Dear Sam: I frequently receive requests to “connect” with people on LinkedIn, but most invitations are from people I do not know. I have no other social media accounts and do not love being so public online; I am only on LinkedIn as I was told I should be. I do not decline each request because I am conducting a confidential job search, so I would like to know if adding these connections could be beneficial in some way. What should I be, or not be, worrying about? – Sally
Dear Sally: LinkedIn is an incredibly valuable professional networking forum. It not only allows you to deepen existing network connections but also to capitalize on the networks of others to broaden your reach. How can this be helpful in a job search? Well, suppose you search LinkedIn for network connections that could prove influential in your search. In that case, the more extensive your network, the higher the possibility of having an influencer or decision-maker within your reach.
Let’s look at some of the numbers:
- 97% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find or vet candidates
- 20,000 U.S. employers use LinkedIn to recruit
- There are 15M active job postings on LinkedIn
- 85% of jobs are secured through networking
As you can see from these metrics, tapping into LinkedIn’s powerful capabilities can help promote your brand. Here are some tips that may prove helpful as you leverage the power of LinkedIn during your job search.
Perform research
You can be stealthy on LinkedIn, meaning you can remain anonymous when searching other profiles, turn off activity broadcasts so your network does not get alerted to any activity on your account, and even block select connections from seeing your profile. This allows you to use LinkedIn to collect competitive intelligence for your search or upcoming interviews. Review your account settings to ensure you are operating as incognito as you would like.
Expand your network
Accept those connection requests to expand your network and broaden your reach. LinkedIn “connections” are not akin to Facebook “friends.” Do not think accepting a connection request means you have a personal connection with the individual; you may not even really know them. Instead, accepting a connection request means, “Thank you for access to your network, and if my network can be of assistance to you, I am happy to reciprocate.”
Seek recommendations
There are tools built into LinkedIn that allow you to request recommendations from those in your network easily. Having recommendations attached to your past experiences adds value beyond what your resume can typically convey and provides instant third-party credibility to your claims. I will caution you, however, to only reciprocate some of those recommendations. You want far more “recommendations received” than “recommendations given.” Otherwise, your recommendations can look slightly disingenuous.
Other ways to deepen your involvement, reach and potential influence include:
- Follow industry influencers and companies of interest
- Follow relevant hashtags to curate content for your newsfeed
- Join and actively participate in professional and affinity groups
- Write and post articles or comment professionally on others’ articles
- Share examples of your work through media, presentations and digital links
I hope these tips make you feel more comfortable using LinkedIn and accepting those connection requests. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the value of professional networking. LinkedIn also provides resources for job seekers; I suggest you check those out.
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Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at [email protected]. For information on Nolan Branding’s services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442.