If you are serious about managing your career, you've got to be on LinkedIn. A study released by Jobvite (posted on UpMo's blog) asked employers about their use of social networks in sourcing employees. Here are the impressive numbers:
68% of employers are using social networks
95% of employers are using LinkedIn to find candidates
74% of employers are using social networks because it is a low cost solution
66% of employers have successfully hired people using social networks
If you combine your digital/on-line social network with face to face networking, it becomes an incredibly powerful combination. Plus, it saves a lot of time.
So how do you become "found" on LinkedIn?
1) Create a profile that is well thought out (having a strategy is key)
2) Connect with people you know and who know you
3) Join groups and submit articles as discussion items or partake in group discussions
LinkedIn is not a job board it is about connecting with professionals. It is a spring board that makes it easier to connect with people you want to meet, nurture relationships with, and learn from.
There was a post on Career Rocketeer about networking. It addresses 11 key steps to networking and the first step was… connect with a past co-worker on LinkedIn. It actually goes into more detail on how someone did that in a meaningful way. Read that post to gain ideas on how to network the right way!
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
