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how to use LinkedIn to my advantage?
I've been searching for jobs since November and because many sources have told me to get on LinkedIn to network I made an account and it's finally complete.
I've posted here before, I'm trying to transition to industry from years of academic research and you guys were very helpful with your tips in my other thread. So my attempt to have linkedin is to network as this seems to be THE way for me to get my foot in the door, basically "knowing" someone internally.
My question is, now that I have this linkedin and a few connections, how do I go about connecting with others? Do I just find people that work at companies that I am interested and "add" them? I feel weird about this as you have to pick if you know them in order to add them and if you don't know them, you need their email address.
I've tried connecting with 3-4 people that I don't personally know but they're people that I've been referred to by my friends. You know, friends going, "maybe check out so and so" and I do and tell them who referred me to them, they add me but then don't respond to any of my questions or acknowledge my attempt to get to know them. I am not direct nor do I ask "do you have a job for me?" I just want to network. So I definitely don't come across as I am asking them for a job, I just want to do the "informational interview" that I am told I need to do. So I feel like am I pushing this? Do these people get bothered getting stuff from a random person asking them questions? I don?t know?I feel like it?s really hard to network when you don?t know people in the field and when people just ignore me I feel even worse. Sometimes, I ask them if it?s okay if I ask a few questions, they add me to their network, then say ?yes ask any questions? then never respond when I do ask questions.
Anyway, sorry this got so long. Any advice you have for me will be really appreciated!
thank you so much!!
Re: how to use LinkedIn to my advantage?
Do you mean go to job fairs to meet them? Because I went to two, one in september and one in december and they were mostly for sales and insurance related jobs, nothing related to biotech/pharmaceutical.
Do you think I should just stop by and talk to them? The two places I visited have a front desk security and they both said unless I have a meeting with a specific person they don't just talk to people stopping by and don't take resumes, you have to apply online (which I do and I feel like it just goes into a stack of resumes). So I don't know what else i could do that I am not doing...
Start by connecting with people you know now. Friends, colleagues, etc. You never know who will be in THEIR network that they can introduce you to. Don't send out requests to people that you don't know personally or haven't connected with. If I recall correctly, if too many people reject your requests because they don't know you, you could get kicked off LinkedIn as a spammer.
It takes time to build a network, start with who you know, and as you meet people, send them a request to connect.
You should also build your profile by asking people you've worked with for recommendations. Someone with several good recommendations will look better to an employer.
Join groups that are in the career field that you want to go into, so you can keep on top of the topics that are in hot discussion.
If there are companies that you want to work for, they'll usually have a company page. Search for the companies on LinkedIn, and you'll have the option to follow those companies. Often you'll be able to see people that are coming and going in the company - as well as any jobs they may post up there. If you see any departures or jobs that you're interested in, see if you can find the HR person and send your resume through.
That should give you a good start. Keep up with it and cultivate it and you should get where you want to go!
thank you ruby!
I have started by people I know but unfortunately they're all in academia and I had no idea that the gap between academia and industry is a whole continent! So even though I'm building up my networking, I feel like it's mostly concentrated in academia and I want to move away from academia to industry...so knowing people in industry is what would actually help me...I know patience is a virtue....
A ton of my friends are on LinkedIn-connect to friends as well. Although they have never gotten me jobs directly, they do expand my network as I discover friends of friends that work in the same company.
Connect to groups (such as alumni groups, industry groups etc) and follow companies you're interested in. Often they will post jobs or career fairs.
Definitely second the recommendations-get them now before your professors forget who you are! I wish I had this tool when I graduated college!
I agree on steering clear of people you don't know directly or aren't introduced by a mutual party. LinkedIn has a habit of turning powerful people away because they view it as a tool for the jobless to seek employment. I try to avoid using it in this manner, and instead focus on publishing the expanse and value of my network. (I have a lot of professional experience, so this could actually work in my favor). GL!
I graduated 7 years ago.
But I'm totally on my brother's case on this! get your recommendations now that you're still in college and they remember you....