Using LinkedIn for Covert Job Searching

Deborah Smith is a Social Media Marketing Consultant and certified

LinkedIn Instructor who has conducted LinkedIn Training Workshops for

major Law Firms, Banks, Universities and Industry organizations. As a

sought after Social Media professional, Deborah provides public and private

training, consulting and coaching on developing winning strategies and

tactics for Blogs, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Covert Job Searching While Still Employed

#1 Truth In Getting Hired

• Computers don't hire people. People Hire People.

• The number one source of new employees for corporations in the US is employee referrals.

» Not job boards.

» Not corporate career sites.

» Not newspapers.

» Not staffing firms or third party recruiters.

» And, not job fairs.

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What is the #1 Way You Can Connect With Colleagues, HR Professionals and Recruiters?

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February 2012: Forbes Magazine Reported a huge jump in revenues

from LinkedIn’s recruiting services making the company the fastest

growing public provider of corporate recruiting solutions.

Majority of HR Professionals and Recruiters report LinkedIn as their

#1 solution for recruiting passive job seekers.

What kind of first impression are you making?

Recruiters Use Google to Source Leads.

Google loves LinkedIn Profiles.

LinkedIn is becoming more and more accepted as a means to

connect professionally.

Are you accessible?

Why Linkedin?

Your Strategy • Look Great: Profile

Development/Optimization

• Start Networking: Network Building– Big vs. Small

• Proactive Job Research and Connecting

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Profile Development

Your First Impression 6

Now I understand exactly why so many candidates are in transition so much longer

than necessary. Their profiles completely “stink.”

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From “How Recruiters Search Using LinkedIn & What We Look For”

Your LinkedIn Profile

Is Your First Impression

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Not a resume, Keep it Conversational How Can You Help The Person Reading Your Profile? Focus on KEYWORDS that employers, customers, clients would use.

Optimizing Your Profile

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Headshot, close up,

looking out

Most important

keywords. Do not

make them too

broad.

Insider Tip: “For me its about keywords. I normally am looking at titles, and

keywords and locations based on particular project I may be working on. I will

utilize connection, groups . On Linkedin its about connection so the larger your

network and direct connections, group connections etc. the better the chance of

being found.“ HR Professional

Profile - Top Area

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Summary of information from Down Below

Web site(s) - You get 3 Web URL’s - Company Web site - Sub-pages - Blog - Customize the Label

Twitter Name/LINK Create a Personalized Public Profile URL

Summary and Specialties

Summary Section

2,000 characters allowed (2/3 page)

– Official Info about the company – Company specialties – products, services,

industries, geographies – Territories serviced – Info about you and your role – What makes you special?

Specialties Subsection

– 500 characters available – List keywords using commas and/or

bullets (ACRONYMS are OK)

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Recommendations Add Credibility

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Settings You Get There

from Here

Covert Tip

Who can see your activity feed?

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Everyone

Your Network

Your Connections

Only You

Covert Tip: Do not trust LinkedIn’s privacy settings. Best

Practice: Do not share anything you do not want to get back to

your employer. Do not participate in groups that will identify

you as a job seeker.

Everyone

Network

Connections

Only Me

Do You Want to Be Anonymous?

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Covert Tip: When researching people you

may want to connect with about a job,

Anonymous may be a good option or not.

What Do You Want Non-LinkedIn Users to See?

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Covert Tip: Let it all hang out

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Building Your Network

Quantity vs. Quality

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• Why a Big Network?

– Larger pool of 2nd and 3rd Tier Connections

– A greater chance of having a common

connection

– More respect, sought after

– Who to Connect With:

– Family, Friends, Alumni, Colleagues

Beware of LinkedIn’s “Gotcha’s”

LinkedIn gives you 3,000 Invitations Lifetime supply

“I Don’t Know” – the Dreaded IDK 5 IDK’s restricts your account!

Account Restricted? E-Mail Request re-instatement

Making Connections Through Groups

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Group Activity

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Anything you post in an Open Group will show up in your activity feed to

all of your connections.

If you post in a Closed Group (padlock icon next to the Group name)

then only fellow Group members will be able to see the information (it

will not show in your activity feed that is visible to your connections).

Covert Tip

Do not join the almost 25,000 “Job

Searching” Groups

Join Industry related groups. Many of

these groups will have “Job” postings.

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Researching Jobs and Companies

Searching Jobs on LinkedIn

Use Advanced

Search

Search Under

Keywords

Location

LinkedIn will

indentify your

contacts that are

connected to the

job poster.

Ask for an

introduction.

Researching Companies

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“ A search could reveal

your 1st degree and

2nd degree contacts

who are current or past

employees, employees

that share similar

groups, like

professional trade

groups, and alumni

organizations.

Covert TIP

Covert Tip: If you know a position is open at a certain company

or you want to work for a certain company, use LinkedIn to

research who the key people are that you need to connect with.

Following a Company

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Choose

what

notifications

to receive &

when

Using Advanced Search Techniques

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Search HR AND

“Human Resources”

Industry:

Pharmaceuticals

Results will provide

leads for you to

investigate. Join the

groups that these

individuals are members

of.

Search HR Professionals for Specific Industries and Companies

Keyword Searching

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Getting More Help

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Your Next Steps

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1. Complete and Optimize Your Profile

2. Build Your Network of Connections

3. Become Highly Visible Contributor, Be Helpful, Get

Noticed

4. Add Your LinkedIn URL to your Email Signature and

Business Cards

Deborah Smith Social Media Consulting

Facebook.com/SocialMedia4Business

Linkedin.com/in/deborahleesmith

For Tips on using Social Media subscribe to

my blog

www.DeborahLSmith.com

732-966-7450

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