Getting nowhere with your job applications? Here’s how to get the best out of your LinkedIn job search.

A common complaint from people in the job market for new roles is that they don't hear anything back from applications to adverts for roles they believe they are well qualified for. People tell us things like “I felt I was a great candidate for that one but heard nothing back, it's like my CV fell into a black hole.” This happens on every job board, not just LinkedIn.

Other people that we speak to often aren’t quite sure how to maximize the potential of their own personal networks to identify opportunities. They often ask us how to access “off-market” opportunities.

Here's a summary of some of the advice we give people when they are going through a frustrating period looking for that next career opportunity:

1. When applying directly to companies with in-house recruitment teams, don't assume that the first person who sees your CV necessarily knows much about the specialist skills you have developed in your profession/industry, and therefore the relevance of your application. 

It's worth noting that many recruiters working for in-house teams are, or become, generalists because they are required to recruit for a wide range of appointments, so they might not have specific knowledge of what you do or recognise the transferability of your skills and experience. 

Help them to see what a strong candidate you are by writing a good, concise, punchy covering email supporting your CV that outlines why you are a strong candidate for that specific job.  

A general cover letter used for all your applications is no more use than no cover letter at all as it sends a negative message saying " I didn't think it was worth writing a specific letter explaining my suitability." Give yourself the best chance by taking the time to write something that has an impact on the person responsible for reviewing the advert response to make sure your CV makes it to the hiring manager's inbox.

2. If you truly believe you are a strong candidate for a role but get nothing back from your application to the internal recruitment team, (as I said, a very common complaint) try to find the hiring manager on LinkedIn and reach out to them directly. Only do this when you really have the experience for the role. If you do it for jobs you think you "could do" or would "like to try" you are just wasting your own time and that of the people you are contacting which rarely creates a good impression, particularly with internal talent teams, so make sure you are on pretty safe ground.  

3. Really invest some time in using your own personal network to find off-market roles. To do this you should reach out to former bosses, stakeholders, colleagues, suppliers and let them know you are looking for a new role. Ask them to let you know if they hear of anything in their personal networks. Many roles get filled off-market through this sort of networking because the person you contact will either hire you because they know your capabilities or recommend you to others for the same reason. People love a low-risk hire of a known quantity particularly when that person effectively falls into their lap!

4. Review adverts from recruitment companies to find recruiters who are clearly active in your space and have good projects that they are working on even if it's not quite the right role for you. You should try to develop relationships with these people. If they think they can find you a new job they will generally engage with you, or at least should do. Once you find the right people use their knowledge to assess market conditions, demand for your skills, market-rate salaries and gain useful information about the market in general.

If you work in the procurement, supply chain or sustainable sourcing technology industries we are the recruiters you should be speaking with to get that information. In which case please contact me via LinkedIn chat or email me using the contact details available on my profile.

5. Get noticed more on LinkedIn. Make a regular concerted effort to engage with other users' articles and posts with your own honest insightful comments. The more you engage the more the LinkedIn algorithm will increase your visibility on other users' feeds. In turn, you are more likely to be spotted by a hiring manager, talent team member or external recruiter who has a job to fill. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate a bite-sized chunk of your professional expertise by making an informed comment on an industry-relevant post.  

Have you experienced this yourself? Could this advice make a difference to you? Please share your experiences and of course, I welcome your comments on my suggestions.