Learning how to best navigate LinkedIn is a must for job seekers. LinkedIn relies on effectively using key words in your search, so you really need to be across the language your industry uses when listing roles.
Before looking for work on LinkedIn you should start with SEEK. On SEEK you can explore the drop down menu function and see how the job advertisements are listed in your area of expertise. For instance, roles for accountants with around 5 years experience could be any of these three titles: supervisor, assistant manager or senior accountant.
5 key tips for success
1. Make sure your profile is up to date and stands out
If you’re going to be using LinkedIn to apply for jobs then you firstly need to make sure your LinkedIn profile has all the relevant information. Make sure that your profile photo, current location, contact information and resume details are all up to date.
In order to stand out from other job seekers you should ensure you have written a succinct summary on your LinkedIn page. The summary is a chance for you share more information about yourself and what types of opportunities you’re pursuing.
Make sure you have the ‘open to work’ feature enabled, so that recruiters know that you’re open to new job opportunities. If they get in touch you have untapped a fantastic resource for finding jobs.
Where possible ask connections to endorse your skills and provide a recommendation. You may also want to consider taking LinkedIn skill assessments to validate your skills and receive a proficiency badge on your LinkedIn page.
2. Job search
LinkedIn has a jobs homepage in which you can can easily search for roles. You can use filters, keywords, and advanced search to narrow down your results. You can save jobs while browsing job search results to return and apply to later.
You can also set up job alerts, preferences, and specific companies to ensure you’ll regularly receive relevant job notifications. Job alerts increase your chances of being one of the first applicants. You can specify preferences such as location or that your looking for a role that involves working from home.
3. Job application
Up to five resumes can be uploaded to LinkedIn for you to easily access when you’re applying for jobs. It’s a good idea to keep track of what you’ve applied for in a spreadsheet. You can also view all of your previous job applications hosted on LinkedIn (those that you applied for using the ‘easy apply’ function). Jobs that require application completion on company websites aren’t available to view.
4. Grow your professional network
It’s a good idea to grow your network by following companies you’d like to work for and connecting with other LinkedIn members in your industry. Following prospective companies allows you to be across their latest news and updates, plus you can engage with their content.
In some instance you may wish to directly reach out to a job poster via InMail (when available) to tell them why you want the job.