Typically, when we think of job sites, our thoughts are directed to Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn. But what sets these sites apart?
The answer is simple: networking.
ZipRecruiter and Indeed are great sites to use when you are looking for a job or hiring someone for your business. Although you can also use LinkedIn for these reasons, it is best known as the world’s largest professional network.
It can be used to grow your business, find a job, or meet new people. LinkedIn provides many tools and services to support these activities universally.
One way you can take advantage of LinkedIn is through your profile.
This LinkedIn review will teach you how to utilize your profile and make connections that are relevant to your industry.
How is LinkedIn Different Than Other Job Sites?
Networking is the main reason why professionals choose to utilize LinkedIn over other job sites like ZipRecruiter or Indeed.
It is a social media site, but it is used as a powerful professional networking tool more than any other site of its kind. It is an interactive platform where you can find your network and make connections.
Think of it as being like Facebook, but with a strong focus on careers and professional development.
When you’re looking for a job, it makes sense to find a person who has been successful in your industry. By using LinkedIn’s internal search tools, you will now have the power to find these people more easily.
It’s all about connecting the right people for the best outcomes.
Who Uses LinkedIn?
It is not just for professionals. LinkedIn is also widely used by businesses and companies because of its dominant professional social networking capabilities.
In fact, companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Oracle have been at the top of using this platform. They are using LinkedIn to attract top professionals and to help them network with other companies.
LinkedIn is also commonly used for different reasons, such as businesses reaching out to their clients and potential customers and vice versa. There is no doubt that LinkedIn plays a huge role in introducing a company, its services, and its products to the public. Think about it – are you more likely to want to buy from a company you know or from one you do not know? The answer is obvious.
As it turns out, LinkedIn’s customer base has grown to more than 800 million worldwide users. These numbers are expected to grow even more with the addition of new features being introduced that will surely make it easier for businesses and individuals to interact.
How to Create a LinkedIn Profile
Creating a LinkedIn profile can be done very easily. Just fill in your personal information, create a password, and add your profile picture. Then, click on the Public Profile box. This is where you can write about yourself, your skills, your interests, and your experience to attract the attention of others. Pretty simple, right?
You can also provide links to other websites that you would like for people to visit and see how you present yourself there.
Keep in mind that LinkedIn provides a summary box for you to fill out, and it’s highly recommended that you do so.
How To Use Linkedin to Build Your Network
As a professional, you should have at least five solid peer connections and one professional connection. These are the people that will truly help you achieve your professional goals.
Start building your LinkedIn connections with people you know, such as friends, family members, and work colleagues. Then look at adding alumni or professors from your college or university, and reach out to others you have worked or volunteered with in the past.
Then, look into joining relevant LinkedIn groups. There are over 2 million to choose from based on locations, industries, professions, and interests!
Another way to expand your network is to add your skills to your profile (such as graphic design, computer programming, or accounting). By doing this, you can surround yourself with others who have these skills to both learn from them and network with them.
Lastly, you can expand your network by adding your industry. You can put the main sectors you are aligned with and the names of professionals in those industries who can help you. This way, others will see that you have a keen interest in your field and will be more likely to follow your LinkedIn profile or respond to your posts and messages.
How To Use Linkedin For Sharing Updates and Links
Speaking of posts, LinkedIn also offers free tools for you or your business to use. One tool is publishing or sharing an article, such as this one, to your feed.
You can also share photos, videos, events, and updates or information about yourself or your business, just like you would on Facebook, so make sure that you’re doing this.
Be sure that these updates are relevant and valuable to the people following you, though, because if they aren’t, they will simply stop reading them. If you’re sharing things that are not relevant to your industry, you may find yourself losing people’s interest.
People also don’t want to read about the same thing all the time, so try to keep it fresh!
How To Use Linkedin For Job Searching
Unlike other social media sites, LinkedIn also has a built-in online job board and job search resources.
It has a job search feature that you can use to find the perfect full-time or part-time job for yourself. This will allow you to search by name and location, as well as industry. You can also filter your search by job title, skills, or other keywords to find the perfect job for you.
The same goes for companies. If you are looking for a job opportunity with a specific company, the search box can help you find out if they are hiring or how you can reach out to them directly.
LinkedIn also allows you to organize your job search on its site, set up job alerts, research salaries, complete a skills assessment, build your resume, and watch helpful videos.
