Applying for jobs can be pretty exhausting, wouldn’t you agree? Well, most of us would.
LinkedIn has become the best tool for modern job seekers.
There are over 800 million users of LinkedIn worldwide. They share some countless success stories of landing their dream jobs through the platform. It is a great place to find job postings and unbelievable opportunities. So, why won’t you give it a try?
After some research, we’ve found out that according to LinkedIn, there are 95 million job applications sent each minute, and in the same period, 6 people get hired via this platform.
In this article, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about how to apply for jobs on Linkedin. Let’s discuss crafting the perfect profile to master job search and leveraging your network in your job search.
Grab a cup of coffee and we are ready to go!
Step1: Creating a LinkedIn Profile That Stands Out
There isn’t any point in applying for jobs on LinkedIn if you don’t have a perfect profile. You’re shooting at nothing like that.
A well-written LinkedIn profile effectively shows your unique value proposition by emphasizing your successes, abilities, and goals.
Consider LinkedIn your online CV plus a personality and narrative component added.
If there’s even a single thing off with the info on your profile, hiring managers are going to ignore it. So, it is important to know how to apply for jobs on LinkedIn.
This is especially true if you’re going to use the easy-apply feature to apply for jobs on LinkedIn. This feature will simply send the employer your LinkedIn profile and nothing else.
This is why you have to fill out your LinkedIn profile with all the information that will be relevant to hiring managers. Trust us, we want you to succeed.
Now, it is time to start with creating the perfect profile and then move on to a few tweaks you can make to be more attractive to hiring managers from your desired industry.
Essential Components of a Strong LinkedIn Profile
Make sure you know everything about how to apply for jobs on LinkedIn.
Here is what your profile needs to have:
- Profile Picture – Add a professional-looking profile picture. Why? Well, for recognition, of course! For example, you met with Mitch O’Connell, a colleague from Dublin, and you decided to connect on LinkedIn. But what’s that? When you type in that name, hundreds of profiles come up, and only a few have a profile pic. This is why I recommend you add a most recent photo of yourself so people can recognize you.
- Stellar Headline – The headline on your profile is your bread and butter. It’s located just under your name. Whenever you share your profile, users will be able to see only your name, profile pic, and your headline. I recommend you write up a headline that’s creative, fun, and, most importantly, meaningful to your profession. Whatever you do, just don’t use generic phrases such as developer, accountant, QA specialist, etc.
- Job History – Add all current and past job positions to your profile. This will greatly help with networking since LinkedIn automatically suggests people from the companies you’ve worked at.
- Education – this tool allows this platform to connect you to your classmates, which might prove useful for networking. This is why you should fill this section of your profile as detailed as possible.
- Vanity URL – LinkedIn has this nifty feature that can assign a unique web address to your profile, and I recommend you use it since that will make your discoverability much better. If you want to set up a vanity URL, go to the Edit Profile screen, click on the Edit Link option, and type in your full name. This way, your LinkedIn profile URL will look like “http://www.linkedin.com/pub/firstname-lastname”.
- Summary-In the summary area of your profile, you should provide a quick overview of your professional experience to date as well as your future goals.
Picture this:
“John Doe is a creative marketing manager who has demonstrated success in boosting engagement and growth using cutting-edge digital tactics.
Having completed his marketing master’s program at ABC University and working in the field for more than ten years, he provides a lot of expertise in cross-channel marketing, customer acquisition, and brand building.
His proficiency, along with his potent leadership abilities and tactical outlook, renders him an invaluable resource in any marketing setting. Get in touch with John to discuss potential joint ventures and development prospects.”
Customizing Your Profile for Your Desired Industry
Now, if you want to get spotted by someone from a specific industry, there are a couple of tweaks you can make to make your LinkedIn profile more appealing:
- Read a couple of job postings and note the keywords and skills companies are looking for. Next, all you have to do is include them in your job history descriptions.
- Highlight all relevant experiences and milestones for the industry and use industry-specific terminology so it shows that you understand the field.
Step 2: Finding the Right Job on LinkedIn
With your profile all set up and ready, it’s time to start looking for a job. Thankfully, browsing through job postings on LinkedIn is as simple as pie:
- To start, click on the Jobs button at the top of your LinkedIn page.
