When it comes to using LinkedIn to assist with the job hunt, there are definitely effective and ineffective ways to use the platform. But when considering all the ineffective LinkedIn job search strategies out there, one specific strategy asserts itself as the most time-wasting, overused, and ineffective.
(And it's completely thwarting your chances at a job.)
So in this post, I'm writing about that overused and ineffective Linkedin job search strategy – and sharing what you can do instead that'll help you be more successful.
So, what is the most ineffective LinkedIn job search strategy?
I'll get right to the point. The absolute worst, most overused, and ineffective LinkedIn job search strategy is one in which you randomly message strangers in your target company and ask them to help you land an interview. While not horrible in theory (after all, it's who you know, not what you know, that lands jobs, right?), I guarantee that this strategy will not get you very far.
related post: Some Food For Thought: Who You Know May Not Matter
For context, outside of blogging, I work for an industry-leading tech company. And as such, I receive a lot of LinkedIn inMails from strangers asking me to help them get jobs. Statistically, this approach works 0 out of 10 times.
The reason why is simple.
In short: Let's say a complete stranger asks me to vouch for them – and out of the kindness of my heart, I say yes. When the hiring manager or recruiter then reaches out to me for the requested referral or recommendation or whatever, what in the world am I supposed to say?
You can't recommend someone you don't know, after all.
Put simply, this is why the many, many, many requests I receive from strangers asking for job referrals go right into the "Archive" folder. No second thoughts.
Here's a more effective LinkedIn strategy to try instead.
Fortunately, there's a much better way to go about using LinkedIn to network your way into an interview. So if you're guilty of firing off random messages to current employees, I want you to stop that right now. Never do that again.
Instead, try this.
First, rather than randomly messaging current employees, you're much better off reaching out to someone within the company you've got some kind of professional connection with.
And this connection you have doesn't have to be a person. Maybe you find someone that you share some job history with. (For example: you both worked for the same company in the past). Or maybe you find someone who went to the same college as you. (Even better, – maybe you find someone who went through the same program as you did. This kind of connection always snags my attention.)
Once you find that connection – whatever it may be – your way forward is simple. Use it. Name drop it. Wave it in their face. Hold it up on a big sign (like dudewithsign).
Exploit the hell out of it in your message to them.
But wait – don't get all message-happy just yet. There's a little bit more to it than that.
Because in this message you send, you aren't going to ask for a reference. Instead, you're going to ask for one of their internal contacts. A hiring manager, a recruiter for the position, someone who actually has decision-making power in the job hiring process.
This person will be your in – not the random person you found on LinkedIn necessarily.
And although I could never guarantee you with 100% accuracy that any advice I give will be 100% successful 100% of the time, I know this strategy works – because this is exactly how I landed my current job. (And it's how several colleagues of mine landed their jobs, as well.)
Now get out there & crush the LinkedIn job search.
LinkedIn is great because it can open a lot of career doors – you've just got to be smart with your approach! And by staying away from those ineffective LinkedIn job search strategies, you can land your next great gig easier than ever before.
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