It’s common to think of LinkedIn as a “one and done” platform. Create your profile and buh bye! From there recruiters should start contacting you like crazy, right?
I wish it were that easy…
What many people forget is that, like most social media platforms, LinkedIn favors active users. They reward regular activity by making your profile more visible to others, allowing you to rank higher in search results. This increased visibility can obviously help you get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.
But you might be thinking, “What the heck do I do on LinkedIn each week??”
(You definitely wouldn’t be alone in wondering that…)
So here are 5 actions you can take each week to make LinkedIn a regular habit:
LinkedIn Action #1 – Build Your Connections
Just like having a large number of Twitter or Instagram followers can give you more visibility and social proof, LinkedIn rewards users who have over 500 connections.
But that’s only one piece of it. Having a large number of 1st degree connections exponentially increases your number of 2nd and 3rd degree connections. And those are the people who could potentially help you in your job search.
So if your number needs a boost, think through everyone you’re still not connected with — friends, family, current and former coworkers, etc. Use your Facebook friends and Instagram followers as a guide. LinkedIn will suggest people to connect with, and you can also upload your email contacts to send mass invites.
LinkedIn Action #2 – Share an Industry Related Article…or Write Your Own
Standing out as a job seeker is all about branding yourself as a subject matter expert. Employers want to see that you’re keeping up on industry trends and offering innovative solutions.
So if you go to the home page of LinkedIn, you’ll see this prompt:
You can either share a relevant article or compose your own (which holds more weight of course). You can share these articles with your connections, in groups, and with the public. More eyeballs on your articles can lead to more eyeballs on your profile, more connections…you get the idea.
LinkedIn Action #3 – Join Relevant Groups and Participate
Yes, groups aren’t quite as active as they used to be (mostly because LinkedIn cracked down on spammy activity), but they can still be a great place to connect with like-minded professionals and learn about industry trends and job opportunities. (Click on the Jobs tab within each group to see postings.)
You can search for groups using the main search field on the top left navigation bar. You’ll want to search by job function, industry and city to find the ones most relevant to you. Aside from sharing your own articles, like and comment on other group members’ as well.
LinkedIn Action #4 – Endorse Your Connections’ Skills
There was a time when the Skills & Endorsements section on your profile wasn’t that important. But LinkedIn’s algorithm has put more emphasis on this area, making your profile more visible if you have at least 5 skills listed. And, as you can imagine, a greater number of endorsements helps with credibility.
So, what’s the best way to get endorsements? Well, give them of course! But don’t just do it willy nilly. Focus on the connections whose skills you have firsthand knowledge of. Then don’t be shy about asking those connections to return the favor.
LinkedIn Action #5 – Ask Someone You Know to Introduce You to Someone You WANT to Know
The real power of LinkedIn happens when you’re able to expand your network strategically…which could lead to getting referred for the right job opportunity. But this first requires proper research on your end.
If you see that one of your first degree connections knows someone at a company you’re targeting, ask if they’d be willing to introduce you.
Just make sure you have a plan for how you’ll follow up with that new connection once the introduction is made! Requesting an informational interview is a great way to learn more about their company and possible opportunities.
Conclusion
As you can see, LinkedIn isn’t a “set it and forget it” platform. It’s important to take action on a weekly basis so you’re branding yourself effectively, networking strategically, and increasing your visibility.
That’s when you start to see your efforts pay off…
