Why It’s Imperative to Build a Professional Network on LinkedIn
Posted October 11th, 2010
It’s all about relationships today. How many times have you applied to positions at companies unknown to you and never heard back? On the flip side, how many times have you applied to a job because you knew of an opening due to a connection you had there and then were at least interviewed, if not hired?
Networks work. Knowing people puts you in the know regarding openings. In fact, HR professionals will tell you that many of a company’s best hires come via current employees because “good people know other good people.”
The online networking site LinkedIn can help you get known by those “good people.”
Below are some tips on how to build a professional network on LinkedIn.
When you first create an account with LinkedIn, you’ll be asked if you want to upload your e-mail system’s address book into your account. You’ll want to reply yes because it can automatically send these folks an e-mail requesting that they “connect” with you. People in your address book who already are LinkedIn members almost always will accept this request, thus growing your network right there.
As you create your profile, be absolutely honest about your accomplishments and work history. Anyone with a LinkedIn profile can read yours, even if she or he is not one of your “connections.” You’ll never know who in the world may be reading your profile and if he or she sees an exaggeration or outright falsehood could “out” you — possibly even on LinkedIn! — for the world to see. A very bad career move.
You’ll want to expand the number of connections you have by reaching out to those in your network for introductions to people in their network. Do so professionally and be sure you have a legitimate business reason to ask for this “introduction.”
Make recommendations for people within your network. Doing so creates incredible goodwill. Many people for whom you make recommendations will make a recommendation for you right away, but don’t be afraid to ask the “power” people in your network to make a recommendation for you (and offer to do the same, if you haven’t made a recommendation already).
How LinkedIn Can Work Magic for Your Career
It’s all about the connections. The more you have, the more likely you’ll be found in LinkedIn searches. Many of these people are looking to hire or form a business relationship with you. As mentioned above, people like to hire people they know. They more connections you have, the more people you “know.”
Businesses today often use LinkedIn to conduct preliminary reference/background checks. This works both ways and you can use LinkedIn to check out companies and hiring managers within those companies before you ever apply for a job or go to an interview.
Consider joining the hundreds of professional groups on LinkedIn that interest you. Or go to LinkedIn Answers and ask questions there or of your professional groups and, when you receive answers from others within your industry, you may later create new connections for yourself.
Build a great LinkedIn profile, keep it current, keep asking for connections and recommendations (and offer to do the same) and you’ll soon find that hiring managers, headhunters and even business owners may be approaching you about jobs or business partnerships.
Use Bayside Solutions — as well as LinkedIn — to help lead you to your next great position in the Bay Area. Contact us today so that we can help you get linked to many of San Francisco’s finest companies.
