Why should I utilize LinkedIn is a question I’ve recently received from a few folks. Is a LinkedIn profile essential, etc? I’ll list the top 5 reasons you should use LinkedIn, even if you’re not looking for a new job. Here are some reasons to join LinkedIn and why it’s important:
5 reasons you should use LinkedIn
1. Hiring Managers look at your LinkedIn (even if you applied via another method)
Yes, hiring managers search for you on LinkedIn even if you submitted your application through the corporate website or a job board. And if you have no profile or a sparse profile with no photo and not much info, it will make them less likely to interview you. When applying for jobs, networking, etc., you should at the very least have the following areas completed:
- A distinct LinkedIn subject line
- A picture that appears expert
- Employment history
- Skills (I recommend filling out all 50 skill slots because they serve as keywords to help you get found)
You might say, “I’m not looking for a job, therefore I still don’t see the point in joining LinkedIn.” Well, LinkedIn is usually used by organizations to find new talent. By not enrolling, you forfeit the opportunity to establish new relationships and perhaps even receive job offers. That gets me to my next reason for encouraging you to sign up for LinkedIn and create a profile.
2. The best companies recruit on LinkedIn
What features do these businesses share? Disney, Apple, and Google. They are three of the most sought-after employers, and they all hire via LinkedIn!
Thousands of other employers also use LinkedIn to hire candidates. Therefore, if you aren’t on LinkedIn, you’re losing out on the chance to learn about new things and maybe progress your career, even if you aren’t actively looking for work. There are many advantages to searching for new employment while holding a current position, and I really advise doing so.
This is a quick way to develop in your job and earn more money. You’ll lack confidence and find it difficult to get paid what you’re worth if you wait until you’re in need or unemployed before starting your job search. People who are employed right now are typically more attractive to employers. Although unfair, it is the case.
Wouldn’t you accept a new job, even if you weren’t looking for one if it paid thousands of dollars more and offered a more fulfilling position? If yes, you ought to be a member of LinkedIn.
3. LinkedIn is an easy way to keep in touch with your network
The best and quickest approach to obtaining a job right now is through networking (I explain why here), but you need to keep your connections and develop relationships. If someone hasn’t heard from you in three years, they won’t assist you in your next job search.
And LinkedIn is undoubtedly the area where you can structure your network the simplest. You have the option of sending direct messages, recommending colleagues, or soliciting recommendations for your own profile. Asking a coworker to be added on LinkedIn is relatively simple if you or they quit a job. Therefore, it’s a safe approach to keep in touch with everyone you’ve worked with or met.
In actuality, LinkedIn is the ideal platform for maintaining contact with past coworkers. LinkedIn enables you to keep track of each person’s contact information and the most recent interaction you had with them (phone numbers, email addresses, etc). Compared to jotting down people’s phone numbers and hoping they don’t change them, etc., this is far more practical. After a few years, the method of finding your coworkers is not particularly effective. Even email addresses occasionally change, but the majority of individuals maintain their LinkedIn profiles forever.
4. LinkedIn is an amazing research & information tool
Although it’s wonderful for both, LinkedIn is more than just a networking or job-hunting website.
It’s a fantastic technique to get data as well. You have a choice of which businesses, sectors, and people to follow (like Bill Gates, Arianna Huffington, etc.)
On LinkedIn, a lot of intelligent and successful people publish articles that you can follow, comment on, and interact with. You’ll be more knowledgeable about current events in your field, which can impress your present manager if you wish to ask for a promotion or any potential employers you speak with if you decide to look for a job.
Therefore, LinkedIn is a means to get all of your information in one place as well as a way to keep all of your contacts in one location. Hopefully, this has persuaded you to create a LinkedIn account. If not, here’s another justification:
5. You’ll never see what you’re missing if you don’t have a LinkedIn
If you don’t have a LinkedIn account yet, it’s most likely because you’re unaware of all the benefits.
What I mean is this:
You will never receive an email from a potential employer saying, “We received your application but opted not to interview you because we couldn’t find you on LinkedIn.”
Simply put, they don’t reply.
No one informs you when a former coworker looks for you but can’t find you. Maybe they wanted to tell you about the fantastic prospects their organization had. It’s possible that they wanted to ask you to serve as a reference for them before offering to be a fantastic reference for you in the future.
One more example
Perhaps a recruiter looked for your EXACT skill set on LinkedIn yesterday for a job that pays $20,000 more than you currently make, but you weren’t there.
These are things that you will never be aware of. The only remedy is to invest some time in making a LinkedIn profile. There is no valid reason not to have a career if you are passionate about it.
You are now aware of the main benefits of using LinkedIn. I’d suggest reading my top 5 LinkedIn profile tips here to get started creating a terrific profile.
And this essay includes each section you ought to include on LinkedIn. You may use the stellar LinkedIn profile you create with the help of those two articles for networking, job searching, staying up to date on industry news, and more.
