LinkedIn has proven to be a great networking tool for Gen Y job seekers. In a recent post on Job-hunt.org, Susan P. Joyce shared five important benefits of using LinkedIn. Joyce has found that employers often compare your resume and cover letter with your LinkedIn, so it’s important to keep it consistent across all channels.
Here are three of Joyce’s thoughts on the importance of LinkedIn & why it matters so much in the job search.
1. Your LinkedIn validates your resume information. Joyce points out that people are less likely to exaggerate in public, in front of LinkedIn connections, than they are in private on a resume sent to an employer. Job seekers in the past have been known to exaggerate on resumes to make themselves seem like a better candidate. Employers can now confirm basic information and more on LinkedIn. The lesson here? Be honest on your resume and on LinkedIn. It will only help you in your job search.
2. Demonstration of knowledge and expertise. Employers can view a candidate’s LinkedIn activity to see if they really do the things they say that they do. You can link to a blog, Twitter handle or personal portfolio as a way to display your work to recruiters. Also, according to Joyce, recruiters are known to monitor LinkedIn groups related to the fields they need most. That is just further reason to be active in industry groups.
3. Affirmation of “With-It-Ness.” If you have an up-to-date and completed LinkedIn profile, it shows employers that you understand how important networking (and your online presence) is in today’s world. There are so many tools on LinkedIn that can help you in your job search—the more you can show you can do, the better of a candidate you’ll be.
You can check out this blog post on a new LinkedIn feature that helps job seekers connect with companies and this post on LinkedIn apps you can use for serious networking.
Read Joyce’s full post here for more important job seeker advice.
