It’s all about playing the algorithm.
LinkedIn has seen phenomenal growth since the covid-19 pandemic. Every day LinkedIn is changing and optimising its algorithm with the sole focus of bringing the relevant post in front of the right audience.
In my opinion, it is doing a pretty good job.
Well… all of that is good, but how can you use it to land the right job?
This is what I’ll try to answer in this post.
1. Create A List Of Your Target Employers
This is the most important step.
And when I say create a list of your “target” employers, I don’t just mean to write the names of those employers in the list format, but to do thorough research on them.
- Start with their website.
- Learn their interests.
- Follow their company page on LinkedIn and stay up to date on daily happenings.
- Indulge in the discussions
- Learn their language.
Trust me this is not easy.
You have to stay active all the time, keeping track of all the things happening in their space.
Keeping up with all this is a full-time job in itself.
But this will be worth it in the end. Even if you don’t land the job, you would learn so much about the technology and their business.
I created a system around it which helped me to keep myself updated with all the happenings. I used the notion app to curate all the useful links and resources around it.
Remember, Knowledge Is Power.
Once, you know your Employer well, it’s time to move to step 2.
2. Identify Inside Connections At Your Target Company
LinkedIn is all about the network. The stronger the network, the higher the chances of you finding an interview.
Don’t come out too eager because that could leave a negative impression on the person. Try to be polite. Take part in the discussions.
Try to know the people there.
It might also happen that you wouldn’t enjoy the work they do. And the best way to learn about it is by talking to people in the company.
The next question is – How do you find the potential connections?
It is very simple.
- Search for the company you are interested in.
- Then narrow down your search by using LinkedIn filter.
- This would show all the people working in that company.
Once you know the people, visit their profile, learn their interests, check their posts and activities. By doing this you could gain a lot of insights about the type of work and technology.
The next step is to approach them (not for a referral) but in a casual way.
Note: Never directly ask for a referral. This is a complete no-no.
Think about it.
What would you do if some stranger comes from nowhere and ask you for a referral? 😕
I wouldn’t want to refer them.
The reason is simple – I don’t know them.
Even in a rare case they refer you, they wouldn’t stand by you.
This takes us to the next step.
3. Make Yourself Accessible
The biggest mistake is to keep a private profile on LinkedIn.
A private profile is good for Facebook or Instagram but not LinkedIn. Your objective should be to become accessible. People should know about you. They must be able to visit your profile and see your skills and achievements.
The more you showcase yourself the better.
I like to check who viewed my profile tab occasionally and almost 30% of visits are private.
The people who keep their profile private are living in their own little world. The spotlight effect is at play here.
I would understand if a CEO visits a profile in private view because he doesn’t want to get hired.
But why would an individual who is looking for a network do that?
So if your profile is private, then go there right now and make it public.
4. Connect With Recruiters
The best way to connect with a recruiter is when you have found a job opening for which you would like to apply.
In this particular case where you have found a suitable role, don’t wait up.
Go ahead and apply for the role and keep a copy of the reference/application id.
Now search for the recruiter of that company. Use LinkedIn advance search for that.
Connect with the recruiter and pass your reference id to them for a follow-up. The majority of the time, they won’t reply to your query, but when they do, then it’s a sure thing. If your profile gets noticed then they would definitely reach out to you. After all, they are looking for the best talent to hire.
This technique is very effective.
There’s a complete video on this by Clement, do watch,
Last but not the least, LinkedIn is not for introverts.
5. LinkedIn Is Not For Introverts
You can’t sit in your bubble and expect people to magically visit your profile.
You will have to speak out and in order to be heard.
Post your daily learnings.
Interact with others with similar interests.
Take part in the discussions actively.
Always try to stay on top of your field/technology.
Once you start doing all the things that I mentioned about you would see a drastic change in your profile views.
How can I be certain of it?
Well, I tried those things and it seems to be working.
274% since last week.
Conclusion
LinkedIn is all about creating a powerful network.
Do you know 6-degree separation?
Six degrees of separation is the idea that all people on average are six, or fewer, social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of “friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It is also known as the six handshakes rule.
So, you are already connected to your dream employer. It’s just a matter of getting noticed 😉
Just remember:
- Create a list of your target employers
- Identify inside connections at your target company
- Make yourself accessible
- Connect with recruiters
- LinkedIn is not for introverts
Till next time.