This is #1 Most Under-Utilized LinkedIn Feature (and, Why Job Seekers Should Use It More)

Job seekers often complain to me they can't find any "good jobs" in their local area. They think all the best ones are in big cities where they can't afford to live. That's simply not true. What IS true is, as a society, we have become unknowingly lazy when it comes to job search. It's not entirely our faults. All the advancements in online job posting and applying via the web has made us assume if there's a great job in our area, it will of course be posted for us to see. But, that's not true. There's a huge hidden job market out there of fabulous positions local companies haven't posted. It's just up to us to find them.

All it takes is an "interview bucket list" and a LinkedIn account.

An interview bucket list is a list of companies you respect and admire. You can learn more about how to identify local companies to add to your interview bucket list in this Youtube video:

Once you have the list, the key is to leverage the power of 2nd line connections on LinkedIn to get introduced to someone who works at each of the companies on your list. How do you do that? Well, this is the feature I love most about LinkedIn. Let me show you...

Let's say you dream of working for Google...

Okay, so it's not a local company in your backyard, but they are a great company to use as an example! (Plus, at least once/day someone asks me how they can get a job at Google.)

First, you would go to Google's company page on Linkedin. Notice the total number of connections I have at Google as well as the total number of people who say they have worked there. That's what you would click on to get to the next

Now, all you need to do is change the search settings at the top of the page to find all the people who work at Google that are 2nd line connected to you. That simply means someone you are directly connected to on LinkedIn knows someone who works there.

Once you've done that, you can start to look at the profiles of these people, as well as who in your direct network is connected to them.

This enables you to craft an email to your 1st line connection to say something like this,

Dear Bill, I see you are connected to (insert 2nd line connection's name and LI profile link HERE), over at Google. I am a huge fan of the company and would love to hear first-hand from an existing employee what it takes to earn an interview there. I am particularly excited about Google's focus on (insert some specific info that validates you have done your homework HERE). Would you be open to the idea of introducing me? I promise I will not be asking ___ for a job. I just want to hear about her own journey to landing a job there and any advice she might have. Thanks so much for considering this request, and if there is anything I can do in return, please let me know."

This is how you connect with dream employers. Especially, the ones in your local area. While every person you ask to help introduce you won't say "yes", all it takes is one to get the ball rolling.

And, if you are thinking, "J.T. that's too much work."

Well then, that's why you aren't finding the good jobs in your area. Proactive job search techniques like this one are the real key to making things happen for yourself. There's a reason applying online without any networking fails 97% of job seekers. If you want to work smarter, then it's time to learn how to tap into the real power of tools like LinkedIn.