Using Linkedin for Job Hunting?

mapleleaf1010

Thanks for your replies and useful insights.

I will need to familiarise myself with the site (as I've never really bothered with it before) and have a good think before deciding what to do.

Please keep posting your comments here! Cheers.

falko89

I always thought Linkedin was for MD type folk?

Madjock

My OH is on LinkedIn and has been for quite a while. He was made redundant recently and used a specialist recruitment co he knew of through LinkedIn to get his new role (which he started on Monday, at an increased OTE). As has been said, it is a brilliant tool for networking, not a quick fix. If you don't get your next role through the site, I would suggest maintaining and building on contacts there for the next time.

Cridds

LinkedIn is a fantastic tool, providing you the have the contact bank to make it worthwhile.

Throughout the last 5 years of working I have added virtually every ex-colleague that I could think of, chains are soon created when they move onto new organisations and are "friends" with other colleagues that you may have forgotten about.

Also, when dealing with recruitment agencies try and get all of their names and search for them on LinkedIn. More often than not, they will have profiles that are linked to recruitment agency groups that you can join and they are always scouring Monster, Reed, LinkedIn looking for CVs from people who are actively looking for new employment.

I am being made redundant at the end of June 2012 and I shall be exploiting the large number of contacts that I have through LinkedIn by indicating that I am looking for work. And by updating CVs registered on Reed, Monster and Jobsite you're only increasing the potential reachability of your name to get that new job.

Good luck

bevanuk

There is certainly no harm in using it. Nothing to be sceptical about.

PerfectWorld

Using professional social networks for your career can be very beneficial. Like previous posters have said, you gain the most benefit from it by building contacts and getting to know people i.e. in the groups, forums etc. Twitter is also good in many ways.

There is another UK based networking site that's aimed at connecting job seekers with small business owners zoomspec (you will need to search for it on google). Its a social network, has groups and so on. One of its core aims is to connect out of work job seekers with SMEs (including start-up businesses) who need short term support.

The idea behind this is by getting the support the business can grow faster, creating new employment, and the job seeker gets the real work experience for their CV. The job seeker may even land a permanent role with that business.

One of the advantages in offering your services to small businesses is that there is scope to develop skills in multiple areas: small businesses still need to carry out the same functions as larger organisations albeit on a smaller scale i.e. manage accounts, administration, marketing (including internet marketing) management information and sales. If you are creative i.e. have graphic design, website development, video making etc. then there is plenty of scope there too. More small businesses are now using Youtube, or video on their own website to attract new customers, so if you are skilled (or would like to gain skills in those areas) then offering your services is a great way to build a work portfolio.

If you go into a large organisation, you can be pigeon holed into one role i.e. admin, and it can become difficult to move around between the departments (they tend to want experience so it becomes a bit chicken and egg: you need to have done a similar job to have the experience, but they want the experience before you can be considered for the job). Ok, maybe its not that black and white but you get my drift.

A second benefit to working for a small business is that by gaining a broader skill set you can become more appealing to the larger organisations.

Check zoomspec out, its completely free and worth creating a profile - even if you just use it to build contacts and network. You can chose whether to remain anonymous (just stick with a user name as on the forums) or use your real name if you want.

westv

I've heard that success using Linkedin can vary a lot depending on the industry.

westv

PerfectWorld wrote: »

Do you work for them?

reehsetin

no successes but I've only been looking for a little while. I think it's seems good (except for the fact they want you to pay extra for more features) I use it just like any other online jobs board and I've found a few on there that I hadn't seen advertised anywhere else

RosaBernicia

I would suggest joining any groups relevant to your role - not so much for the discussions (most of the ones I've seen tend to be someone pushing their own idea in the hope of business) but because it makes you visible to recruitment consultants and other people in the field. Would suggest you turn down the 'spam' style invites to connect from people you don't actually know though - these are usually people who think you'll be useful to them rather than those offering work to you. I am a member of umpteen relevant groups but very rarely get round to reading the discussions.

You can add keywords to your profile which would also help you show up in searches and can help expand on your CV.

I've had three or four offers of interviews from recruitment consultants so far, none of them quite what I was after but it's nice to be asked . I've also had messages from a couple of freelancers who I've worked with before and let me know that they were after new contracts, and it meant that I did pass on their names to others who may give them work.

Nobody seems to have mentioned that it's also really good for nosily checking out people's CVs to help you find out what skills are needed for their job

Oh and you can restrict what comes up on your public profile if you don't want the world seeing your whole work history.


Rosa xx