Photo Credit: torbakhopper via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: torbakhopper via Compfight cc

You need to be “top of mind” among your network when you’re looking for a new job.  Use LinkedIn to become “top of mind” by frequently showing up on your network’s update feed.  Here are 5 ways to start becoming more “top of mind” – I hope it sparks some ideas in you!

1.  Update your profile.  Make sure you have the right keywords for the job you want and the industry/ies you are targeting.  Those keywords can be one or more words (sometimes the right keyword is in fact a “key phrase” like “manage for results”).  They need to be in  your headline, summary, skills, and interests sections.  Recruiters search for candidates looking at all sections of your profile.
You should get some new traffic just from updating the profile, but the chances people saw the update are slim if they have a lot of contacts and/or follow companies, Influencers, news streams from Pulse…so you need to:
2.  Become visible to your network.  The way to get more exposure is for you to post things of interest, to join groups and participate, and to read things on LinkedIn (articles from Pulse, the feed of updates) and then like them and/or comment on them.  Like or comment on updates from your connections.  Follow key influencers in your industry and like/comment on their posts. That’s the way you will show up in the feeds of your network.
3.  Become visible to more people.  Add people to your network – the fact that you are now connected will show up on your update feed AND the other person’s.  When you like an update from someone else, it will show up in that person’s feed as well as yours.
4.  Have a regular presence.   I recommend spending 10 minutes a day on LinkedIn.  Throughout the day, when you read something from another source that is related to your professional work during the day, post it on LinkedIn.  People register what you’re posting about, so think about how to position yourself as an expert in or student of all the things you want to do professionally.
5.  Be strategic about non-industry things you post.  Include your hobbies and volunteer work in your profile.  Post items on charities, topics that interest you, hobbies and job search, as a way to let people know you are interested in more than just work.  Employers and recruiters look for clues to how a person really is by finding out what you do in your non-work time.  For example, sailors are known to work well in teams.  People who volunteer are known for going the extra mile and caring about others.  Coaches of kids’ teams are both family-oriented and mentors interested in other people’s growth.
When people do these things, they get more views of their profile.
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