- Next, click on the Job Alerts option in the sidebar
- You’ll be transferred to a new page, where you need to click on the Search For Jobs button
- Now you can start searching for jobs. Enter the desired location of the job and what type of job you’re looking for, and hit enter.
- Once you’ve found a job you like, just hit that Apply button and you’ll be taken to the employer’s website to continue the application process.
Utilizing Advanced Search Filters
You don’t have to manually browse through thousands of job postings – LinkedIn comes with quite a few job filters.
To open the filter menu just click on the All Filters button located at the top of the page.
A nifty side menu will appear with all the filters you could ever need!
You can mix and match filters to perfectly meet your criteria. I recommend you use as many of them as you can. The more you refine your search, the greater the chance you’ll find your dream job posting.
Of course, you can always use our service to find job seekers and reach out to them on a more personal level. Sign up today and take your LinkedIn experience to the next level.
Setting Up Job Alerts for Immediate Notifications
Once you’ve refined your job search, you can set up job alerts. This feature will send you job alerts directly to your notifications so you won’t miss any opportunities.
- To set up a job alert just click the Set Alert button at the top of job search results.
This will save that search and send you notifications whenever a new job listing pops up. You can also set up multiple job alerts if you’re looking for opportunities in a couple of locations.
The importance of networking and connections:
Making the most of your contacts and networking are essential tactics for finding undiscovered employment chances and developing your career. Many vacancies are never made public, despite the fact that conventional job search tools like corporate websites and online job boards are useful resources.
Never undervalue the importance of relationships; making an investment in your network now could pave the way for future professional successes.
Step 3: Understanding Job Listings – What to Look for Before You Apply?
If you send out resumes to every listing you see, you won’t get very far. You need to go over each job listing on LinkedIn and carefully analyze it. This will allow you to figure out whether the job (and the company) is right for you or not.
Deciphering Job Descriptions
You might think you understand what the job description entails, but I recommend you study the description more carefully. Are they using too much industry-related slang? Do you know what all the words they’re using mean?
Also, watch out for the overuse of cliches. If a job posting reads a bit too tacky, it’s not worth your while.
I advise you to review a few dozen job listings in the industry you’re interested in, paying attention to the language and topics that are used frequently. This will help you separate the wheat from the chaff. What do you have to lose with this, right?!
Researching Companies and Their Culture
Just because a job listing is exactly what you’re looking for, I recommend you research the company before applying.
It’s important to look far and wide when researching possible employers on LinkedIn, gathering information from several sources besides simply their LinkedIn accounts.
To learn more about the company’s goals, core principles, offerings, and most recent advancements, start by visiting its website. This might assist you in determining whether the company’s culture and your personal values and professional objectives are compatible.
Read through employee reviews on websites like Indeed or Glassdoor to gain firsthand knowledge of the company’s work culture and employee experiences. Integrating data from various sources with your discoveries regarding.
Well, if you’d like to work alone, or maybe you have social anxiety, you probably won’t fit well into a company that’s heavily oriented towards teamwork and cooperation.
Step 4: Creating a Customized LinkedIn Job Application
Unfortunately, you can’t just make a single resume and cover letter and think that your work is done there. You have more to do.
The best way of standing out is by tailoring your resume and cover letter to the company and job position you’re applying for.
Using generic cover letters and resumes can make it difficult for hiring managers to understand your qualifications and excitement for a particular position.
You may show that you are really interested in the job and highlight how your experiences and talents directly meet the demands of the business by tailoring your documents to the job requirements and corporate culture.
By personalizing your CV, you can highlight the skills, qualifications, and experiences that most closely match the job description and make it easier for hiring managers to see why you’d be a good fit.
Customization is essential in today’s competitive job market to make an impression and get interviews for the roles you want.
Personalizing Your Approach to Each Application
We’ve provided a guide on what you need to do to make your resume more appealing to a particular recruiter:
- Read the job description carefully – identify skills and requirements for the position and use them in your resume.
- Research the Company-Start by thoroughly researching the company you’re applying to. Understand their values, mission, and culture. Make your cover letter fit these requirements of the organization.
