Did you know that nearly 80% of jobs are found online? It has also been estimated that 95% of recruiters refer to the LinkedIn profiles of potential employees. Not only is LinkedIn a social media site and resume platform, it is a great place to start your job search. Here are a few things you can do to use LinkedIn as a search engine to find your dream job:
Utilize the search bar.
Enter the title of the job(s) you seek at the top of the screen or on your mobile device. Use words like "Digital Marketing Coordinator" or "Financial Analyst". There are varying ways to advertise the same name for a job. So, use a few different wordings in your job research.
Set your location.
After selecting the JOB option in the search bar, select the text bar to the right is the city, state, or country you desire.
Choose filters.
You can make the search as specific or vague as desired. Aside from location you can choose from Job Type and Date Posted and Company. Select a salary range or the company you wish to work for. For tips on company research, check out this article.
Select an experience level.
Based on the extent of skill set, narrow down the search to "Entry Level" or "Associate" in the filter selection. It is beneficial to stay realistic in your job search. It is not as likely that a recent college graduate will get the VP of Sales position before entering the field as a Sales Representative first.
Save your search!
At the top of the search list there is an option to toggle the "Save Search" option. This will allow LinkedIn to notify you with new job listings that may of interest. Save different titles and different locations for each search and stay up to date. NOTE: it is impressive to be among the first few applicants when being considered for the job.
Make connections.
After several searches and narrowing down your search criteria, it is best to connect with and follow your favorite companies to establish a relationship. A new feature that LinkedIn offers is the hashtaging tool. Use this to follow popular tags related to your job/company search. Here’s some more tips on using LinkedIn.
There are a lot of sites to use when looking for a job. LinkedIn has an advantage over other sites like Indeed.com or Internships.com. This is the social media aspect. You are able to look for a job and establish connections at the same time. Use these tips in your online job search and you will have built a web of connections. Happy job hunting!
Did you find your dream job on LinkedIn? Share your tips in the comments below!
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Other resources:
https://www.pewinternet.org/2015/11/19/searching-for-work-in-the-digital-era/
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/02/this-1-new-linkedin-feature-can-help-you-find-your-dream-job.html