They also have an Interview Preparation section where you can find common interview questions and tips on how to answer these questions. However, to access the sample answers, you will need a LinkedIn Premium account.
The site is similar to many other sites that you already know, so you shouldn’t have any problems going on it and seeing everything that is available. Just make sure that you keep up on your profile updates, as this will help with your job search and help people find you if they are looking for someone in your industry.
It’s important not to forget that this is a network site based on professional connections rather than an online job bank. Therefore, the number of active job postings will be much less than you find on ZipRecruiter or Indeed.
How To Use Linkedin as an Employer or Recruiter
If you’re looking for potential hires, LinkedIn has some great tools to help you.
You can post your job vacancies for free on their job board or set a budget to promote them using their pay-per-click option.
LinkedIn has a great feature that allows you to connect with someone who has a job that fits your needs and is interested in you as well. This will allow you to get more information on their profile and narrow down the search even more.
Through LinkedIn, you can search for potential candidates who are currently looking for work. You can then contact them directly on their profile, making it easier to let them know you’re looking for someone to join your team.
Another way to find these candidates is by looking for a specific college or university, such as an Ivy League school or your local community college. You can go through your network and find out who one of your contacts went to school with. When you do this, it’s much easier to find candidates because they are already familiar with someone in your network rather than finding candidates that you haven’t met before and don’t know any of their friends or acquaintances.
How to Use LinkedIn for Business Networking
LinkedIn is a great place to find different businesses and organizations in your area. Then, you can contact them and let them know that you’re interested in their services or products.
You may see reviews about different companies on the site as well from past clients, which can help you connect with other potential customers. Not only that, but LinkedIn allows you to share reviews of your own business.
What is LinkedIn Premium, and How Much Does it Cost?
LinkedIn Premium offers four different plans for job seekers, recruiters, and business owners. Each plan has a one-month free trial.
As a job seeker, upgrading to LinkedIn Premium’s Career plan ($30/month) or Business plan ($60/month) will allow you to have unlimited profile views, more detailed search results, and a career advice feature that gives you access to their LinkedIn team. You will also be able to save jobs that you’re interested in so that you don’t forget about them!
These plans also include access to the courses offered through LinkedIn Learning, where you can learn new skills or hone your job search strategies. (Many schools and libraries provide free access to LinkedIn Learning, so be sure to look into this option first!)
As a business owner, a Sales Navigator Professional plan ($80/month) or Recruiter Lite plan ($120/month) will give you more messaging credits, advanced search features, unlimited profile views, access to more targeted leads, and applicant management and tracking tools.
This is an investment for your business that can help you find employees. No matter how busy you are, it doesn’t mean that you can’t do business online. It’s important to make sure to follow the trends so that your business stands out and doesn’t just get lost in the crowd.
Why Should You Use Linkedin?
LinkedIn is a very valuable business tool. It allows you to network with other professionals and learn from each other. It also allows you to connect with businesses that you may have always wanted to do business with but didn’t know how to. Using this site will increase your knowledge of the industry, help improve your brand and help you make connections that will last a lifetime.
If you’re a business owner, having a connection to LinkedIn is crucial. It’s a great way to find new customers, learn about their needs and how your products would be best for them. It’s also a great way to get useful feedback from current customers.
How To Use LinkedIn’s App On the Go
Don’t worry if you’re not able to log into your LinkedIn account from your desktop. They have an app that you can download that allows you to use LinkedIn when you are on the go. They also have a mobile version of their website that will help you easily access your profile while using your phone. This is a great option for those on the move who want to keep up with their work or job search.
The app is available for both iPhone and Android devices, and it lets you customize your profile with keywords so that it’s easier to find jobs. It also allows you to create a profile from scratch and connect with people who are looking for similar positions within your industry.
Conclusion
Overall, LinkedIn is an extremely valuable tool that can bring in new customers, help improve your reputation, make it easier for you to find people who have expertise in certain areas of your business, and provide you with valuable feedback. It’s a great way to utilize your social media to network, and it will help you to get the most out of your job search and professional development.
Now that you know how to use LinkedIn make sure that you’re utilizing it to its full potential. Building up a great network will help you grow your business and connect with the right people.
Amanda Kay, the founder of My Life, I Guess, provides valuable career advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it's navigating job searches, learning new skills, overcoming unemployment, or dealing with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for career guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda's expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications such as MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.