- Address it to the Right Person– Whenever possible, address your cover letter to a specific person, typically the hiring manager or recruiter. Avoid generic salutations like “To Whom It May Concern.” If you’re unsure of the hiring manager’s name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear [Department Name] Hiring Team.”
- Introduction: Make sure you start your cover letter with an attention-grabbing first paragraph. Mention the particular job for which you are applying as well as how you came to know about it. Briefly describe your reasons for being a good match for the position and express your excitement for the chance.
- Prioritize relevant information – Put the most crucial information first on your resume by organizing the content in that manner. In this manner, it will be simpler for the recruiter to determine whether or not you are the ideal candidate for the position.
- Highlight relevant past experience – focus on experience and accomplishments that directly relate to the position you’re applying for.
- Include relevant keywords – use keywords relevant to the job description since that can help get your resume past applicant tracking systems.
- Keep it short and sweet – you’re not writing an autobiography. Try to be as concise as possible. This will make your resume easy to read and skim over.
What Should You Do and Don’t of LinkedIn Cover Letters
Your resume is just a foot in the door. You also need to write up a cover letter that’ll show the recruiter you’re the right person for the job.
So, here are some do’s and don’ts when writing a LinkedIn cover letter:
Dos:
- Take the time to meticulously review your cover letter to identify and correct any spelling and grammar errors. A cover letter filled with mistakes can project an unprofessional image.
- Customize your cover letter to align with the specific job you’re seeking. You can easily demonstrate how your skills go to your profession perfectly.
- Try to show some personality in your cover letter. Provide the recruiter or hiring manager with a glimpse of who you are and convey your enthusiasm for the role.
Don’ts:
- Refrain from duplicating the content of your resume in your cover letter. Instead, use the cover letter to explore new aspects of your qualifications and offer additional context to enrich your application.
- Keep your cover letter concise; avoid excessive length. Don’t try to write everything at once it is very chill and simple.
- Craft a unique letter that reflects your individual experiences and aspirations, using language that is mostly understandable and without any cliches.
Step 5: Leveraging Your Network in Your Job Search
According to LinkedIn, around 80% of professionals consider networking critical to career success.
To effectively network on LinkedIn, begin by optimizing your profile to showcase your expertise and interests.
- Define your networking goals, whether it’s finding job opportunities, connecting with industry peers, or establishing thought leadership.
- Next, search for and join relevant groups within your industry or profession where you can engage in discussions and share insights.
- Actively participate in group conversations by offering valuable contributions, asking questions, and connecting with other members.
- Personalize connection requests and engage thoughtfully with your connections by sharing content, congratulating achievements, and offering assistance.
Remember to network with intention, being genuine and proactive in nurturing your relationships. By consistently engaging with your network and participating in relevant groups, you can expand your professional connections and unlock new opportunities on LinkedIn.
The Importance of Networking for Job Searches
Networking is unpredictable; your contacts might provide job leads or connect you with career-boosting opportunities and this will help you to apply for jobs on LinkedIn.
It’s vital for staying updated on industry trends. Networking with the right people yields insights from real-world professionals facing similar challenges.
How to Politely Ask for Referrals
When seeking a referral, tailor your approach based on your relationship. Opt for written requests, whether through SMS, LinkedIn, or email, depending on the formality of your connection.
Here are some tips:
- Provide Context: Help your referrer by explaining why you need the referral and attaching relevant documents, such as your resume or job listing.
- Be Specific: Clearly state why you’re asking for their referral, making it easier for them to understand and assist you.
- Give Them an Out: Acknowledge that a referral may not be possible or comfortable for them. Include a gracious statement like, “It’s okay if you can’t or don’t want to.”
Being clear and considerate enhances your chances of receiving a meaningful referral.
Summing Up: Taking the Next Steps
LinkedIn has made job-seeking as convenient as it can get. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to do any legwork. You still need to craft a perfect resume and cover letter.
And let’s not forget sifting through thousands of job postings.
Hopefully, this article helped you learn how to apply for jobs on LinkedIn. And if you want to increase your prospects, you can always check out our service, it will help you network with other professionals in your industry and find new opportunities.
