Are you on LinkedIn? Or actively using it to land your dream job? There’s a big difference. One worth noting if you want to elevate your career.

LinkedIn, “the world’s largest professional network,” is comprised of nearly 800 million people, including 180 million in the U.S. alone. As the leading online business community, people visit LinkedIn to find jobs, expand their professional network, and research companies and organizations. On the other side of the desk, recruiters and hiring managers also use LinkedIn to find great candidates. In fact, 87% of recruiters regularly use it.

If you haven’t touched your LinkedIn profile lately, you might want to revisit, revise, and going forward, commit to keeping it current. It’s a good idea to keep your LinkedIn profile updated to accurately reflect your current situation, including work experience, certifications, awards, skills, groups, and more.

Regularly maintaining your LinkedIn headline, summary (now called About) and other profile features will ensure that you’re getting exposed to the latest guidelines and best practices.

LinkedIn: Just Use It … to Find Your Next Job

Maintaining your professional presence before you’re looking for a job will give you a competitive advantage when you do launch your job search. But don’t worry; it’s never too late to polish up your LinkedIn profile and begin engaging in online conversations. Conversations that will enhance your online presence and expand your professional network.

Ready to harness the power of LinkedIn to land your dream job? Following are the top reasons to consider LinkedIn an essential tool in your professional toolbox, especially if you’re in the midst of a job search.

REASON #1: Find a Job Through the Hidden Job Market

Did you know that 85% of jobs are filled through networking? That’s why it’s often called “the hidden job market,” and why it’s so important to build relationships that give you access to job opportunities before they hit the online job listings.

If you’ve ever thought that it seems as if the people who are landing the best jobs know something you don’t know, chances are this is it: They have the inside scoop on jobs nobody else knew existed.

One of our clients was interested in working at a specific company. He knew a few people who worked there, who introduced him to other people who worked there … and one day, went in for a “get to know you” meeting. At the time, there were no available positions, but he established a good relationship on the inside. A few weeks later, when an employee unexpectedly gave notice that he was going to retire, they called our client instantly and asked how soon he could start.

The job was never posted! This happens every day.

In business, as in life, things often transpire without warning. It makes sense to build relationships with people and companies where you might want to work, or better yet, dream of working, either now or in the future. LinkedIn is a great place to create and nurture those relationships.

REASON #2: Beat the (Job Search) Odds

“If all you’re doing is applying for jobs online, you’re not really conducting a job search.”

Career success is all about building relationships with people. Even in this digital age.

If you’ve already applied for a job online, LinkedIn can help you find and connect with people who work (or worked) at that company. They know what it’s like to work there, and can provide firsthand insights into its mission, corporate culture and core values.

Even better, LinkedIn can help you research and identify the right people who can help move your name along in the pile of applicants. Maybe they’ll know who the hiring manager is if you’ve been unable to find out yourself first. Maybe they’ll know what the company is looking for and can share insights. Maybe they’re willing to go to the hiring manager directly, or by email and say, “I just spoke with XXX who has applied for such-and-such position here, and it might be a good idea for you to take a look at their resume.”

People like to hire people they know or people who have been recommended or referred by people they know; it’s just human nature. It’s probably how you got most of your jobs, highlighting the importance of continuing to build relationships with other professionals throughout the entire arc of your career … not just when you’re looking for a job.

REASON #3: Research and Identify Places You’d Like to Work

Most job seekers focus solely on job openings posted online. But what about the hidden job market — jobs that never even get posted? Why not work from the inside out, looking first at your professional values and goals, then considering which companies, leaders, products and services you not only admire and respect, but also have characteristics that would make you proud to be part of their team?

These are companies that should go on your target employer list.

Where would you love to work? How will they find out about you? They need to learn about you, meet you face to face, have a reason to think of you, remember you, reach out to you, and ultimately, hire you.

It’s wise to invest some time thinking about this. It’s all about adding focus to your search, deciding who you want to work for as much as “what’s out there,” and making it easier for your preferred employers to see, recognize and remember the value you can offer.

With more than 54 million member companies, LinkedIn is a great place to follow companies you’re interested in, and to research companies you might become interested in. If you want to apply for an available position, you can apply directly through LinkedIn. Recruiters and hiring managers will be able to see your full profile, accomplishments and impressive LinkedIn recommendations, and start to imagine you as a solid contributing member of their team.

LinkedIn: Just Use It … for Networking

Do you make it a priority to expand and strengthen your professional network on a regular basis? So many people say they hate networking. Yet your network is where you get to establish ongoing relationships that support you throughout your career, as well as enable you to contribute to the careers of others. Your network can include mentors, former, current and future colleagues, clients, and bosses, and can be a pathway to developing friendships, some of which can last a lifetime.

Whether you’re looking for a new job or trying to establish yourself as a thought leader, it will be the people in your network who open doors, make introductions, and help pave the way for greater career success.

