10 tips for making LinkedIn useful, even if you already have a job

Many people think LinkedIn is the most boring social network. But that's because we don't make the most of its potential. Using the right approach, it can help you learn more about the area you choose, help you build new connections in your industry, and even find better jobs. Here are 10 tips for getting LinkedIn to work for you – no advanced upgrades are required.

1. Customize your information flow

LinkedIn uses a Facebook-like news flow that will be displayed every time you log in to your account. If your stream looks like noise, it's because you haven't adjusted it to show the most relevant content.

For a more personalized experience, visit the LinkedIn website and click in the upper right corner to view all recommendations . The network will provide a list of individuals and topics for suggestions. Click to follow next to the person or topic you are interested in, and these posts will appear in your stream. (Remember, for individuals, it's not the same as actually making connections with them).

Instead, you need to delete posts that are not related to your interests. If you have boring or annoying updates in your stream, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the post and select Unfollow . If this is a post from a contact, you will stay in touch, but you don't have to scroll through anything they share.

2. Keep yourself online

If you want to increase your chances of making meaningful connections, you need to let others know when you are online. LinkedIn allows you to do this with the platform's built-in messaging system. This doesn’t actually change who can message you, but it will improve your visibility – which can make a difference between making important connections and missing opportunities. However, this option is not suitable for everyone, especially those who do not want to receive unsolicited chat requests.

Find the toolbar on the website and click Me > Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Manage Activity Status . Finally, select for your contacts only or all LinkedIn members. Now, whenever you log into the website or are active on the mobile app, you will appear as chatable.

3. Start the conversation

As the well-known saying goes, the reward you get from LinkedIn depends on how much you put in. In other words, while it is useful to lurk silently, if you start contributing posts and links to your stream, your visibility will increase.

First of all, think about what you can contribute with your post: a link to your recent work, a short commentary article about the status quo of your industry, or a gallery of ongoing projects. The right content can simultaneously play a role in self-promotion and encourage people inside and outside the company to connect with you.

To actually post your post, click the Share article, photo, video, or idea box at the top of the news flow. However, before confirming, make sure your updates are relevant to your field, double check for errors, and ask if they will attract people who follow you.

4. Get search reminder

LinkedIn search features are more powerful than the sparse-looking box at the top of the website. For example, it allows you to save your search so that you can receive an email alert when a new match appears.

First, click on the search box of the web interface and type relevant keywords related to your career field. On the results page, filter your options. To find potential contacts, select the

People option, and then click the to create a search reminder link on the right; to find a job, please click the job option, and then go to the bottom Switch the work reminder switch to on a screen. Your personal search will automatically send you new matches every week, while your job search can send you a new job email daily or weekly.

Follow companies and individuals
You might think LinkedIn is a place for profiles and job listings, but don't ignore the practicality of your company pages: These pages can provide a lot of things about improving your career, looking at competitors, and learning more about the industry you choose information.

Search companies from the main search box using keywords related to your area of ​​expertise. Or, when you find the company name in a user profile, for example, just click on the company name. Businesses will usually post their own updates – To see these updates in your stream, click the

Follow

button on any company page. The Company page can also display relevant companies, current employees, and available positions, all of which are very useful if you are currently looking for a new job.

Export your contacts
Even if you start using LinkedIn more deliberately, the person you are trying to contact may not reply to in-site messages. Or you may find it more comfortable to use traditional email methods. Either way, you can export data about your LinkedIn contacts, allowing you to use it with other programs and services.

In the LinkedIn web interface, click

Me > Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Download your data > Select and select

, and then check the Contact box. Finally, click to request archive . In a few minutes, you will receive an email stating that your download is ready. Open it and you will see a CSV (comma-separated value) file with your name, email address, and other information. You can now insert this file into any email or contact application you like. For example, for Google Contacts, you can visit the website and click

More > Import & CSV or vCard file

.

7. Specify that you are willing to accept the opportunity

If you are actively looking for a new job, LinkedIn can bring your profile to the attention of recruiters who find candidates using paid online recruiting tools. This means you will get more clues from potential new employers. But while LinkedIn says it will “take steps” not show your current company that you are looking for a job, it “can’t guarantee” full privacy. So, think carefully before enabling this signal.

If you think the risk is worth taking, please visit the LinkedIn website and click Me > Settings and Privacy > Privacy. You will see a section marked Job Preferences with a toggle switch that lets recruiters know you are willing to accept the opportunity. Change the switch to Yes . When you are in this menu, you can also click

to update career interests

to filter the type of job you are looking for. This allows you to set your current employment status, the positions you are interested in, the time you want to start working, and the size of the company you want to work in. All this information is very useful for recruiters and this should lead them to send you more relevant messages. For more details, check out this LinkedIn Help page.

Customize your reminder
Your LinkedIn account can provide you with important career information…or distract you with meaningless updates. To get to know important news without keeping the network in an open browser tab throughout the day, you need to adjust the type of reminder you receive.

Like Facebook and Snapchat, LinkedIn allows you to control your notifications—the site can directly send important reminders to your email inbox even if you are not logged in for several days. To find relevant settings, go to

Me > Settings and Privacy > Communication > Email Frequency

. Then check the option that is most relevant to you. For example, you can choose to receive or avoid emails about invitations, direct messages, job opportunities, web updates, contacts joining LinkedIn, recommendations, comments on your page, highlights in your stream, and more.

Complete your profile
When you initially created a LinkedIn account, you may have rushed to complete the setup of your profile. But this is the first time a recruiter knows who you are, so it’s worth it to take some time to improve its quality now.

This may take some time, so we recommend that you edit your profile through the web portal. Click

Me > View profile

to start making changes. In addition to selecting the right profile picture and updating your resume information, be sure to write a concise summary paragraph with a compelling "title" (a small introduction displayed in the search). You can also tweak your profile a little to reflect your work: add some links, photos, and videos to showcase your skills.

If you plan to add a link to your LinkedIn page on your business card, email signature, or even your resume, you need to make it look good. So, give your profile a short and concise URL that contains your full name and even your company name. To customize the network address of your profile, go to Me > View Profile > Edit public profile and URL .

10. Utilize the power of the group

On LinkedIn, joining a group is a useful way to learn about a specific area and find influencers in that area. Once you join a related group, you can view a summary of the most popular content posted by members or learn more about individual updates. In the process, you can connect with like-minded people, get professional advice and find new roles.

Go to the homepage of the LinkedIn website and click Work > Group . You can create a new group from scratch or join an existing group. Find recommendations based on your profile in the Discover pane. You can also search for related groups from the main search box - after typing the keyword, just press Group to filter. To access the group you selected, click to apply to join .

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