Is a Linkedin Job Search Worth Your Time?

A Linkedin job search is a much different way of going about searching for a job and can result in much higher chances of getting a job. The reason for this is because the jobs that are listed will not be visible to the entire public and you will already be, in some way, vetted for the position based on your social network.

What Is Linkedin?

This is a social network web site that has been around for many years and was initially used as a way for people to keep in touch with those that they went to school with or had worked with previously. You can’t just befriend people who you have never met, and you are actively encouraged to make sure that you truly do know someone before you add them to your network.

Because the quality of your Linkedin network will be a lot higher than your Facebook network, these are people that you can turn to for career advice and they in turn will turn to you as a potential employee, consultant, or supplier. In fact, a Linkedin job search is far more successful than simply searching in the mainstream job opportunities pages.

How Do You Develop Your Profile?

In order to do a Linkedin job search or to be eligible for other companies and individuals to search through your qualifications, you will need to set up your own profile, much like you would on Facebook. While this may sound easy enough, it is important to remember that this is a career web site and not the place where you will want to put up vacation pictures of yourself or links to your favorite bands. It is vital that you separate your identity on this web site from any others that you may have online.

How Do You Build Your Network?

Perhaps the most time consuming aspect of a Linkedin job search is setting up your profile and then building your network. Most people start building their network by including people who they are working with (both employers and colleagues), and people who they went to school with.  You might also want to include consultants, suppliers, and other people who you have come in contact with during your working hours.

Once you start to build your network, you will find that it starts to accelerate as friends of friends ask to join yours. By increasing your personal network in this way, your Linkedin job search will be far more successful and you should have no problem finding a new job or moving your career in a completely different direction.