7 Easy But Powerful Job Search Tactics On LinkedIn in 2024
Hi - Hope you're doing well in your job hunt.
We've been working with applicants on job portals like LinkedIn, and it's clear that there's a lot of tiny tactics unexplored by a lot of us, within those portals.
Obviously, having a good resume/cover letter etc is step 1. (Make sure your resume is vetted by eyes other than your own! reddit.com/r/resumes is your friend here)
Here are 5 easy steps you can take on job portals:
1. Faster/Easier applications via alerts
What to do:
- Sort job listings by 'New' instead of 'Recommended/Relevant'
- Set up job alerts on LinkedIn using a combination of common and unusual keywords related to your desired position
Why/How it will help:
- Ensures you are among the first to apply for new job postings on LinkedIn
- Helps you find unique job opportunities on LinkedIn that others might miss
2. Attract the Recruiters
What to do:
- Interact with content in your professional domain by liking, sharing, and providing thoughtful comments on posts by Founders, Influencers, and fellow domain members on LinkedIn.
- Share any article, and add a few lines on what you found interesting. You're aiming for discussion or at the very least some thinking about topics you're fascinated by.
- You also get notified by LinkedIn to contribute to some posts/questions. Seize those opportunities. Make sure you elevate the discussion and not just outsource that thinking to chatGPT etc like tools.
Why/How it will help:
- Basically helps positioning you as a person of authority on LinkedIn, someone deeply interested in that domain.
- Increasing your visibility on Google, as LinkedIn posts are indexed
- Reaching 2nd and 3rd level connections and getting to more audiences on LinkedIn. Which can lead to opportunities coming to you.
3. Utilize free trials
What to do:
- Take advantage of free trials for premium features, such as LinkedIn Premium's 1-month free trial
- Set up a reminder to cancel the trial before it ends
Why/How it will help:
- Increases the likelihood of a stranger or mutual connection responding and providing a referral on LinkedIn. (tbh - Referrals make a huge difference)
- Easier to directly send the cover letter to the team, explaining why you're a great fit for an open role.
4. Video resumes - not just for sales/marketers
What to do:
- Create a video resume that showcases your personality and demonstrates the effort you put into standing out.
- Useful guide here
Why/How it will help:
- Helps recruiters better understand your personality compared to a traditional resume
- Impresses hiring managers with the extra effort you put in
5. Active account
What to do:
- Stay active on job platforms by updating your profile every 3 days with more keywords
- Edit your Indeed, ZipRecruiter etc profiles at least once a day, even if it's just adding a space or changing a spelling
Why/How it will help:
- Increases your visibility in recruiter searches, as most recently active users' pages appear first
- Signals to recruiters that you are actively looking for a job
6. Find more jobs within your connections
What to do:
- Use a customized LinkedIn search URL to find people in your network (or your connections' networks) who are hiring for roles you're interested in
- Edit the keywords in the URL to match the specific job titles you're targeting, such as 'product manager', 'software engineer', or 'UX designer'
- Example URL: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/?keywords=%22hiring+product+manager%22+OR+%22hiring+product+managers%22
Why it's beneficial:
- Allows you to directly identify and connect with decision-makers who are actively seeking candidates for roles that match your skills and experience
- Increases your chances of getting your application noticed and considered by the right people
- Helps you tap into the hidden job market and uncover opportunities that may not be publicly advertised
7. Showcase your work with LinkedIn's featured section
What to do:
- Utilize LinkedIn's 'Featured' section to highlight your best work, such as articles you'e written, projects you've completed, or presentations you've given
- Regularly update this section to keep your profile fresh and demonstrate your ongoing professional growth
Why it's beneficial:
- Provides concrete examples of your skills and accomplishments, making your profile more compelling to recruiters and potential employers
- Demonstrates your proactive approach to self-improvement and staying current in your field
The idea isn't to become an 'influencer' but an active participant. Good luck! It's a marathon, not a sprint. Stick to your plans and grab your dream job!