LinkedIn Job Search Guide 2016 PDF
LinkedIn Job Search Guide 2016 PDF
LinkedIn Job Search Guide 2016 PDF
Looking for a job is hard work. Before you roll up your sleeves
01 GETTING STARTED and start firing off resumes, consider stepping back to take
a more strategic approach.
02 DISCOVERING JOBS
The following pages are meant to be used as a reference guide.
They can be read one page at a time, one chapter at a time, or in
03 GETTING THE JOB entirety. The recommended tactics and tools were developed with
U.S. job seekers in mind, however many of the strategies may be
applied internationally. Good luck with your job search and we hope
that the following guide will put you in the drivers seat as you develop
your career.
Expert Tip:
Uploading your connections to LinkedIn or the LinkedIn Job Search app will allow
you to easily see who you know at companies that you are interested in.
Follow the five steps below to turn your future role into more than, Just a job.
STEP 1 Make a list of all of your skills and know where they can take you. Uncover what youre best at
Specialize & Evolve and continue to hone those skills throughout your career.
STEP 2 Use your specialized skills as a compass for the future. Write a six month, twelve month, and two
Plot your Progress year plan that describe how you want your career to progress and hold yourself accountable.
Theres no magic formula for work-life balance. Everyones different. Make a highly specific list with
STEP 3
your top priorities in life and rank them honestly. How much time should you spend on personal
Define Balance
versus professional pursuits? Only you can decide.
STEP 4 Having passion for your work is wonderful. But its your ability to apply that passion to your
Combine Passion & Problem-Solving organizations most pressing problems that will ultimately allow you to grow with the business.
STEP 5 Your network is your net worth. Surround yourself with people you admire to ensure learning,
Create Lasting Relationships growth, and potential references down the line.
Many professionals think of their home and work lives as completely separate. Instead, try developing a list of
professional and personal priorities and explore how they feed into one another. Wrapping your head around
how the two relate will often unlock an unexpected happiness in both arenas.
J.T. ODonnell
Connection #1: The Advocate Connection #2: The Strategic In Connection #3: The Subject Matter Expert
Knows you on a personal level Well-connected individual Offers superior insight on a specific industry
Acts as a trusted sounding board Demonstrates willingness to make Can give an unbiased opinion
connections on your behalf
Likely a close friend or family member Likely a casual friend, alumni, or family contact
Likely a past co-worker, alumni, or boss
Example question for The Advocate: Example question for The Strategic In: Example question for The Subject Matter
Are my career choices lining up with What companies or roles match well with Expert: Where have professionals with my
my personal values? my personality and skill set? skills been most successful in your industry?
Which skills should I focus on developing?
How can personality assessments help How much does culture matter to
candidates find the right job? success in a career?
Chester: Your skills, motivations and personality Chester: A lot. On paper you might be a match
play an equal role in your overall job satisfaction. for a job, but in reality you might not vibe with
As the workplace continues to evolve, taking the the staff. Culture is a reflection of values, and
right personality assessment can help you match people with the same values tend to gravitate
up with an employer in all three areas, instead of toward one another. If your values line up with
just one. your employer, youre far more likely to be
successful in that environment.
Once you discover your passion and
values, how do you apply it at work?
Professionals who report being
Chester: Knowing your passions and applying happy at work are 150% more
Chester Elton likely to be happy at home.
Employee Engagement Expert them are two very different things. After taking
an assessment, share the results with friends,
family and co-workers. Theyll help you reflect
and act on the findings. The second step is
Bestselling author, motivational speaker, aligning your passions with specific skills,
Source: Chester Elton
and employee engagement expert and nurturing those skills over time.
Chester Elton has studied people in
the workplace for decades. In this
interview, he shares how taking the
right personality assessment can
unmask your core strengths and values.
