My LinkedIn Success Story: The Power of Social Media During a Recession

Several years ago, I was ready to make a career move. There was no room for career growth at my former employer, and I wanted to move up.

The year was 2008. It was the height of the recession in Michigan, and the absolute worst time for someone who was fully employed to decide to make a job change.

Michigan, and specifically metro Detroit, was flooded with hundreds and thousands of displaced workers due to the economic downturn.

My competition was people who could dedicate all of their waking hours to searching for a new job. I had a full time job with a long commute and a family, so I barely had any time to look. I knew I would have to approach my search differently.

I was already on LinkedIn, thanks to the advice of a coworker and mentor. However, I decided to step up my efforts. I disconnected from my boss and president of the company, so I wouldn't risk them knowing of my impending move.

I vowed to myself at the time to avoid the job boards, which were flooded by job seekers for a handful of job openings. Based on past job searches, I found it too difficult and depressing. I wanted action. I looked daily at LinkedIn, and one day, I found it: a job posting for Marketing Manager at Walsh College.

It was a perfect match for me. It required a passion for professional development and experience in marketing. Reading the job posting reminded me of a great first date. I was so excited.

I applied through HR, following the job posting instructions. But then I also upgraded my LinkedIn membership and made a direct connection to the hiring manager who posted the position. (I would later go on to tell people this was the best $30 I've ever spent!)

He said that mine was the first resume he received on LinkedIn, out of hundreds of resumes the LinkedIn posting created. This was not including the hundreds of resumes from the Monster posting, or those sent direct to the HR department.

Within a day or so, he emailed me to set up an interview. Within a week we met for the interview. The rest, as they say, is history.

If it wasn't for LinkedIn, I wouldn't be where I am today in my career. It's that powerful. And I will forever be repaying this back to help others.

I've continued my use of LinkedIn, and today I lead workshops, webinars, and training to organizations, executives, and job seekers. I believe in the power of social media karma, and that I owe it to others to pay it forward by helping others realize the power of LinkedIn.

I've also had a few conversations with LinkedIn employees, and one recent exchange by someone in content marketing at LinkedIn asking me to share my success story. Realizing that a story told to one person may be quickly forgotten, but a story told by a blog can be shared and amplified, I decided to blog my response.

Has LinkedIn enabled you to help others in their careers? Or has it helped you to make a career move? Reply to this post, then share this blog with others. You, too, can help to keep the positive social media karma momentum going.

Read my other blogs here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/brendameller/recent-activity/posts/

Then, let's connect: www.dhirubhai.net/in/brendameller. And if you need some help using LinkedIn, let me know! I offer individual LinkedIn coaching and profile rewrite packages.