Career Windows Online

Savvy job seekers and career transitioners know that LinkedIn is an invaluable search tool for building a network of contacts. These are the contacts that will help you reach your goals by championing your candidacy and helping you identify and establish connections to the decision maker.  Try the following approaches to make your profile more compelling for employers.

1. Add sizzle to your profile by personalizing your approach. When you send an invitation to an individual to join your list of contacts, make your invitation stand out.  If you truly  want to establish a relationship, include a personal message that tells them why you are contacting them.  You are much more likely to get a positive response.
2. It’s not the size of your network that is important. Keep your list short enough to keep up with your contacts regularly and establish a relationship that will convert them to champions for your cause.  Be sure to review their profiles and contact lists to ensure that you are targeting the people that can provide you with the leverage you need to reach your goal.
3. If you are seeking a new position and are worried about your current employer finding out or need to keep your profile private for personal reasons there are a number of ways to utilize LinkedIn without exposing your profile.  You can enter your first name and last initial in your profile or alter the settings on your profile that limit visibility.  Your profile is too valuable a tool for building the relationships you need to ignore it completely.
4. Don’t forget the power of groups. Often they are your first step to identifing and connecting with potential contacts. Once you are a member of a group, you can invite anyone in that group to join your list.  Don’t forget to check company websites, also.  They are often a gold mine for identifying contacts and possibly their e-mail adresses.  If they are not in one of your groups, you can use your list of contacts to introduce you to individuals on their list.  In this way, you can network to the right contacts for your purposes.
5. Make sure that your profile is 100% complete. It is not that difficult and will attract more attention.

LinkedIn is an essential tool if you are seeking to enter the job market or transition to a new career or position.  To maximize its value, be sure to take the necessary steps to build a network of contacts that will be the champions you need to successfully reach your goal.

Opening Windows to your career success,

Dumont

Careerwindowsonline.com

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