LinkedIn is an essential tool for the job search. This presentation covers basic and advanced tactics on how to use LinkedIn effectively in a job search and to increase the "rank" or search results of your professional profile. We can;t get hired, unless we can be found!

1. WWW.LINKEDIN.COM
The sooner you can connect with
employer’s network, the more
successful your job search will be.
LI can be boiled down to:
Finding
Being Found
Being Active

2. 35 Top national recruiters were polled
regarding their #1 recruiting source:
1. Networking (personal network) = 18
2. Referrals = 7
3. Professional Associations = 6
4. Alumni Networks, Conventions/Fairs,
Company Websites = 2
5. Job Boards = 1
6. Temp/Staff Companies = 1

3. BENEFITS:
 Allows you to research and connect with “targeted”
people and companies.
 Allows you to JOB SEARCH within companies of
interest and respond directly to hiring managers.
 Provides the ability to be known, to enhance your
personal brand, and to be found by recruiters.
 Provides the opportunity to connect with groups of
professionals in your field and engage!
 Increase face-to-face networking effectiveness.

4. LinkedIn Features (found most helpful to users)
 Who’s viewed your profile – use strategically!
 People you may know
 Groups
 Direct messaging
 Advanced people searching
 Searching for companies
 Getting introductions “who knows whom”
 Network updates – “customized feed”
 Following companies
 “Likes”
 Posting status updates
 Search jobs
 Recommendations
 LinkedIn Contacts Feature (new)
 Publicize Work or Portfolio
 Add Volunteer Work
 Creating badges for email signature & resumes

5. TIPS & STRATEGIES
 SETTINGS: Activity broadcasts off, let others see you
when viewing profiles, choose appropriate location &
Industry, adjust group emails, edit public profile to
“visible to everyone,” personalize your URL, make a
signature badge.
 PROFESSIONAL “SMILE” PHOTO: part of your brand!
 PROFILE COMPLETENESS – “profile strength”
 TOP-DOWN APPROACH – Like resume, the top is most
important, visually and digitally. Public sees = Photo +
Name + Targeted, keyword-rich tag-line + location +
Industry + Current Job + Past 3 jobs + Past 3 schools + #
of recommendations + # of connections + 3 websites
(anchor text). Then, a personalized SUMMARY!

6. FROM WITHIN LINKEDIN – PEOPLE SEE:
Photo + name + Tag-line + location + Industry + Current Job,
Previous Job, Most Recent School – SUMMARY.
 CONNECT to 200 1st level - with family, colleagues, past
bosses, professors, alumni, recruiters and staffers,
company insiders.(* pro tip: examine your level 1’s first
degree connections, and request introduction!)
 JOIN 50 groups and PARTICIPATE in your top 3: search
members, jobs, engage in discussion, make posts –
industry, geographic, school alum (under contacts tab),
networking, skill based..etc.
 Find out where people with your background are
working through “ADVANCED PEOPLE SEARCH.” Search
for people you know at the companies you apply to.

7.  POST STATUS UPDATES - exposure of your brand! You
show up in their Updates Feed!
 SEARCH AND SAVE job searches – can save 10 different
searches and get email alerts. Try advanced search!
 EXPLORE Alumni Feature – serves as a virtual yearbook
allowing for sorting by name, city, job function.
Identify alumni at your target company! “Interests”
 FOLLOW Target Companies/People – legal stalking!
 SEARCH for people at target companies – use advanced
people search to see your “connect trees” and get
introductions!

8.  DEDICATE TIME – you get back, what you put in!
 UTILIZE THE COMPANY SEARCH/COMPANY PAGES to
search for jobs, get updates, research employees, review
products/services/culture, “follow” - to become an
“insider.”
 Ask for referrals and introductions, transforming 2’s into
1’s.
 Use the “jobinsider tool bar” – installs on web
browser. Can turn on and off.
 Utilize job boards that are synced with LinkedIn :
- Indeed.com’s “more” button

9.  Use LinkedIn’s MOBILE APPLICATIONS like“CardMunch,”
 Check out LINKEDIN LABS, especially Résumé Builder.
 Use LINKEDIN LEARNING CENTER “jobs” section to stay
up-to-date.
 Monitor WHO’S VIEWED YOUR PROFILE and look at other
profiles strategically.
 SEARCH CONNECTIONS OF CONNECTIONS – locate
quickly people who work at certain companies, particular
title, share alma mater…get introduction!
 NOT CONNECTED? Try joining the same group! You can
message people in same group without connecting.

10.  SEE WHO POSTED THE JOB! – For many jobs, the author of
the posting is often listed in upper right corner. Great way to
reach out to the recruiters of your target company!
 PERSONALIZE YOUR INVITES!
 REACH OUT to hiring managers/recruiters who view your
profile
 FOLLOW INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE, to receive their updates in
your feed
 SHOWCASE YOU PROJECTS, responsibilities, and
deliverables by uploading them to specific experience
entries. Profile becomes a portfolio! 9you can hyperlink URL
from a google doc that showcases summaries,
recommendations, planning docs, photos, timelines,
30/60/90 plan…etc.

11.  CUSTOMIZE ODER OF SECTIONS
 PERSONALIZE SKILLS SECTION– 50 of them!
 USE ICONS- for companies and schools
 Utilize ADDITIONAL SECTIONS- to add more content:
volunteer, publications, projects, interests, contact info
 OPTIMIZE FOR KDS – “keyword density score” in
your headline, summary, skills, company names,
job titles, job descriptions, and additional sections.

12. “Who you know” matters less than “who knows you.”
PROFILE OPTIMIZATION TO INCREASE
YOUR VISIBILITY

13.  Knowing how LinkedIn’s search algorithm works will
lead to great optimization!
 LinkedIn’s Search Algorithm “favors” profile
completion, level of activity, and # of connections.
When people search LinkedIn, the results are, by default,
sorted by:
 level of connection (1-level, 2-level, 3-level, group-
level)with profiles that are 100% complete (or close to
it), most relevant keywords, most active, and have the
most in-common connections, ranked in descending
order.

14. Plan of Action:
 Have a profile that’s 100% complete.
 Pack profile with relevant keywords, strategically
 Increase level-1 connections
 Be active
 Join popular groups – 50!
 2. KDS in specific profile sections
“In-Context” Keywords in “primary sections:”
 Name
 Headline
 Company Names (especially most recent 3 jobs)
 Job Titles (most recent 3)
 Summary Section
 Specialties/Skills

15. “In-Context” Keywords in “primary sections”:
 Job descriptions
 Education (+description)
 Certifications
 Anchor text in Websites (public profile)
 Projects (title & description)
 Publications (title & description)
 Volunteer (title, organization name
description)
 Additional info (interests, advice for
contacting, additional organizations)

16. 3. Using all fields/options available to you will give you an
extra advantage.
 50 skills! 50 groups!
 120 characters available to you for your headline… use them!
 2000 characters for your summary… use them!
 1000 characters available for your interests…use them!
 Projects, publications, volunteer ..etc.
4. Stay Active: Recommendations, Skill endorsements,
Add, connections, Edit your profile, Comment on or
start discussion in groups, Look at people and company
profiles, Joining new groups, “like” and “follow”, Status
updates

17. 5. External Marketing
 Link other social media to your profile – blog, website, twitter..etc.
Summary:
- 100% complete
- “networks” of connected people
- Level 1 connections
- LinkedIn Groups
- Profiles full of keywords
- Level of participation
- # of recommendations
- Adding additional fields
- “Top-heavy” relevancy
- Settings to Open/Public View
- Personalized URL
- Professional flattering picture
- Paid subscription