How to Job Search with LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a terrific way to find a job! It's also a good way to find your next boss, and it is one of the best and most valuable tools you can use for your job search. Not just a social networking site for professionals, it's also a place where you can find potential employers and recruiters.

Here’s a recent game changer for job seekers: LinkedIn rolled out a new feature that allows you to privately express interest in working for a company without needing to apply first... or using the #OpenToWork frame. Just go to the "About" tab on a company's page and click the "I'm interested" button. (Note: only companies with active LinkedIn Career Page and Recruiter contracts will have this feature available on their company page.)

Once you signal that you’re interested, recruiters at the company will be able to view your profile when searching for interested candidates within the program of LinkedIn Recruiter.

To search for jobs: Click the Jobs icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. Click into the Search bar on the top of the page and search by keywords, title, skill, or a company name.

Filter Jobs and set up Job Alerts

The abundance of jobs on LinkedIn may seem overwhelming at first, but LinkedIn has created lots of amazing tools and filters to make your job search easier. You can also look for jobs on LinkedIn using LinkedIn Advanced search filters and create job alerts for specific companies to narrow down your search.

Follow up on your job Applications.

Building a relationship with your network is important when looking for a job. Don’t forget to follow up after you have reached out to someone. If a recruiter has accepted your connection request on LinkedIn, it may be a promising idea to send another note outlining your skills and expertise. In a couple of weeks, reach out to the recruiter again asking if any opportunities have come up or simply share some content to spark a discussion. This way, recruiters can keep you in mind if a job opportunity does come up.

Remember to always stay professional and polite. Polish your LinkedIn profile, learn how to use the filters and set up job alerts, and don’t forget to customize messages you send out to recruiters or other contacts in your network.

Make sure you check out the resources and video links about LinkedIn in the Social Media category of our Virtual Resource Room at Calgary Career Hub

This Tip created with contributions from the Cornerstone Community College of Canada and LinkedIn.