Use LinkedIn to Expand Your Network Exponentially

There is a reason that Microsoft, Ebay, Netflix, Target, and many more companies like them have turned to LinkedIn to recruit candidates for employment. LinkedIn is very effective at bringing employers and candidates together.

It's also why you should join Linkedin, post your resume, and start building your network exponentially. When you use LinkedIn correctly for networking and job prospecting, it is the easiest way for you to get the inside track to almost any job at any company that you want to work for.

A Personal Example
After posting my own resume, I was presented with other Linkedin members who I am affiliated with either through companies I worked at, schools I attended or graduated from, or by uploading my Outlook or Thunderbird contact lists.

Spending about an hour inviting people I know personally to connect with me resulted in 110 first degree contacts, 65,000 second degree contacts, and over 2.5 million third degree contacts.

Not only is LinkedIn full of posted jobs that never get advertised elsewhere, if ever you find your ideal job at a company and you don't know how to get your resume on the hiring manger's desk, LinkedIn, is a great resource to find someone who knows someone one who will email or hand deliver your resume so that it will get the special attention that it deserves.

After finding a specific job, Linkedin will actually tell you how many professionals who work at the company or know someone who works at that company who are willing to help you get work.

One example for a marketing job at Ebay shows more than 100 second degree contacts and more than 2,000 third degree contacts who would personally help me get hired, if I were interested

Hiring manager are always looking for ways to operate more effectively and if someone takes the trouble to get their resume in front of them, you bet you will get more than a cursory 20 seconds. If ever you had a chance for an interview with a hiring manger, hand delivering or email delivery from someone within the company or someone that the hiring mangers knows, is your best bet, bar none.

How to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job - Or Have a Job Find You

• Create a Profile. Create a detailed profile on LinkedIn, including employment (current and past), education, industry, and web sites.
• Keywords and Skills. Include all your resume keywords and skills in your profile, so your profile will be found.
• Build Your Network. Connect with other members and build your network. The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have.
• Get Recommendations. Recommendations from people you have worked with carry a lot of weight.
• Use Answers. The Answers section of LinkedIn is a good way to increase your visibility. Respond to questions, and ask a question if you need information or assistance.
• Search for Jobs Posted on LinkedIn - then use your new found network to get your resume in the hands of the hiring manager.
• Search Using a Meta Job Search Engine - Then use your network to get your resume into the hands of the hiring manager.