In this video, I am going to show you how to use LinkedIn to find a
job, more specifically, five ways that you can use LinkedIn to show recruiters, or to
signal to recruiters that you are very, very, very, very interested in their company.
Other videos only talk to you about how to update your career preferences.
This talks about that, but it also talks about a lot more too.
So, don't forget to stick around until the very end, because you know how I love to share
my Black Career Success bonus tip.
So, be sure to check us out towards the end of the video.
Hi.
Jennifer Tardy here, your career success coach, and welcome back for another video, another
episode, where I'm sharing with you five ways to signal to a recruiter that you are very
interested, and if you follow these tips, it will get you three times more profile views,
recruiters reaching out to you, because they will know that you want a job.
Okay, so you ready to get started?
Let's go.
Step number one, use LinkedIn to apply to their company.
I know, I know.
That is a no-brainer, but we have to do the foundational piece first.
Applying to their company is the first signal of interest, and remember that LinkedIn, depending
on how the employer sets it up, the employer may allow you to either apply directly to
a recruiter's email address, or applying with your LinkedIn profile, or they will send you
right over to their career page, where you have to apply there.
But wait, wait, wait.
Here's a side note.
I know that I said apply, but also apply early.
As soon as a job comes open, apply to that job.
I always recommend to my clients to make sure that you're applying within the first two
weeks, but preferably, if you can apply to that within the first five days of a job being
open, the better.
Here's why.
When recruiters find really good candidates, a good recruiter is not going to wait for
two and three weeks for everyone to apply before sending over applications to the hiring
manager.
A recruiter's going to look as they're coming in, as applications and resumes are coming
in, and as soon as they see it, they're going to send it over.
So if they've already found five great people, and you're just now applying, odds are they're
going to move those five people through the process first before getting back to you.
So, that's why I say to set up job alerts, and I actually said that in another video.
I didn't say it in this video.
But, in this video, specifically for you, go look in the comment section and I'm going
to have a link in there so that you know how to set up your own job alerts.
Another way to signal that you are very, very, very interested is to connect to the recruiter
that works at that organization.
But before you connect to that recruiter, make sure that your LinkedIn profile is polished,
and exquisite, and is up to date.
And if you need some help with making sure that your LinkedIn profile is competitive,
check out our other video, and the other video is LinkedIn Profile Tips, to really help you
stand out, and I offer five tips plus a bonus tip for you as well, too.
Yeah, so make sure that your profile looks good before you connect to a recruiter, but
as soon as you get that done, connect to them, and they're going to check out your profile.
If you can't find a specific recruiter, that you know is working on that open position,
then connect to a recruiting manager, because odds are you'll have more of the chances that
one of the recruiters reports to that recruiting manager.
Tip number three.
Number three is a really important one.
It's the career preferences section of your profile.
Make sure that it's up to date.
Now, what most videos have probably told you is to make sure that you check that box that
says you are open to recruiters contacting you, or that you're on the market, but LinkedIn
has now expanded that section to ask more questions that give more insight to recruiters
on exactly where you are in your job search and what you're open to.
So, if you go to your career preferences section, you can update things like your preferred
job title, the geographic region where you're looking for a job.
You can even let recruiters know how far ... Are you truly interested, meaning are you an active
job seeker, are you a passive job seeker?
You can let recruiters know things like that as well, too, and there's even a little open
section where you can just type anything else you want a recruiter to know, or any other
information or insight that you specifically just want to share with recruiters.
So, that is in the section of your profile where you edit your profile.
So, I'll put a link to a video below, so that you can see specifically where you can go
to update your career preferences section.
Hey, guys.
A question for you.
What is your biggest fear or concern when it comes to updating your career preferences
section?
Do you have any?
If you do, I'm curious to know what it is.
Leave it in the comments section and let's start a conversation about it.
Step number four, introduce yourself to the recruiter, and a hiring manager.
I've mentioned this in a different video, and I'll put the link to that video on here
as well, but introduce yourself, and this is what a lot of people don't do, which is
why it's going to truly help you to stand out.
So, once you've connected to them, and once they've accepted that connection, send an
introductory message, letting them know who you are, that you've applied to this position,
and that you are interested in talking to them a little bit further.
If they're not the right person, can they connect you to the right person.
It's as simple as that, and see what they have to say in return.
Step number five.
So you've connected to the recruiter, you've sent an introductory message to the recruiter.
Now, you want to see if you can bump into said recruiter in one of the LinkedIn groups,
because recruiters have to be resourceful when finding you.
What better way for them to find you than for you to casually bump into them, because
you guys belong to the same group?
There's nothing wrong with that.
So, look through different LinkedIn groups that fit your target market for the department
that you work in, the experience that you have, and in addition to that, hop on there
and be engaged in that group.
So, I'm not saying to you to reach out to that recruiter through that group.
I'm saying to engage yourself in that group, and perhaps the recruiter's going to see some
great engagement from you there.
They'll see some good posts.
They'll see some good articles that you're sharing.
So you're showing your expertise in different areas.
Now, if you want to take it a little bit further, even outside of LinkedIn, there are ... Through
CareerBuilder, there are also talent networks.
Talent networks are excellent to be able to use, so if you go to CareerBuilder, for example,
you find that organization, and if that organization also has a talent network, you can fill out
a few added details and you can get added into their talent network.
CareerBuilder's talent network is a smaller pool of job seekers who are saying, "I'm really
interested in going into your specific database, outside of your company's applicant tracking
system," and recruiters will have another place to find you there.
Now we're back for my favorite part of things.
It's the Black Career Success bonus tip.
So, the Black Career Success bonus tip for this episode is to always look, and join,
and engage in diversity-focused LinkedIn groups.
What better way for you to stand out than to go to a group that targets something?
Like, if you're in digital advertising, maybe there's a group that is for black women in
digital advertising.
You should check for something like that, because if there's a group out there for that,
I can guarantee that if a recruiter is looking for black women, a smart recruiter will find,
and join, and engage in that group, and if you're already there, and you're already engaging,
you are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest.
So, there's that Black Career Success tip of the day.
So now that you know how to use LinkedIn for your job search strategies, use our free Black
Career Success guide, which is called 21 Pieces of Career Advice for Black Job Seekers.
Use it, download it, because as you move through the rest of your job search, these are some
great tips that are going to help you to be competitive.
You can find the link below.
Click on the link, download the PDF.
It is for you, and it's for free.
Recruiters are waiting for you on LinkedIn.
They are always waiting for you on LinkedIn.
You just have to let them know that you're out there.
So I hope that this video has helped you to find different ways of saying, "Hey, I'm here,
I'm an active job seeker, and I'm ready for you."
So, what most excites you about using LinkedIn for your job search?
You know, I'm excited, but I want to hear from you.
Leave us a comment and let us know what really excites you about this.
Now listen, if you need more job search strategies in addition to using LinkedIn, go to my other
video.
I have my top seven job search strategies to get you on the move for your overall job
search.
So check out that video.
The link will be below for you, and I wish you the best in your job search.
Until next time, this is Jennifer Tardy.
I am your career success coach.
You're watching the Black Career Success channel, and I'll see you back again soon for a new
video.
Take care.
Bye.