Play the Pymetrics Game Take the Motivators Assessment Take the Keirsey Temperament Sorter
Take the StrengthsFinder Take the Myers-Briggs Take the Parachute Test
If you start with a rock solid resume, your Level of Specificity Recommendations
LinkedIn profile wont take too much work. Your traditional resume is tailored for a single Your resume rarely contains recommendations,
Nevertheless, there are big differences between opportunity, whereas your LinkedIn profile whereas your profile should be littered with
the two. Address the following differences to should speak to all potential employers. third-party references. Recommendations allow
ensure your LinkedIn profile shines: Get specific with each position on your profile, employers to quickly assess the reliability and
and include additional details, including accuracy of your profile.
accomplishments, awards, skills or
special presentations. Profile as a Platform
Your LinkedIn profile is a living and breathing
The Length platform where other professionals and
Its fair game to elaborate on LinkedIn. Include employers can interact, learn, and contact
past positions, initiatives, skills, college projects, you. Its a living resume more than a statement
publications, and interests. But remember, it still of skills. Put this organism to work by
needs to be concise and compelling. Most optimizing your profile.
importantly, use the profile to tell your
unique story.
Your resume will make its way through an applicant tracking system at some point. And even if it doesnt,
some hiring managers are pickier than others. Make sure at least half the skills listed on the job posting
are mirrored on your resume. Happy job hunting!
Presenting yourself as the best possible candidate is essential to landing a new job, but being seen as the best isnt easy. Dont fret, because getting
past barriers like a skills gap, or recent unemployment is well within your reach. Below are some common obstacles job seekers face, as well as tactics
for overcoming them:
YOURE UNEMPLOYED Make sure your resume is rock solid. More often than not,
correcting simple mistakes on a resume will do wonders for
your search.
If youre getting passed over for jobs that are in your wheelhouse,
you may be shooting too low. Start applying for more senior Be willing to freelance or work part-time. Getting your foot
positions. Of course, do the opposite if youve been aiming high. in the door might result in a full-time job.
YOURE UNDERQUALIFIED Demonstrate how your skills and experience can solve key
business problems.
YOURE SHY Use LinkedIn Company Pages and LinkedIn Pulse to read
up on topics you may discuss. Acing your preparation can
really help with your confidence.
When reaching out to LinkedIn connections for feedback or help,
Practice, practice, practice. If a phone call to a connection
imagine how you would feel if the tables were turned. You would
or employer is going to be difficult, iron out potential rough
help out, and they will too.
spots in advance by rehearsing with a job search buddy.
I imported my portfolio and past jobs, then cleaned up and customized my resume. Krishna said. This
STEP 1
allowed me to control how people viewed my previous experience, and offer a downloadable version
Optimize Your Profile
of my experience.
After discovering the Jobs You May Be Interested In feature, Krishna leveraged advanced preferences
STEP 2
and reacted quickly to email alerts about his most desired positions. LinkedIn got a sense of what types
Set Up Job Alerts
of roles I was applying to, he said.
As Krishna discovered employers through Company Pages, he also uncovered current and past
STEP 3 employees. He reached out cold to many of these professionals. I sent messages on LinkedIn to
Use Company Pages professionals asking if they would have a brief conversation, he said. Many times we would sit down
and chat over coffee, and I would end up with a couple interviews later that week.
As Krishna discovered openings and employers, he also realized many of his current connections could
be bridges to new organizations. In one instance, a position opened up at a desirable company where
STEP 4
his former manager and fellow alumni was working. He reached out, had a successful sit-down, and the
Tap Current Connections
rest was history. He invited me for an interview, and we took things from there. he said. Ive been at
the company for over a year now.
The job recommendations improved as I applied to more and more roles. Keeping after it really paid off!
15 The 2016 Job Search Guide
02
DISCOVERING JOBS
Between online job boards, social media, and good
old-fashioned face-to-face networking, job seekers have
more resources for discovering jobs than ever before.
But, having more options can also be overwhelming at times.
In the following pages, we will explore tools and tactics for
discovering the right job for you. Here is what you will learn:
As technology has evolved, the job application process has lost some of the personal touches it used to have. As a result, many professionals either
dont find the right opportunities, or run into road blocks trying to access those opportunities. The LinkedIn platform is designed with the specific
purpose of getting good candidates un-stuck. It arms professionals with timely job recommendations, relevant connections, and useful job insights.
Lets explore LinkedIns new jobs pages to see how you can unlock your next opportunity.
2. Targeted Insights:
LinkedIns new jobs pages provide unique
insights such as who from your current
company as well as which alumni from your
school now work at the company of interest.
These connections are a great way to reach
out to find out more about the position.
