Leverage LinkedIn for Job Hunting Success

This is serious business. Job hunting is stressful for many reasons, but one of them is the fear of being shut out when it comes to reaching out to a recruiter or hiring manager. However, this needn’t be the case! LinkedIn offers a variety of ways in which you can reach out using their platform that are sure to get results – think “digital business card” or “compliment sandwich.” So here they are: my nine favorite outreach messages that actually work on LinkedIn!

Btw's PLEASE connect with me on LinkedIn:

>CONNECT WITH COURTANAE ON LINKEDIN <

It’s the best of times and it’s the worst of times.

The job market is tough. But there's hope! LinkedIn can help you get a job.

You don't just have to use LinkedIn for finding jobs--you can also use it to find people who can help with your job search, as well as stay in touch with friends and colleagues.

The best way to reach out on LinkedIn

If you're looking for a job, LinkedIn is one of the best places to get your name and resume in front of potential employers. But how do you make sure that people see what you've posted? The key is reaching out!

LinkedIn allows users to connect with other professionals and companies by sending messages via "InMail" (a kind of private message). This feature makes it easy for job seekers who want to reach out directly--and ensures that their message gets noticed because it won't be lost among all the other emails flooding an inbox.

1. The Name Drop

This is the most straightforward approach to outreach, and it's also one of the most effective. If you can mention the person by name and include their company (and preferably their title), you're more likely to get a response than if you don't mention them at all. It shows that you're familiar with their work and have done some research into who they are as people--which makes them more likely to respond favorably when they see your message in their inbox!

2. The Digital Business Card

A digital business card is an online resume that you can share with prospective employers and recruiters. It's a great way to showcase your skills, experience, education and contact information.

It's important that you include links to both your LinkedIn profile and Twitter handle (or website or blog) so they can find out more about you if they want to learn more about what makes you tick as a professional.

I've found that this type of personalized message has helped me land interviews at some of my dream companies!

3. The Compliment Sandwich

The compliment sandwich is a great way to reach out to someone you don't know. The idea is that you start with a compliment, then ask a question, then ask for something. This can help break the ice when reaching out to someone new, but it also gives you an opportunity to showcase your knowledge of their work or expertise in an area that interests them--and potentially earn their trust as a result.

To do this right:

• Be specific in your compliments--don't just say something generic like "I really liked your article!" instead try saying something like "I loved how [specific part] was described in detail." This will make the person feel good about themselves and also show them why their work matters (which could be key if they're looking for more clients).
• Don't come across too forward by asking directly what they charge per hour/day/etc.; instead focus on building rapport first before diving into business matters later on down the road once trust has been established between both parties involved here."

4. The “In Relation To” Message

The “In Relation To” message is a powerful way to connect with people you don't know. It allows you to ask for advice on a topic related to your industry, but without asking for anything specific. For example, if someone asked me how they could get into the tech industry after graduating with an English degree (which happens more often than you'd think), I might send them this:

"Hi [name],

A friend of mine who just graduated from college asked me how she could get into the tech industry with no experience or connections. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks!"

5. The Humble Brag

The humble brag is a message that says you're great, but in a way that doesn't come across as boastful or conceited. It's a way of letting your contact know that you're on top of your game without coming off as arrogant or cocky. Here are some examples:

"I just got an offer from Online Jobs Agency!"

"I'm really excited about this next step in my career."

"I'm excited about all the opportunities ahead."

6. The Personal Touch

You're not just trying to get a job, you're also trying to build relationships with people who have the power to hire you. If someone has done their research on you and knows that your favorite hockey team is the Vancouver Canucks (or whatever), use that knowledge in your outreach message by saying something like "I saw that you follow my favorite hockey team on Twitter! We should talk about how I could help them." Maybe they'll think it's cool that you know so much about them, maybe they'll be impressed by how much research went into knowing their team preferences--either way it helps build rapport between two people who might otherwise never have met if not for LinkedIn.

This goes both ways though: don't be afraid of admitting when asked something personal or admitting ignorance on certain subjects. For example: "I don't know anything about hockey but I would love an opportunity at helping out with social media marketing for this organization because..."

7. The Referral

You may be wondering how to get a referral in the first place. The easiest way is through someone who knows you well, such as a colleague or friend. If you don't have any contacts at all, reach out to people who might know someone at your target company and ask them for an introduction. You could also try asking for referrals on LinkedIn--but keep in mind that many recruiters don't use this platform as much anymore (it's not uncommon for them not even have an account).

In order to maximize your chances of getting hired through a referral, make sure that whoever introduces you understands exactly what type of position it is and why they think it would be a good fit for both parties involved!

8. The Reciprocity Message

This one's a doozy, but it works like a charm. The idea is simple: give someone something first and then ask them for something in return.

The main thing to remember here is not to overdo it--you don't want your message to come across as greedy or insincere. Just be sure that what you're giving away has value and relevance for the person receiving it (i.e., don't send LinkedIn messages offering free job search advice when there's no way they'll take advantage of this). And remember that once they've reciprocated by helping out with whatever request you made, there will be less resistance on their part when asked again later!

9. The Timing Message

Timing is everything. You can use it to your advantage by sending a timing message when you want to ask for a meeting, or even when you're applying for a job. Timing messages are especially useful if you don't have the right connections in place yet; they allow you the chance to build relationships with decision makers at companies where you might not otherwise get noticed.

Here's an example of how I used this strategy recently:

I had been networking with one particular company through LinkedIn and Twitter but hadn't heard back from any of its employees yet (which isn't unusual). So when an opening came up at this company, I decided not only did I want it--but also that now was my time! With this mindset, I crafted an email requesting an informational interview (a type of meeting where both parties share information) based on certain topics that were relevant to me as well as the company itself.

My timing message worked wonders because instead of being ignored like so many other applicants were likely being ignored at that moment too; my request was answered within 24 hours by someone who could help me achieve my goal: getting hired by them!

You can reach out on LinkedIn in many ways, but not all of them work!

The best way to find out what works for you is by experimenting. Try different messages and see which ones get the response you want. For example, if someone has just joined LinkedIn but doesn't have any connections yet, it's unlikely that they'll respond to a cold message from someone they don't know (unless they're really friendly). However, if this same person is active on their profile and has lots of connections already then it might be worth reaching out via direct message instead of an InMail--because their inbox will probably be full!

There are lots of ways in which people use LinkedIn: some use it as a social media platform where they share articles or interact with friends; others use it as an online CV where employers can find them; still others use both functions simultaneously. Experimenting with different approaches can help determine which methods work best under different circumstances so take note as often as possible when trying new things out!

Conclusion

Now that you know how to reach out on LinkedIn, it's time to get started! Don't be afraid of rejection--it happens to everyone. But don't let yourself get discouraged either; keep trying and eventually someone will respond positively. Remember that every new connection is an opportunity for professional growth and personal enrichment, so keep sending messages until someone says yes.