By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
EP 3053 In this deep dive, Ronnie and Bobby discuss effective ways to network on LinkedIn. This is a must listen to show for anyone struggling to connect with the right people on LinkedIn.
Seven Steps To Branding Yourself As An Expert
You know, here’s something that might make you think twice about your job search strategy a Huge number of opportunities, maybe even most they never get posted publicly. Mm-hmm. It’s all about who you know, isn’t it? Yeah, that hidden job market exactly and that’s where LinkedIn if you use it, right can be like your secret key Well, it’s interesting because people often see it as just like an online resume.
Hmm, but the real power It’s in connecting you with actual people unlocking that hidden market. You mentioned it’s this massive network. Really? Yes, and that’s what we’re really gonna dive deep into today.
Not just you know, having a profile but mastering Networking on LinkedIn effectively. We’re tailoring this for you someone who wants to get up to speed quickly thoroughly without feeling Well overwhelmed by it all right Our mission here is to give you really actionable steps things you can do to build genuine connections It doesn’t matter if you’re actively looking for a job right now or just exploring or even just wanting to broaden your horizons professionally and we’ve looked at quite a bit of material expert advice Articles, but also importantly what real people are experiencing what actually works on the ground? Yeah, we’ve tried to boil it down to the core strategies that really make a difference for you. Okay, great So let’s unpack this first things first your profile.
It’s your digital introduction, right? What absolutely needs to be there to make that good first impression think of it as your online ambassador working for you 24-7 It’s often the very first interaction Someone has with you professionally. So yeah, it needs to clearly show who you are and what value you bring. Okay, so the photo the headshot Professional yeah, but doesn’t need to be overly formal.
Not at all. Yeah friendly make sure it’s well-lit maybe a clean simple background That’s really cute And you don’t need like a pro photographer necessarily even tools like Canva can help you just tidy up the background on a photo You already have make it look polished and it matters profiles with photos get way more views It’s not just vanity. It builds trust makes you seem approachable.
People are just more likely to click to learn more make sense Okay, then the headline you mentioned this is important. Oh, it’s gold prime real estate Don’t just put your current job title, right exactly think keywords What do you do? What skills do you have that recruiters or potential connections might actually search for? So instead of just I don’t know project manager Maybe something like technical project manager agile and scrum certified delivering fintech solutions something like that precisely You’re optimizing your profile essentially making it searchable think like a recruiter. What terms would they use? We see data showing keyword rich headlines get contacted much more frequently Okay headline optimized now the work experience section.
It shouldn’t just be a copy paste from your resume You said right list your responsibilities sure But the real impact comes from focusing on your accomplishments. What did you achieve? What were the results? So less managed projects and more more like successfully delivered 10 key projects resulting in a 15% increase in efficiency or Managed budgets averaging $6 consistently coming in Y percent under numbers grab attention. They provide proof concrete results Yeah, and the about section the summary.
This is your narrative your chance to you know, add some personality connect the dots Briefly mention your core experience highlight key skills Technical skills are great here Maybe talk about your current focus what you’re passionate about if you’re open to opportunities You can subtly mention that too. It adds context beyond just the bullet points exactly It helps people understand your journey your aspirations a good summary often leads to more Meaningful connection requests. Okay, and one last quick thing here customize your LinkedIn URL that unique link Yes, especially if you have a common name, it looks cleaner makes it easier for people to find you directly just a small professional touch Right, so fundamental takeaway get that profile looking sharp before you start actively reaching out Absolutely foundation first.
Okay foundation is solid. Now. How do we actually build the network expand those connections effectively? Well, remember it’s not just about the number of connections.
It’s about building actual relationships Start with who you know Your warm network sync your phone contacts check out the people you may know feature You’ll likely find old colleagues classmates people you met ages ago. That makes sense start with the low-hanging fruit But what about reaching out cold to people you don’t know? That’s where it feels a bit Awkward sometimes it can but it’s crucial The key is a targeted approach Don’t just randomly connect Identify who you actually want to connect with is it recruiters in your specific industry hiring managers at companies you admire Maybe people doing interesting work. You want to learn from industry influencers and then the connection request itself that generic I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn message.