REASON #4: Expand Your Professional Network

LinkedIn is so much more than a platform people can use to find a job. It’s a working community based on an unspoken, understood respect for sharing insights, advice, professional news, and opinions. Anytime you connect with someone on LinkedIn, there’s an opportunity to engage in a direct professional conversation online, or better yet, an actual “live” conversation either in person, by phone, or through one of the many online video platforms like Zoom or Google Meet.

And it’s a great way to learn about companies and organizations. Through LinkedIn, you can research people in your desired industry, those who work at companies you’re interested in, and those who used to work there (these folks are often more willing to be candid in answering your questions, especially if you’re looking to learn about company culture, workflow, and decision-makers’ styles).

It’s also a vehicle for strategically and appropriately requesting introductions. Consider your approach; how you choose to talk about why you’re reaching out is important. The main thing to remember is that you’re not asking for a job, or if the person knows of any jobs. You’re merely inviting them to connect with you, as fellow professionals in a certain industry, and see how you might be able to help each other. You might also ask, “Can you suggest other people it might make sense for me to talk to, as I’m actively working to expand my professional network?”

Lastly, there’s reciprocity. After privately asking for information, suggestions, or insights into a company, a leader’s management style, tips on a career direction or change, you will also want to ask your new connection how you can help them. Make sure it’s not a one-sided conversation and that you do what you can to provide value to the other person.

REASON #5: Let Others Sing Your Praises via LinkedIn Recommendations

LinkedIn also provides a powerful way to leverage your existing network. The people who already know, like, and trust you can validate your experience and vouch for you by providing a recommendation directly on your LinkedIn page. This elevates your credibility in the eyes of new connections at first glance.

When you put your work history (“Experience”) on LinkedIn, aim to get one to three LinkedIn recommendations for each position you’ve held. (Of course, as you think of people who might be willing to give you a recommendation, you’ll want to make sure that they are on LinkedIn themselves.) You can make it easy for them by letting them know what qualities, skills, and strengths you’d like to strategically highlight.

LinkedIn recommendations hold great value and provide social proof because there is a name, face, and personal testimony from people who actually worked with you. This speaks volumes.

Recruiters are actively searching for people on LinkedIn. Candidates with no recommendations on LinkedIn do not appear as credible as professionals who do, so do your best to get several of them listed on your profile. And in the spirit of reciprocity, perhaps you’d like to write LinkedIn recommendations for some of your colleagues, without them asking you first to do so. It might even facilitate others wanting to do the same for you.

REASON #6: Pay It Forward

Creating connections and building your network on LinkedIn is all about the power of social currency. Relationships open doors to opportunities; and what starts as a simple connection can quickly blossom into a stronger bond once you discover common interests, experiences, and goals. It doesn’t take much before people are willing to offer help, human to human.

Many companies often have employee referral bonuses most commonly ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. according to WorldatWork’s 2021 “Bonus Programs and Practices” survey. It’s understandable that a financial reward for an employee’s suggestion of a new hire would be a valuable program, and an incentive when fit, culture, satisfaction, and productivity are important shared priorities. The company and the referring employee will get something out of it, and you can benefit, too. It makes sense to find out about this before reaching out to new people at companies via LinkedIn; it could be an extra incentive for them to help you network your way in.

Think of it as win-win-win.

If you’re new to a city, or you live in one and want to move to another, try connecting with a few professionals you might want to meet who live there now (referrals are always helpful). In your invitation to connect, tell them you’re in the process of relocating, and you’re looking to expand your professional network; part of that is researching what it’s like to be part of that particular professional community, in that city, and you would so appreciate just 10-15 minutes of their time.

Being a new (or soon-to-be) arrival is a perfect reason to reach out to people you don’t know. If you’re genuinely curious, energetic, and interested in learning about the person you’re talking to (as well as local professional groups and events), things should go well.

The point is, the connections you make on LinkedIn can develop and become valuable quickly if you are willing to be genuine and generous, too.

LinkedIn: Just Use It … for Professional Branding

When you consider navigating the next stage of your career, you should also consider how you show up online. You don’t necessarily need a website and you don’t need to be all over social media tweeting your every move or sharing your every thought.

But there is one place online we think you do need to show up: LinkedIn.

Every time you’re being considered for a job, hiring managers are going to Google your name — and your LinkedIn profile is likely to come up at the top of the search results. Whether you like it or not, how you show up on LinkedIn is how you show up in your job search.

Are you actively managing your career through a carefully curated online presence? In addition to being a valuable tool in your job search, LinkedIn is also a place to elevate your career.

As you review your LinkedIn profile, are you using industry-appropriate keywords? Recruiters and hiring managers are going to look online to learn more about you before bringing you in for an interview. Why leave what they find up to chance when you have easy access to a tool that allows you to put your best professional image forward, right at your fingertips?