Even a few short years ago, making a shift in your career meant plunking down in front of a computer for long hours of drafting resumes, checking job
boards, and dealing with complex application processes. Fast forward to today and we find a world ruled by social media and smartphones. Read on
to learn how LinkedIns iOS and Android Job Search apps can simplify your career journey.
Quick Tips: Taking the LinkedIn Job Search App a Layer Deeper
1. Advanced Filtering 2. A
pply with Profile 3. Job Alerts & Notifications
Advanced filtering allows you to sort jobs by Many employers now allow users to apply As you search for jobs, click the star in the
location, companies, job functions, industries, by submitting their profile directly from upper right-hand corner to save your search.
and seniority level. Use these filters to find the their smartphones. This triggers a daily email with fresh results
jobs that meet your criteria. that match the saved search. Inaddition, you
can set up push notifications which will alert
The most powerful aspect of this app is having the people, companies, you when new jobs are posted that match
Location Company
LinkedIn Features to Streamline your Career Discovery Process Date posted Job function
When used correctly, the following seemingly simple LinkedIn features can significantly Industry Level of experience
streamline your job search across all your devices.
Networking can seem a bit scary at first, but most networking actually just means talking to the people you already know. Talking with like-minded
professionals, mentors, and potential employers can be flat out fascinating. In the following pages youll find networking strategies that will help you make
your next move. Heres what youll learn:
Theres an art and science to the informational interview. In this section youll find highly applicable but simple tips to master this process
and grow your list of career advocates.
As you learn to warm up cold contacts and begin nailing informational interviews, LinkedIns Groups and Company Pages can help you broaden
your network, and build bridges to more in-person interviews.
How to Connect with a Cold Contact Using LinkedIn to Network with Weak Ties
So, you found a stellar company, but youre not Contrary to popular belief, you should network
connected with any of its employees. You are in with both professional and personal contacts.
luck, because connecting cold is quite common. Distant friends, relatives and some of their
If you plan to reach out, here are some tips for connections can open many unexpected doors.
personalizing your LinkedIn request: Consider the following tactics for building a
LinkedIn network:
F
ind common ground
Do research on the professional or C
onnect with fringe friends
organization and make mention of your Whether you met in college or that random
common ground in the first sentence. Pilates class, all those friends and colleagues
you have lost touch with are perfect
G
et to the point candidates for growing your network.
Tell them what you want and why youre
Jim Citrin relevant in a respectful, but honest tone. P
rioritize super-connectors
CEO Recruiter & Author, The Career Playbook
Comb through your list and connect
K
eep it short with the ones that have the largest networks.
Youre the newest person on their radar. These are the relationship builders, and they
Jim Citrin leads Spencer Stuarts North American can unlock an exponential amount of data
CEO Practice. During his 21 years with the O
pen up a two-way street about future jobs.
firm, he has worked with clients on more than Be sure to offer something up in return
600 CEO, board director, CFO and other top for connecting, and say thank you. C
ontribute to conversation
management searches and CEO succession Get set up in groups that interest you and
assignments. weigh in where you feel comfortable.
Networking shouldnt feel like work. Whether business or personal, a relationship is a relationship.
Be real about it, and be yourself. If you invest time in building new relationships, youll stumble upon
unexpected opportunities.
Do Your Research Ask the Tough Questions Ask for Another Contact
Art Art
This skill is more art than science. Ask well You need to demonstrate your value without
informed questions to set the tone of the explicitly asking for a job. Be prepared to tell
conversation. Remember to be yourself your story in a succinct manner. Leave the
whether the conversation is going the interview having shared your key strengths.
direction you want or not. Being authentic
is key to forming a lasting relationship with
your interviewer.
R
elevant Company Info Make an Impression
A common mistake job seekers make is to If you are interested in an organization, take
skimp on the research. Company Pages can advantage of opportunities to interact with
give you an edge, offering information on an them directly on social media. Commenting
organizations past operations, current news, on posts, sharing their content, and even
products, services, culture, and employees. posting similar articles can help make an
impression over time.
C
urrent Openings
Most Company Pages contain, Careers
sections where you can browse current
openings or apply. These are often more
up-to-date than traditional job boards.
C
urrent and Past Employees
Company Pages allow you to view 1st
or 2nd degree connections who currently,
or previously, have worked for the company
youre interested in. Reaching out to these
professionals and learning more about their
experience could be the fast-track to a
new job.
