Should I be on LinkedIn?

Did you know that LinkedIn currently has over 610 million active users? That makes it one of the most popular social media apps out there. But what exactly is LinkedIn, why is it so popular, and do you need to be on it? Today we’ll answer all of these questions and more, so let’s not waste another minute.

What is LinkedIn?

To put it simply, LinkedIn is a social media app that connects professionals. It is considered to be a professional networking site and is used by many people for career progression and development. LinkedIn is free to use (though it offers subscription options as well) and allows you to post your resume, search for jobs, and interact with other professionals.

Why is LinkedIn so popular?

Because there are many benefits that come along with use of the platform.

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

● It’s free
○ LinkedIn is a social media platform that allows you to meet like-minded
professionals and enhance your career absolutely free.

● LinkedIn has its own job search engine
○ Not only do employers have their own accounts on LinkedIn, but they are also using it to find potential employees. You can use LinkedIn’s job search to
search different categories of jobs and to look for careers in your area. If you
create an attractive profile, you could end up scoring a great job. If you’re
really lucky, an employer might even find you before you find them.

● LinkedIn allows people to leave recommendations
○ Whenever you are up for a job interview, recommendations play a huge role. On LinkedIn, previous employers and other professionals can leave
recommendations for you so that you have them readily available for your
next potential employer.

● You can make impressive connections
○ You can use LinkedIn to search for profiles and to make new connections.
Whether you want to chat with an old co-worker, a new employer, or a top
company executive, you never know who might accept your invitation to
connect.

● You can see who’s looked at your profile
○ Unlike many social media platforms where you cannot see who has viewed
your profile, LinkedIn opens that information to you. By connecting with those who are looking at your profile, you open yourself up to more connections and potential opportunities.

● You can post your resume
○ This means that not only can you seek out potential employers, but they can
also seek you out. In some cases, you could end up with a job offer without
even applying!

● Recruiters are using LinkedIn

○ Even if you aren’t using LinkedIn to find jobs, you can guarantee that
employers are using LinkedIn to look for you. In fact, social media is one of
the first places that employers look when hiring new employees and because
LinkedIn is a platform professionals, that’s often the first place that they look.
Having an impressive resume and profile can drastically increase your
chances of landing a job.

Of course, just as every social media platform has it’s benefits, they also have their downfalls. LinkedIn is no exception.

Here are some downfalls of using LinkedIn:
● Certain professions cannot have LinkedIn profiles
○ Some professional fields may have ethical standards that prevent them from
having a profile on LinkedIn. People like judges, secret service agents, and
even some lawyers may have restrictions based on “conflicts of interest” that
don’t allow them to have LinkedIn profiles.

● It doesn’t always land you the job
○ In some cases, LinkedIn can work against you. For example, if an employer
looks at your LinkedIn profile and is not impressed, it could end up costing
you the job. This is why it is so important to keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-
date and professional.

● It’s time consuming
○ If you want to build yourself a strong network of connections on LinkedIn,
you’re going to have to put some effort into it. Professional networks are not
built overnight and generating contacts could take years to do. The results will
be worth it but it will take time.

In summary, there are benefits and downfalls to having a LinkedIn account. With that being said, if you are willing to put the time and effort into it, LinkedIn can work to your advantage in terms of progressing your career.

Is it for you?
You should have a LinkedIn profile if:
● You are a professional seeking a new job
● You are an employer looking for potential employees
● You have an impressive resume to post
● You are willing to put in the time that it takes to create connects and networks
● You have the time to keep your profile accurate and up-to-date

You should not have a LinkedIn Profile if:
● You don’t have a lot of experience to put on your resume
● You don’t have the time to keep up with your account
● You are not looking for new career opportunities
● It is taking up too much of your time and distracting you from “real life” opportunities

Does your Business or Company have over 100 Employees and needs to up your Social Media Game? Send me a message today.

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