Finding Jobs Using Networking Websites
Social networking websites can play a key component in your job search. They allow potential employers to get a glimpse of who you are outside of your resume and cover letter, and they allow you to more efficiently keep in contact with your network and connect with other people in your field. The career-centred website LinkedIn is an important networking website. You can also connect with your network online using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Top Tips
✓ Complete the recommended sections on LinkedIn. Having profile elements such as a professional photo and your location makes your profile more likely to be viewed, and it encourages other professionals to connect with you.
✓ Connect with the people you already know. Start building your LinkedIn network by adding your email contacts and searching for people you already know.
✓ Personalize your LinkedIn invitations. When you invite someone to connect on LinkedIn, you should mention where you met. A personal touch increases the chance they will accept your request.
✓ Get endorsements to increase your credibility. When others endorse your skills, it gives social credibility to your claims. Always write a personalized request when asking for endorsements.
✓ Follow companies that interest you. You can find information, updates, and career postings from companies and see people who work there.
✓ Join groups on LinkedIn. Groups are places for professionals in the same industry or with similar interests to share content, find answers, post and view jobs, make business contacts, and establish themselves as industry experts.
Resources
Linkedin Learning Courses
Useful Links
About LinkedIn
The most common networking site for career purposes is LinkedIn; it is the largest online professional network in the world. The fastest-growing demographic on LinkedIn is students and recent graduates. On LinkedIn, you can access various professional networks, key decision-makers, recruiters, and learning opportunities that will help you in your search for meaningful work. You can also search for jobs that are being advertised and apply directly through the platform.
Creating Your LinkedIn Profile
Creating a LinkedIn profile is essential to effectively self-market, generate connections, identify leads, grow your professional brand, and make a professional online impression. Complete all of the sections recommended by LinkedIn to increase your visibility and encourage other professionals to connect with you.
Below are some strategies for creating a strong LinkedIn profile. Watch the Linkedin Learning.com course Learning LinkedIn for Students to see an in-depth demonstration of how to create your profile and implement these strategies.
Using LinkedIn for your Job Search
LinkedIn is an effective tool to use for your job search. There are over 400 million users in 200 countries on LinkedIn. Ninety-four percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to do background research on candidates, and there are an estimated 90,000 Canadian job posting on LinkedIn.
Here are the steps to use LinkedIn effectively to find jobs.
Social Media
Even though they have a social focus, platforms such as Facebook and Twitter can play an important role in your job search. Social media allows you to update your contacts on your current employment status and exchange information on a regular basis. You can also follow organizations for their latest news. Employers can use social media to get a glimpse of who you are outside of your resume and cover letter.
Here are some resources to help you use social media for your job search.
Make sure that your online activity reflects well on you. Employers often google potential candidates as an informal way of pre-screening them. Here are some tips to help you manage your online image:
Set your social media account to private. Private accounts may still be visible to others if you are “tagged” in other user’s post.
Google yourself before you start your job search. If you can find information about yourself, employers can find it too, so delete any posts or tag that you don’t want seen.
Attribution
Unless otherwise stated, the material in this guide is from the Learning Portal created by College Libraries Ontario. Content has been adapted for the NWP Learning Commons in June 2021. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons BY NC SA 4.0 International License.
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