The Rules Have Changed !
Indeed, the rules have changed for landing a job or moving up in your career. No, they are not changing; they have changed. Job seekers can no longer rely on traditional methods of landing jobs by depending on recruiters and employment agencies, the classified ads, referrals, and job postings; not even their closest contacts! LinkedIn is replacing the antediluvian job search methods like email replaced US Mail; like cell phones replaced payphones.
LinkedIn is a site used primarily for “professional networking.” LinkedIn had more than 68 million registered users from 180 industries in over 225 countries. This Blog is not intended to teach you how to use LinkedIn; as there are much stronger authorities on this subject than I. The purpose of this article is to challenge you to realize the magnitude of this networking technology, how it is changing the very landscape of the job search process, and the severe consequences to your future should you decide to ignore or underestimate the importance of LinkedIn. Whether you are an entry level job candidate or, especially if you are a job candidate seeking a position of $75,000 and up, pay attention !
Facebook is a social networking medium. Twitter is important but has a short ‘shelf life’ and integrates professional, personal, and social interface. Today, if you are serious about landing a job in this highly competitive, high unemployment job market, the only social media site that matters is LinkedIn.
OK, the big job search engines can connect you with thousands of job openings in any city, state, or country. But thousands (probably tens of thousands) of job seekers have access to those same job openings. To get noticed and to give yourself the best opportunity to secure interviews and land jobs, you need leverage – an advantage. And the leverage you need and the advantage you must give yourself is the power of ‘personal referrals. And that is what LinkedIn is – a site that allows for virtually ‘endless’ personal referrals.
Three Degrees of Separation
Remember the theory of six degrees of separation? This refers to the idea that everyone is, at most, six steps away from reaching any other person anywhere on the planet. This means that if you want to speak to the Pope, Oprah Winfrey, or anyone you feel you need to meet to land the job of your dreams, you just need to speak to a friend, who knows another friend, who knows someone else, who has a connection, who has a contact, who knows a person who can make the introduction for you. That’s the idea behind the six degrees of separation; there’s just six people who stand between where you are now and who you want to meet to get to where you want to go tomorrow.
Let’s look at LinkedIn and Just 2 or 3 Degrees of Separation
Suppose I have 178 trusted friends and colleagues in my network on LinkedIn. If I am only two degrees separated, my potential network of contacts is 34,300+ people. If I am three degrees separated, I have a potential network of 2,300,000+ people in my network!
If I increased my network to 553 (and most successful LinkedIn users have 500+ connections), and am only two degrees separated, my potential network increases to 143,500+ people. If I am three degrees separated, I now have a potential working network of 6 million-plus people ! These are not just numbers and statistics. For those who master how to use these contacts, the statistics and numbers are simply staggering!
BTW: By using LinkedIn, I got on Good Morning America, in PARADE Magazine, and have had my newest McGraw-Hill book, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times, reviewed by nationally renowned book reviewers… all accomplished in less than three months time !
You Are Exposed Anyway
Your LinkedIn profile is, without question, your résumé that every potential employer will see. And here’s the kicker. In most cases employers will see your résumé (some sort of online profile) even if you are not LinkedIn. Just Google yourself or anyone you know and chances are you / they will show up on Google, in Facebook, or somewhere online. The point is, that even if you don’t use LinkedIn, the people looking to hire you will find you online somehow – so best YOU CONTROL what they find. And here’s a lesson in Logic 101: If they can’t find you, you have virtually no chance of being found.
Résumés Lead Them to the Promise Land: LinkedIn
No, résumés are NOT obsolete – yet. But they are changing in function. Today, effective résumés dangle a ‘what-I-can-do-for-you’ carrot and a ‘why-I-am-the-best-candidate’ message to engage prospective employers to go to LinkIn and learn more about you.
Résumés are the ‘new’ cover letters and LinkedIn is the ‘new’ resume!
O
h, I know what you’re thinking – this isn’t legal. People put their pictures on LinkedIn; this is unfair. People have their personal information including age and marital status – that’s discrimination; this is unethical. My competition has 20 or 30 recommendations that are selling them to prospective employers; look at all the ‘groups’ my competition have on their LinkedIn page. Well, get over it and get LinkedIn. Just about everything concerning the hiring process and job search campaign has changed. You must adapt if you want a new job.
Givers Get Jobs !
Finally, employers can see which job candidates give more than they take by the “Recommendation” feature of LinkedIn. If I want to acknowledge someone for their particular contributions, I can write a recommendation for that person and put it on their LinkedIn page (with their permission). Employers love to see people who give deserving praise and credit to others.
LinkIn with Jay @: www.linkedin.com/in/jayblock