Yeah, just don’t use that It screams low effort. It often gets ignored. So personalization is absolutely critical hugely It shows you’ve taken you know Even just 30 seconds to look at their profile and have a genuine reason to connect the acceptance rate shoots way up Like three or four times higher based on what we see.
Okay. So what makes a good personalized note? Keep it brief Two or three cents is max mentioning a mutual connection is always strong. Hi name I saw we’re both connected with mutual connections name and thought it would be great to connect Instant bridge or referencing something specific Definitely hi name.
I really enjoyed your recent post about topic, especially your point on specific detail would love to connect Shows you’re paying attention or maybe interest in their company or role. Yep. Hi name I’m really interested in the work companies doing in field I’d appreciate the chance to connect and potentially learn from your experience their Simple direct shows genuine interest and always use that add a note button when you hit connect Don’t skip it always every single time for cold outreach, okay When should you not connect? Is there a line? Well avoid just blasting out hundreds of generic invites that looks like spamming and it can actually hurt your accounts reputation on the platform Be selective.
What about when you receive requests from strangers take a quick look at their profile any shared connections Relevant industry if it looks totally random or like a sales pitch You might ignore it that I don’t know this person button use it sparingly It’s really meant for actual spam or scams because clicking it can negatively affect the sender So unless it’s clearly dodgy, maybe just ignore it if it’s not relevant Okay, so you’re making connections your networks growing what next just let it sit there No, definitely not connecting is just step one. Now, you need to engage Nurture those connections Wow actively participate like posts from people in your network leave thoughtful comments Not just great post but something that adds to the conversation Share articles or post you find interesting and relevant to your network Yeah This keeps you visible shows you’re engaged and demonstrates your own interests and expertise and what about creating your own stuff? Posting your own updates or articles. Absolutely sharing your own insights.
Maybe experiences from your work industry observations It positions you as knowledgeable it doesn’t have to be you know, a massive thesis even a short post a relevant question a helpful tip Consistency is probably more important than length or frequency That sounds like a good way for maybe more introverted people to build visibility to it really is You can showcase your expertise without needing to be the loudest person in the virtual room. Good point What about LinkedIn groups? Are they still relevant? They can be yes Especially niche groups focused on your specific industry skills or interests It’s a way to connect with a really targeted audience join discussions ask specific questions and share your knowledge in a more focused community Find active well-moderated groups. Okay now something you mentioned earlier informational interviews.
Can we unpack that? What exactly are they? so an informational interview is basically just a chat an Informal conversation where you’re reaching out to someone to learn about their job their company their industry The key thing is you are not directly asking for a job in that meeting. You’re gathering information Seeking advice right information gathering not job soliciting. How do you actually get someone to agree to one? leverage your network first Looks your first degree connections or maybe second degree connections where you have a mutual contact Find people in roles or companies that interest you Then send a brief polite personalized message like what something along the lines of hi name I’m currently exploring career paths in field and I really admire the work you’ve done at company Would you perhaps be open to a brief 15-20 minute virtual coffee chat sometime in the coming weeks? I’d love to hear about your experience Keep it easy for them to say yes, and if they agree, what should you ask? You don’t want to waste their time prepare some questions in advance Ask about their typical day what they enjoy most about their role what the biggest challenges are ask about career progression in their field Maybe advice they have for someone like you trends They’re seeing and always ask is there anyone else you think it would be helpful for me to speak with good one Expand the network further exactly and remember to listen more than you talk It’s about learning from them and follow-up is crucial here.
