Searching for a new job can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In today’s digital age there are many online resources you can use to aid in your job search, one of which is LinkedIn. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your job search using LinkedIn.
1. Make the most of your profile by branding yourself
Your LinkedIn profile is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to prospective employers, show them who you are and how you can be an asset to their team. Making time to complete your profile and highlight your unique skill sets can give you a competitive edge over other applicants.
A complete and eye-catching LinkedIn profile includes:
A custom URL - we recommend using “linkedin.com/in/firstname-lastname
Using visual media- such as a cover photo and featured content
Recent experience - don’t be afraid to list your achievements!
Completed headline and about me section
2. Use your network
Build a network of meaningful first connections. What’s a meaningful connection? One that creates value for you and the other person. When you request to connect, include a brief note introducing yourself, and how a connection could be useful.
Take time to get involved in LinkedIn Professional groups, this is an ideal place to find potential connections to help navigate your job search. Additional ideas for connections include, former colleagues, industry peers, fellow alumni from your college, influencers from your dream company and more!
Don’t be afraid to ask your connections for introductions. If you have a connection at your dream company, reach out and see if they would mind putting you in touch with a recruiter.
At Stryker, we actually encourage candidates to connect directly with our recruiters! Feel free to reach out and introduce yourself to them, let them know what type of role you’re interested in and why you would like to be a part of Stryker.
3. Follow your interests
A great way to learn about opportunities is to follow your interests. Follow companies you want to work for as well as influencers you would like to learn from. Companies often post opportunities to their pages, and if you’re not following – you may miss out.
Did you know you can also follow a hashtag? By doing so, you can get relevant content delivered directly to your feed. For example, you can follow #WeAreStryker to learn more about Stryker’s company culture.
4. Stay active
The more you engage on LinkedIn, the more likely you are to show up in a prospective employer's feed. A few ways you can increase your activity are to engage with your connections by liking/commenting on their posts, sharing an interesting article, posting a picture with a witty caption or shouting out your connections.
5. Show recruiters that you’re “open to work”
If you’re looking for a job, you can let recruiters and/or your network on LinkedIn know you’re open to new job opportunities. If you specify the types of job opportunities that you’re interested in and your preferred location, LinkedIn will help your profile show up in search results when recruiters look for suitable job candidates. Learn more on how to do this.
6. Search smarter not harder
When searching for roles, use the advanced search option to look for roles. You can search by company, location, experience level, job title and more. This helps narrow down the list to roles you’re truly interested in as well as positions you qualify for. Once you’ve set your search criteria, be sure to turn on job alerts to be notified when new positions are posted.
Another option is skipping step six, and going directly to Stryker’s career site to view open positions.
Happy job hunting!