F
ind New Connections D
iscover Industry News A Final Note on Being Authentic
LinkedIn Groups brings like-minded Group members are constantly engaging in Youre you, and thats awesome. Whether you
professionals together who often connect meaningful discussions about their industries. utilize LinkedIn Groups, or LinkedIn messaging
over shared skills, industry learning, and Leverage what you learn in groups to shine features, give yourself permission to be
job-specific questions. Tap into this wellspring during meetings, interviews, and more. authentic. Learning to be honest with the world
of knowledge to advance your career with about your skills, passions, and personality will
new connections. J oin the Conversation expedite your job search.
Just as you can learn for others, others can
G
ain Access to Group Member Profiles learn from you, too. Sharing your expertise
When granted access to a group, youre allows you to build mutually beneficial
also granted rights to view full profiles of relationships, and demonstrate that youre
its members. In addition, you can message passionate and educated on relevant topics.
members, even if youre not connected.
of executives who
changed jobs in 2014
50% participated in groups
within three months
prior to a job change.
Sharon attended a seminar where she learned After adding some personality to her profile, Sharon worked two different jobs in
how her LinkedIn profile and resume should Sharon began making new connections on staffing before ultimately finding a fit in
differ, and how to start networking online. I LinkedIn. I started getting comfortable and Human Resources. She practiced patience
realized that my profile was a little bare, she said. reaching out to more contacts for advice, and was grateful to everyone in her network,
Things really clicked during this seminar for me. interviews, or just to answer simple questions As I reached my full potential, I got busy.
I knew I needed to make my personality shine about specific jobs and career paths, she said. I had to remind myself to follow up, thank
through and beef up my profile with experience, Her network confirmed her sneaking suspicion everyone and stay in touch with important
skills and endorsements. that human resources was ultimately the contacts, she said. Ultimately, I was contacted
direction her career should go. for a new position because of my persistence,
and I took it!
As you prepare to apply for your next role, The Expected and Unexpected Bridges that
remember that relationships can be the most Unlock New Opportunities
positively powerful resource at your disposal. 1. Former Bosses & Coworkers of job seekers reported
People like to help and you shouldnt be afraid The fastest way in is through professionals former bosses and
to ask for a favor. Apply the following relationship who can vouch for you directly. Reach out
20% coworkers were most
effective in getting a
building skills as much as possible in preparation to former bosses and coworkers to speed
new job
for getting a job: up your search.
columnist and author of CAREEREALISM: of one. If youre able to set long-term goals
The Smart Approach to a Satisfying the same way a business would, then youll be
speaking their language when it comes time to
Career, J.T. ODonnell has studied
interview. Employers want candidates who think
workplace satisfaction for nearly 20
big picture, but also apply this to their everyday Source: J.T. ODonnell
years. In this exclusive interview, she skills. Align your long-term development with the
shares strategies to maximize your odds everyday needs of a business, and youll have a
of securing your interview, and ultimately good shot at getting the job.
the job too.
ASKING QUESTIONS
What to Say When Its Your Turn to
Ask Questions
Perhaps the most intimidating part of a job Align visions and culture
interview is when the interviewer says, So, what End with the next interview in mind
questions do you have for me? In this section,
you will learn how to ask intelligent questions
that continue to demonstrate why youre perfect
for the job.
Instead of saying, my greatest strength is my This question is less about identifying Add a brief example of how you use your
integrity, tie your response to why you are a weaknesses and more about seeing if you are strengths or overcome a weakness to make
good fit for the company. For example, you could honest, able to assess yourself, and coachable. your responses more compelling. For example,
say, one of my strengths is my integrity, which is So admit to a genuine weakness, how it affects Clients say one of my strengths is my ability
why XCorp is such an appealing company to me. your performance, and (most importantly) what to communicate. We had a project that
I feel like the corporate culture here matches you are doing to improve. For example, I know I involved twenty people speaking four different
my values. have trouble organizing, which can keep me from languages, and I was able to keep everyone
being as efficient as I could be. So I use a daily on the same page. I really enjoyed helping
planner and task lists to stay on track. everyone understand each other.
Most people think the best way to excel at an interview is to answer questions better than any other candidate.
