6 LinkedIn tips to help maximize your job search

You’ve probably read plenty of articles about how maintaining a current LinkedIn profile is as important as keeping your resume up-to-date — and it’s all true. More and more recruiters are turning to LinkedIn as a resource to find top candidates. However, if you’re only keeping your profile current, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to leverage your connections.

In the last five years, I’ve had countless conversations with friends, family and even a few strangers about the real value of connections on LinkedIn. Like many, they may be accepting and seeking connections, but that’s the extent of their action on the site—and that’s a big mistake. If you’re in the market for a new career, here are six things you should be doing to get the most out of your LinkedIn connections.

CONNECT CONSCIENTIOUSLY

I’m not talking about clicking a button and possibly perusing a new connection’s profile. Once connected, you have the ability to reach out and engage with these people. As you narrow your search and identify the organizations and roles you’d most like to attain, turn to your connections and reach out to those who work for the companies of interest.

Better yet, don’t wait until you want something—establish these relationships from the get-go. You don’t need to converse daily, or even weekly for that matter. A check-in every month or so will go a long way toward building the type of connection that can have a powerful influence on whether or not you’ll land that dream job.

COLLECT CLUES

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Have you ever found yourself working for a new organization and wishing that you’d known what you were getting into? This is your chance to gain a bit of clairvoyance—you’ll never get more valuable feedback than that which comes from someone who actually works for the organization in question.

A good way to start is by explaining what you’re interested in and asking if they’d be able to provide some guidance and insight. Most people are happy to talk about their jobs—both the good and bad. Gathering clues today helps to avoid any unsolved mysteries in the future.

COMMUNICATE CONDITIONS

 As you apply to various positions, sooner or later you’re going to have a recruiter contacting you. This is a good thing. However, don’t forget to let your LinkedIn connection know about the contact. There are several reasons to do this, beginning with professional courtesy, but more central to your end-goal is that your connection may want to reach out to the recruiter in your regards.

Endorsements are the equivalent of gold in the world of recruitment—don’t leave your bullion buried in the hills.

CONTINUALLY CULTIVATE

While your connections should be strategic, don’t let them slide after you’ve accepted an offer. Maintain your current connections and grow new ones. You never know what the future holds.

CLASP CIRCLES

Key contacts are pertinent, but there’s more than single connections to be had via LinkedIn. Consider joining groups—this is a key aspect of using LinkedIn as a social networking tool. You don’t have to try to reach the maximum (50 is the current cap on the number of groups you can join), but look for groups that are of interest.

There’s a group for just about anything under the sun, from hobbies and alumni organizations to specific job functions. Again, go beyond merely joining—participate in the conversations and establish yourself as having both expertise and credibility.

CONSTANTLY CHIP

Keeping your LinkedIn profile current is a must. Aside from personal updates, try to spend a small chunk of time each week chipping away on the site—similar to what you’re probably already doing daily on Facebook (or hourly, based on the number of times my phone makes that annoying jingle each day). A dedicated slot of 15-30 minutes every week will help ensure that you’re not missing new conversations, connection requests or other opportunities.

Whether you’ve just graduated and are looking for that “foot in the door,” or you’re ready to put your skills to a new test, you’ll need to work hard to use social networking to your advantage. If you haven’t joined LinkedIn yet, get yourself a profile! For those who are already on LinkedIn, take your game to the next level and start using your connections as they were intended.

Michelle Kruse has helped countless job-seekers find success as the editor and content manager at ResumeEdge. With more than 10 years of experience recruiting for companies like Novartis and IBM, she has firsthand experience of what recruiters are looking for, and she shares that insight with those who need it most. She writes regularly to provide advice on resume writing and interviewing not only because it’s her job, but because it’s her passion.This article comes from The USA TODAY College partner network. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of USA TODAY. You understand that we have no obligation to monitor any discussion forums, blogs, photo- or video-sharing pages, or other areas of the Site through which users can supply information or material. However, we reserve the right at all times, in our sole discretion, to screen content submitted by users and to edit, move, delete, and/or refuse to accept any content that in our judgment violates these Terms of Service or is otherwise unacceptable or inappropriate, whether for legal or other reasons.

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