How LinkedIn Can Transform Your Job Search

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For every job to which I apply, especially if I'm offered an interview, I check LinkedIn for common connections or to gain more information about the hiring manager or potential coworkers. I have found it to be valuable in some cases. Some. As a basic user, I am limited to the amount of information to which I have access, I cannot send InMail, and also limited to the number in Introductions I can use. Moreover, many of my contacts are colleagues from the one and only company I've worked for professionally -- the company I've built my short career around -- and many of those contacts are useless to me now (it is a tight-knit industry, and not one I need to be a part of specifically; I am a graphic designer, so I can work for a variety of companies and industries). Any advice for a person who cannot afford to upgrade and who doesn't have a lot of useful industry contacts?

jones of MA 9:33PM September 13, 2011

Regardless of how desperate for work I may be, if an employer demanded access to my Facebook account and password, I would walk out of the interview or the job. That is totally inappropriate, like asking for the key to my house so they can go through my photo albums, mailbox, and underwear drawer.

Amanda of CO 5:02AM August 24, 2011

Caution: Business is attempting to remake social media into business media.
LinkedIn can be a valuable business oriented, social networking tool. You connect with people you've known or worked with, and can reach out to help or for help.
On the other hand, Facebook was meant to connect friends, initially, and later families. That would be great if you could keep it all tidy and private. However, now that business are creating Facebook pages, and accepting all friends, your information becomes much less private.
The really scary thing is that some few businesses are requiring job candidates to submit their Facebook accounts and passwords for their research. Add to that the fact that Facebook keeps changing their rules without asking the consent of the users, and you have room for all sorts of invasive abuse.

Shauna of MI 8:15AM June 27, 2011

I would caution that you have to be careful about how you use information you find out on LinkedIn, particularly if you choose to look up your interviewer. Not only is it really awkward to be direct and say, "I saw on LinkedIn that you went to University X. I did, too!", but it could also backfire if the person didn't have a positive experience with whatever organization you're referring to.
If you can't resist making that connection, I would slip it in casually without mentioning the source. (e.g. "I loved my time at University X. I learned so much there and found that the environment fostered my passion in Y.") People - even those who enthusiastically set up profiles on social networking sites and/or even make those profiles public - get creeped out when they know you've been researching them. It's a one-sided encounter that makes the researcher feel a connection that the person being researched is completely unaware of.

CD of MO 11:37PM June 21, 2011

One of the other nice things about LinkedIn is that you can use add-ons such as the Portfolio application to show off your work. Having a "digital resume" gives you a leg up on candidates who just submit a paper cv. You can link to work examples and projects and share slideshow presentations.

Ilene Rosenblum 9:56AM June 19, 2011

A computer will never replace actual face-to-face interaction.

Moe of AL 11:40PM June 17, 2011

LinkedIn is garbage!

Moe of AL 9:49PM June 17, 2011

Excellent comments. If you're looking for a job, start with LinkedIn and your state's employment database. Become an expert at searching BOTH on a regular basis for open jobs. Employers will likely search for you on LinkedIn before inviting you in for an interview - so keep your LinkedIn profile current, relavent and professional. Does your profile show the value you offer to a new employer??

Guerry Thode of FL 3:06PM June 13, 2011