If You're Using Just LinkedIn's Job Board, You're Losing Out On Job Opportunities By Ignoring LinkedIn's Other Features

If you're using just the job board section of LinkedIn, you're only utilizing 10% of its potential.

Having led 100’s of professionals- fresh grads, career pivoters, workforce re-entrants-  through their entire job search and having seen the huge difference leaning more towards strategic networking makes in landing the right job sooner, I strongly urge you to stop thinking of LinkedIn as just a job board and embrace it for what it is- a professional social media platform specifically for networking and connecting with other people in your industry, or in industries that you want to be a part of. I mean, it’s right there in the name: LINKEDin.  As in, linked. As in, connections.

Job searching has gotten more competitive over time, and just sending in your application isn't going to cut it, because on the surface, your perfect resume is also competing with other applicants who have perfect resumes because they have the exact same access to the tools and resources that you do. In order to stand out, in order to be that red dot in a sea of gray, you have to do something different, something that everyone else isn’t doing. 

This is where LinkedIn comes in. Think of it as an extension of your resume. It's your own living, breathing digital portfolio where millions of other professionals gather.  It's a way for companies to see what makes you tick, how well you know what you know and whether or not you'd potentially be a good fit for their team.

I "grew up" in the world of sales and marketing before I was ever a recruiter and a career coach, and one of the first things that I learned was the KLT (Know, Like, Trust) Factor. In order for someone to buy from you, they have to know you. Then, they have to like you. Then, they have to trust you. Then, they buy from you. Or if you're a job searcher, they buy YOU!

If you're hesitant about engaging on LinkedIn because you don't know how to do it, start small. Engage with those in your 1st circle until you get more comfortable engaging with those you don't know. You know the drill: like, share, comment, subscribe. And because it’s LinkedIn, connect. Slide into their DM’s.  And when you do post, make sure that you’re always professional and that you stick to topics that are relevant to your profession.

So, at this point, you’re thinking, “That’s great and all, but I don’t have anything to say. I’m not an expert. AND, what if I get negative comments?” Let’s address the first part: not having anything to say. Yes, you do! Share your thoughts about the trends happening in your industry, things that you’ve learned, situations that have come up in the course of your work life and how you’ve dealt with them.  What most people don’t realize is that by engaging in this way, you’re already doing a pre-interview of sorts. Hiring managers and people who could be your co-workers or people who could lead you to these people are seeing you. Not your competition. YOU! 

As for the second reason why people hesitate, if you're hesitant about posting on LinkedIn because you're scared of what other people might think, ask yourself, "If a few people make fun of me but others get value from what I post and I land in front of the people who could potentially offer me a job, is it worth it?"  Yes. Yes, it is absolutely worth it. Like Taylor Swift says, haters gonna' hate.  Let them. They're not damaging your reputation. They're damaging their own because current and potential employers will see what they've posted.

Besides, those few people who post negative comments still boost your engagement and help with your LinkedIn algorithm so they're still helping you land your job, whether they realize it or not. You get the last laugh; not them!

For those whom I've coached, it's spelled the difference between landing the right job sooner and wallowing in job search hell for longer than they should!  So, do it now. Start using LinkedIn as a virtual 24/7 professional networking event and I promise, it will open up a lot of doors that would otherwise be closed to you.  

Carpe diem,

Dezzi

P.S. If you want me to teach you how to utilize the other 90% of LinkedIn that you most likely aren’t using to your advantage, I do what I call Job Search Pair Programming, which is inspired by how software engineers work as a pair, with one person driving and the other person (often, the more experienced one) navigating.  We work together via Zoom, sharing screens. I teach you exactly how to do strategic networking by having you use LinkedIn's other features in real time, and I show you not just what to do but why and how.  To learn more about this program, set up a free initial consultation with me at www.careercoachdezzi.com .