Finding a Job Using Linkedin

The job hunt has changed drastically over the last ten years due to the internet making job search a lot easier to find jobs all over the country. The internet has allowed a very competitive market of job search for those looking for jobs and needing to advertise jobs to appeal to a wider range of applicants. You can advertise a job advertisement on an online job board and be sure to have a 100 applicants within the first couple of weeks of your ad going up.

Social media platforms such as Linkedin are specifically designed to help business people within different industries to connect to each other and have discussions about a specific topic area.  Not only can you meet new people, but you can upload your CV and advertise yourself for jobs and work.

Companies get bombarded with so many CVs that they all go into one pile and you do not even get so much as a look in unless you are absolutely perfect for the job. Instead you want to make yourself in a different pile of resumes to help get yourself a job.

Here’s how you can do it with Linkedin:

There are things to take note here. The more that you can add to your profile and say about yourself, the more people are going to find you.
Your picture should be as professional as you can get it. Take a head and shoulders shot of yourself in a smart outfit or business suit with a plain background. As much as someone would love to see you in your party outfit with you out on a night on the town, it doesn’t say much about your work ethic and professionalism.

Put down all you previous work employment, even if it is a waitress or shop job and get references. People want to know when they employ you about what you are like as a person and not just the skills you have. If they do not think that you would fit well in the company, they will certainly not hire you as an employee.

Fully complete you profile with all your information.

Decide on where you want to go in your career. Who do you want to work for and what companies are you interested in. To do this you can search your industry online for companies and agencies. When you have found some, find them on Linkedin and see who works for them. Your next aim would be to make acquaintances and get to know them. You can do this by following them and joining the same groups they are in and directing a question at them.

There is not much point in talking to people in America if you want to work in the centre of London, unless they have two branches. Instead target at first the people that you know could really help you to move forward in your career. 

Know where your career path should take you. If you are looking to be a manager, why aim for anything lower than what you are qualified to do? 

Know where you want to work and the area that you can reach in order to get yourself to work each morning. If you do not mind moving, a whole load of doors can open for you. Decide on travel routes and how you can get to certain places. Do you really want a job that will take you two hours worth of travelling everyday, or something a bit closer to home.

There are a lot of people that you could approach within the industry; some will be more helpful to you than others. These are usually the ones with the hiring power. When searching for a company, look at the titles of peoples job roles and try to communicate with them. If for instance you want to be an animator, get in touch with the person who is a senior animator or animating director of the company. These will be the people who may recommend you to the company, or offer you a job.

There are a few degrees of networking in Linkedin. The first degree networks are people you are connected to that you can contact and ask to introduce you to the second degree network. At the right time, you could ask your contact to introduce you to the second degree contact.

If you are introduced to someone, they are more likely to respond as they know the person who has introduced you. When talking to this person, do not ask them straight away for a job, instead ask them if they have time to talk to you about how to find a job in the industry, and their advice on what you should do. This will then not cut you off completely with them ignoring you, but open a door of possibilities as they could introduce you to someone else who may be able to help you.

If you manage to talk to someone, ask about their job, what do they do? Then find out about the company – what do they do? Then let them find out about you, what you want to do and you interests. Then ask about positions in the company you might fit.

If you manage to do this and you apply for a job later on with a recommendation from this person, you are more likely to by-pass the maybe pile and straight into the possibilities.

• Let people know you are looking for work

• Get recommendations from old colleagues, Students, tutors, friends and customers

• Find out where people go to next after they have worked for a company. If you are aiming to get into a specific company, see where employees came from before they were recruited by them

• See what companies hire through Linkedin

• Engage on groups to get yourself known and out in the industry

Getting a strong network of people will really help to boost your CV that extra bit more. The fact that you have connections with certain types of people may sway you in the companies favour if they decide to hire you.

Good luck in your job search! 

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