I imagine absolutely essential send a thank-you note within 24 hours Personalize it mention something specific you learned or found valuable and if they gave you advice or suggested another contact act on it and Maybe even circle back later to let them know how it went that really strengthens the connection. Okay, that makes a lot of sense Let’s shift gears slightly to networking specifically when you are actively job searching. Are there different tactics? Yeah, you might adjust your focus a bit Think about two types Peer networking and reach networking peer networking is connecting with others at your level You can share leads insights support each other reach networking is targeting recruiters hiring managers People in positions to potentially hire you you need both and we mentioned this before but it bears repeating network before you desperately need something Oh, absolutely building relationships takes time If your first interaction with someone is asking for a job, it’s less likely to succeed than if you’ve already established some rapport Recruiters are maybe the exception as it’s their job, but generally nurture first How do you effectively find recruiters on LinkedIn? It seems like there are so many use the search function strategically search recruiter But add keywords for your industry like tech recruiter health care recruiter target companies Maybe location look for those mutual connections again An introduction is always warmer and use LinkedIn search shelters to narrow things down by company location, etc Okay, and if you see a specific job posted that looks perfect, is it okay to reach out directly? Yes, often it is alongside the formal application find the likely hiring manager or a relevant recruiter Send a concise message say I saw the posting for the job title role and I’ve just submitted my application My background to mention one two key relevant skills experiences seems like a strong match.
I’d welcome the chance to discuss further Keep it brief and targeted to the role and referrals. We hear companies love referrals. How does networking help there? It’s huge referrals often get priority review faster hiring better retention Sometimes by building genuine connections with people inside your target companies You might eventually be in a position where someone is happy to refer you when a suitable role opens up But again comes from relationship building not just asking strangers for referrals, right and a quick practical tip people are busy Don’t be afraid to follow up politely if you don’t hear back Definitely wait a reasonable amount of time maybe a week or so that’s in a gentle nudge Just wanted to gently follow up on my previous message Polite persistence is key.
Okay, great advice as we start to wrap up Let’s quickly touch on some LinkedIn etiquette the basic do’s and don’ts. Okay quickly maintain professionalism Keep your posts and comments generally work-related or industry focused avoid overly personal stuff or spam Personalized messages we’ve hit that hard Yes, show you did your homework mention how you found them or why you’re reaching out specifically Tagging people in posts be mindful only tag people if the post is directly relevant to them where you genuinely want their input Don’t just tag influencers for visibility. Okay, congratulating people on new jobs or promotions do it a Genuine personalized message means more than the default Congrats Handling negative comments if they appear on your posts professionally Don’t get defensive address valid points calmly or sometimes it’s best just to ignore or delete outright trolling endorsements and recommendations Endorsements are quick clicks for skills.
You can gently prompt close colleagues Recommendations are written testimonials much more powerful ask former managers or happy clients He had a good relationship with offer to reciprocate and again that I don’t know this person Does it judiciously? Great summary. So really bringing it all together effective LinkedIn networking isn’t about just racking up numbers It’s building that strong profile foundation connecting strategically and personally engaging consistently sharing value and just Being a good professional contact. It’s about genuine long-term relationships exactly and when you approach it like that using these strategies you really can tap into those hidden opportunities boost your visibility and build a network that truly supports your career growth and Importantly you can do it without feeling, you know awkward or like you’re forcing connections becomes more natural So here’s a final thought for you the listener.
What’s one small thing one actionable step you can take on LinkedIn Maybe even today could it be updating that headline with some better keywords? Sending just one personalized connection request to someone at a company you admire Engaging thoughtfully on one post how might that small single action start building momentum towards your bigger professional goals? We covered a lot of ground in this deep dive. Hopefully it’s giving you some clear ideas There’s always more to learn of course But we really encourage you to get in there try some of these things out and see the possibilities for yourself What other questions does this bring up for you about using LinkedIn effectively keep exploring?
Job Hunting and The 10,000 Rule.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ careers easier. Those things can involve job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
The Final Interview With The Company President
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Seven Steps To Branding Yourself As An Expert
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