. Staying active on LinkedIn shows initiative and engagement. Posting content relevant to the field you are interested in helps to position yourself as a knowledgeable source of information. This is also a great way to interact with your connections, via the comments section.
Not everything is on LinkedIn. If used properly, LinkedIn can be a powerful tool. Just remember that not everyone is a member of the site and not every job is posted there. Keep LinkedIn in your job search arsenal, but don’t forget to supplement it with other networking and job search techniques.
Did you know Quicken Loans is on LinkedIn? Check us out for product information and up-to-date job listings!
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