But, the more important skill is to weave those questions into a story, a narrative that gives the interviewer a
sense of who you are and what youre about.
Recent trends saw companies asking oddball help, because he didnt answer my email either team made everyone more communicative.
interview questions such as, Describe the color (Task). So I had a face-to-face meeting with him Now the teams productivity is up 50% from
yellow to a blind person, or, Tell me how you to discuss the importance of being available to last quarter (Results).
would unload a 747 full of sheep. Thankfully, his team members, followed by an email to
most companies realized responses to those the whole team to reinforce the message for
questions didnt indicate future job performance, everyone (Action). The meeting got him to
and settled on behavioral questions instead. answer emails, and the message for the whole
Nailing the interview requires more than Whats frustrating about working here?
answering questions. The best candidates find
a way to turn the tables, and learn from their Is there anything holding the company back?
potential employer. Respectfully asking the right
questions can uncover crucial information about If it were six months in the future, what would
a companys culture, practices, and your potential success look like?
position. If you want to find a fit, youll need to
learn to ask the right questions. How did you get your start?
Aligning on Vision, Values, & Culture End With the Next Interview in Mind
Finding a career fit is about more than skills and Leave the interview with your strongest foot
capabilities. Your job satisfaction will be directly forward by asking specific questions. You want
linked to whether or not your vision, values, and to leave an impression, and get them thinking
culture align with your employer. Which is why you can meet their needs immediately.
asking the right questions is so important. When Consider asking the following:
you get beyond the bullet points, you begin to
uncover the true nature of an organization. What are the challenges that keep you
up at night? How can I help you solve
Questions to Ask During an Interview: those problems?
How do you see this position changing, Answers to this question will demonstrate what
or evolving in the coming years? the hiring team is truly looking for, and which
problems are top of mind. If you make it to the
If you could improve something about this next round, you can prepare your plan for how
company, what would it be? you can solve their specific problems.
2. G
et Referrals
A solid job search is a marathon, A referral from a trusted source can be a
powerful tool in moving you ahead of the
not a sprint. It takes time to build
a healthy network, get reliable
pack. Recruiters greatly appreciate quality 43%
referrals as they are usually appropriately
referrals and find the right job. qualified for the position, already interested
in the job opportunity, and coming from a
In our recent recruiting trends survey, 43%
trusted source be it a co-worker, a former
of respondents reported social professional
colleague, or a member of their networks as their top source of quality hires.**
proverbial Rolodex.
J.T. ODonnell
35 The 2016 Job Search Guide
CHANGING INDUSTRIES OR JOB FUNCTIONS
Changing Careers
Its not just about getting ahead. Its about loving your job and loving
who you get to work with. 1 in 3 who changed jobs, also changed
industries in their job search.
D
an Shapero, Career Product Lead, LinkedIn
Despite not having any professional experience, Ali had developed plenty of soft skills managing a
STEP 1 restaurant. My contact told me to list some skills that he could endorse, Ali said. He endorsed me,
Leverage Skills & Endorsements and this at least put me on the map.
After tagging his skills, Ali began leveraging his new network. My mentor was kind enough to let me
connect with his contacts, Ali reported. I just kept connecting with people and asking for feedback.
STEP 2 Pretty soon, I got a few phone calls, too. Ali quickly applied what he learned from professionals, I
Tap Into Your Network
realized I had to reach out to a LOT of people to get the answers I was looking for. I also realized I had
to be unique if I wanted a response.
After having a few candid conversations with the right professionals, Ali realized he was a good
STEP 3
fit for recruiting. The next step was learning everything he could about the industry. Using Pulse,
Use Pulse, Influencers, and Articles
influencers and by reading articles, I honed my craft and learned how I could upgrade my skills.
After all this effort, Ali was ready to dive into the professional world of recruiting. He used everything
STEP 4 he learned to craft a custom strategy, I challenged employers to take a chance on me and give me a
Craft Your Own Opportunities month. If it didnt work, no hard feelings in letting me go. Pretty soon, Ali was well on his way. He now
works full-time as a corporate recruiter for Marty Bassett Associates Inc.
If you dont have experience, you still have immense potential. Give people something to believe in!
37 The 2016 Job Search Guide
If you are ready to start your job search,
please click here.