REASON #7: Your Professional Brand Is Your Best Marketing Tool

When you hear the word “brand,” your first thought might be of a popular consumer brand, such as Coca-Cola, Nike, or Apple. Just mentioning the brand name brings to mind the company’s logo, messaging, products, and most importantly, what it stands for. Whether you admit it or not, it directly influences your purchasing decisions and behavior; that’s why companies invest so many millions of dollars to make their brands memorable.

And because branding is so embedded in Western culture, you’re probably also familiar with the concept of having your own professional brand. But if you think brands are just for entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, and folks who want to be in the spotlight, think again.

When it comes to your career, you have a professional brand, whether you’ve crafted one intentionally or not. It’s what you’re known for, your reputation, and how people think of you when your name is brought up.

What do you want to stand for? How do you want people to talk about you when you’re not in the room?

LinkedIn is a powerful branding tool that gives you the opportunity to personally state what you’d like to be known for professionally, and to share it with those in your network, along with recruiters looking to fill positions with someone like you.

Knowing what you do, how well you do it, and why anyone should care: this is what recruiters and hiring managers need to know immediately when they land on your LinkedIn page.

What do you do well that a company or organization might need? Why are you the solution to an employer’s needs or problems? Your profile should speak about what you offer and what sets you apart. This is your professional brand. You need to be able to speak to this in everyday conversation with people, in a way that feels true and authentic … and make it something that won’t be missed on your profile.

REASON #8: Make a Strong First Impression

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so best to make it a good one.

That’s why having a great headshot for your LinkedIn profile is crucial. LinkedIn reports that “members with profile photos receive up to 21 times more profile views.”

Make sure your photo is clear, recent, and that it looks like you right now (not 10 years or 30 pounds ago) so people are able to recognize you. Avoid using obvious selfies, wedding photography, or cropped group photos. If you don’t have a professional headshot, simply ask a friend to take a photo of you in natural light, looking your best. And remember to smile! People respond to a warm, friendly face.

REASON #9: Find a Job: Get Found

Should you use the #OPENTOWORK feature that LinkedIn makes available to circle your LinkedIn photo? When you are looking for a new job, let us encourage you to think about your LinkedIn profile as a marketing document with you as the product that is being sold. This means putting yourself into the shoes of the recruiter and imagining what they need. Using the #OPENTOWORK designation focuses on you and what you want, rather than selling your unique value proposition and the qualities that make you the best candidate for the roles you are targeting.

There’s no need to state on LinkedIn that you’re looking for work or seeking a specific position. Employed people typically appear more appealing to recruiters and hiring managers than those who aren’t. Some recruiters screen out candidates who are unemployed, while others are okay talking with people who are in between jobs. If this concerns you, we believe rather than declare that you’re looking for a position, think like an entrepreneur: identify the quality service that you’re offering to the world and promote that. It’s more important, more relevant, and more professional.

In your Headline and About sections (formerly Summary), be sure to use keywords common in your industry and appropriate for the positions you’re seeking.

Also helpful: LinkedIn has settings to help you get found more easily by recruiters. Under Privacy, click on Job Seeking Preferences. You will see there is a choice where you can let recruiters know you’re looking. Also, on your LinkedIn feed, click Jobs, then Career Interests, to get to the place where you can click “on” to let recruiters know you are open to new jobs. There you’ll see a place to write a note to recruiters and also list job titles that interest you. This is a far better way to get found by recruiters than to state you are “seeking a position that…”

REASON #10: Keep Learning

Are there new skills you’d benefit from learning to make yourself marketable for a new position, especially if you’re changing careers? If so, browse on LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), which offers thousands of online tutorials and classes to learn anything from graphic design to business to tech skills. It’s quite robust and well-respected, so it’s easier than ever to update your skills with so much quality information available online.

Though there is a charge for this online learning, most public libraries subscribe to LinkedIn Learning; if you’re a card-carrying member of your local library, you should be able to access their tutorials and lessons for free. Some libraries will even give members access to it from home, a wonderful convenience.

And that’s just for starters. This link will bring you to another resource listing 25 sites for free online learning.

Continuing to learn is one the most powerful ways to manage your career and remain relevant, especially if you’re feeling uneasy about being either “too young” or “too old.”

Most companies and hiring managers think highly of people who are dedicated to being lifelong learners, continually upgrading their skills and knowledge with continuing professional development. You’ll keep yourself marketable and enjoy learning new things, which can help keep you energized and interested in your profession.

So there you have it. We hope you’ll agree LinkedIn is the place to be online if you’re serious about elevating your career or landing your dream job. Whether you’re looking to tap into the hidden job market, expand your professional network, or develop your professional brand, LinkedIn is a powerful tool that can be tailored to your advantage. Why not use it?

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LinkedIn: Just Use It!