What Is LinkedIn? How To Use This Powerful Social Tool
What is LinkedIn? Would you believe there is a social platform where you can show off your career history and experience rather than your travel pictures and Outfit of the Day (OOTD)? LinkedIn is a platform that helps users build your professional network rather than their social circle. Read on as we explain more about Linkedin and give you tips on how to maximize it!
What is LinkedIn? | Social Tool for Career Development
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is one of the most popular social platforms today. What makes it different, though, is it focuses on your professional life rather than your personal life. This social network allows you to connect with other people to broaden your professional network. LinkedIn is a great way to promote yourself or your business so the right people can connect with you.
It’s a tool you can use to enhance or progress in your career by highlighting your professional experience and allowing you to connect with people or companies who might be in need of your expertise. Similar to Facebook and other social media platforms, you can also send a message through LinkedIn. When sending a connection request, you are given a limited character count to briefly introduce yourself to the other person. You can start chatting without limits once your request to connect is accepted.
How do You Use LinkedIn?
To enjoy the benefits of this platform, you must first create a LinkedIn account. You are required to use a legitimate email address and your real name to sign up. Once you fill in all the necessary information, you can log in and start filling out your professional experience.
You can even upload your resume so you can list down everything you need to explain your job history without having to worry about a character count. If you choose to upload your resume, though, make sure to leave out personal information such as your home address and telephone number since any document you upload can be easily downloaded by your connections. There are pros and cons to putting your resume on LinkedIn so think it through before you upload anything.
How do You Use LinkedIn to Find Jobs?
LinkedIn may offer a lot of features to help job seekers, but it’s also popular for those who are looking for them. This site is especially popular with headhunters and recruiters, so make sure to create an impressive profile that will keep them reading. Once they find your experience suits their hiring needs, they can opt to connect with you or send you an InMail. It’s not unusual for recruiters to be the first to reach out to a job seeker if they see a potential match for an open position.
You can also search for jobs in LinkedIn. The platform allows companies to post their openings, which you can look for through the search bar. You may even filter the search based on your areas of interest. Once you find a position you feel you are qualified for, you can hit the ‘Quick Apply’ button or contact the hiring manager via email if they include it in the post.
How do You Maximize the Potential of Your LinkedIn Profile?
First, it’s important to remember that people are quite visual. We may not want to admit it, but on any social platform, people tend to judge based on the profile picture before they even check the rest of the profile. Make sure your profile picture on LinkedIn shows you in a light that’s professional, warm, and friendly. You can use Photofeeler to see how your picture would fare on different social platforms.
You can also tweak other parts of your profile to make it stand out. LinkedIn also allows you to change your background photo. Use this feature to make your profile page unique and show others your expertise at first glance.
Your headline is also one of the first things people look at once they click on your profile. Aside from your name, this is the only information available to headhunters or recruiters when they make a search for potential candidates for a certain position. You have only 120 words to impress recruiters through your headline so make it count. Make sure to use these wisely so you will stand out among the sea of job seekers.
You should also take advantage of skills endorsements. This is a way for people you’ve worked with to vouch for a skill or expertise you included on your profile. The more endorsements you get, the more likely it is for recruiters to believe that you are indeed competent in that area. Return the favor to your colleagues by giving them endorsements as well.
Is LinkedIn Free?
https://twitter.com/LinkedIn/status/958415792000745472
Now that you see how LinkedIn can help you grow professionally, you’re probably wondering if it’s free. The basic account is free, and while it is enough to get you noticed by hiring managers, it has certain limitations. For instance, you won’t be able to send an InMail with a free account. InMail allows you to send a message to another person even if you are not connected with them. This means, with a free account, you either add the person first and use the minimal characters you’re allowed to send a message, or wait for them to confirm your connection request before you can start chatting with them without a character limit.
A free LinkedIn account will also mean you will have a limited number of searches. If you’re a recruiter, you can only view a certain number of people per month. Once you reach that limit, you’re going to have to wait for the next month to continue your search.
Can You Have the Benefits of a Premium Account Without Paying for a Subscription?
If you’re hesitant to upgrade to a premium account but still curious about its benefits, you can get a free 30-day trial. If you don’t wish to continue after the trial and don’t want to be charged, just make sure to end your subscription before the end of the 30-day period.
There are several premium accounts you can upgrade to depending on how you use LinkedIn. Whether you are a job seeker who wants to make sure your profile stands out, a recruiter who wants to source effectively and efficiently, or a businessman looking to grow your network or find the right prospects, there is a premium plan that will suit you.
For more tips on how to land a job using LinkedIn, check out this video from Work It Daily:
It might be unthinkable to use a social media platform to take your career to the next level, but it’s possible with LinkedIn. While other platforms allow you to show off your travel pictures, delectable food, and other fun experiences, this one allows you to highlight your professional experience. It lets you connect with people who can help you improve your skills and grow professionally. So create an account now and see how this platform can help you rise up the career ladder!
Do you have any questions about LinkedIn we missed? Let us know in the comments section!
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