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LinkedIn has gone their way too far from where it started way back May of 2003. Founded by Reid Hoffman and founding team members from PayPal and Socialnet.com (Allen Blue, Eric Ly, Jean-Luc Vaillant, Lee Hower, Konstantin Guericke, Stephen Beitzel, David Eves, Ian McNish, Yan Pujante, and Chris Saccheri).
It is by far the largest social network for professionals with more than 225 million members in more than 200 countries. Most of its members use is for hiring, research, networking and connecting with other professionals. As such, it is a directory of professionals and companies making it one of the best to look for a job. Now a days, it is an additional venue for posting job requirements.
If you don’t have LinkedIn yet, it is easy to have one. Just go to their website, signup and create your profile. Make sure that your profile conveys a sense of professionalism. It is what you will use to connect with other people and it is what other members can view. Your profile contains your vital information about your skills, expertise and your accomplishments. Your profile should have your picture, and make sure it is a decent picture. It can create a positive or a negative impression about yourself. So you have to be very careful on what type of picture to post
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In LinkedIn, you can create a “brand” of yourself. A brand that will tell hiring mangers, recruiters, and companies you are the right fit for their organization. You need to establish your presence in LinkedIn by connecting to people, organizations or companies. Search for organization, companies, professional groups, name of your friends or colleagues in your present company and previous ones. Follow organizations you like and interested in establishing a contact.
If your profile catches the attention of the hiring managers and recruiters, they will give you a call or send you an email. I had several job offers and opportunities to work abroad. When I started with LinkedIn, I really didn’t know what it was for. I just go with the fad. I just filled up and completed my profile, choosing the best picture I like. Updating it from time to time. Not until someone from abroad called me and told me they are offering me a job opportunity. So I explored and listened to the them. I was interviewed over the phone. I was nervous and somehow felt a bit panicking. When I asked how they got my number and information about my work experience, they told me from LinkedIn. It was only at that time I realized how important and a big help the network is.
If no one is calling you or sending you emails, so how are you going to search for a job? There is a search option for job seekers. Just enter keyword, cities or countries where you want to work. The advance search option will give you more keywords such as experience level, company, job title, salary, industry.
It is now time to explore the new trend in job search. search beyond the traditional and conventional way. Its time to LinkedIn.
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