If you're thinking about changing jobs, you can use professional networking site LinkedIn to help transition (carefully) to a new job. How can you get noticed by prospective employers?
First of all, you will need to make sure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and detailed. You should consider your LinkedIn profile your online resume.
Your profile should have all the same information that is on your resume including experience, education and skills. Every area of expertise you add to the Skills & Expertise section of your profile makes you easier to find by companies that are hiring.
That's just for starters. There's even more you can do to make yourself a compelling candidate for employment. Krista Canfield, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at LinkedIn suggests building a profile that attracts hiring managers. For example:
- Fill out your full work experience
- Ban the buzzwords
- Add a photo
- Get connected to a minimum of 50 trusted contacts
- Be active on LinkedIn--it's used as a recruiting tool by 75 of the Fortune 100 companies
- Sign up to job opportunities delivered to your in box
If you're careful, you will be able to quietly job search without drawing your current employer's attention to the fact that you're job hunting. Here's more on confidential job searching.
As far as your LinkedIn profile, if you're new to LinkedIn or want to spiff up your profile and need some tips, here's a step-by-step guide on what to include in your LinkedIn profile.