Using LinkedIn for your job search ***IMP***

I will share my job search strategy that worked for me. This strategy applies to off campus search.

1. Make a solid LinkedIn profile. Fill the summary with keywords. HR people don't understand S*** about things. They are told to look for candidates with X, Y and Z skills. So make sure your resume and your LinkedIn profile has these X Y and Z keywords.

2. Get at least one recommendation from each job (very important). Try to get a total of 4.

3. Profile pic - include a pic in your profile. Let people see your personality.

4. Add some spice to your profile - I added my blog and my reading list. Almost all interviews asked me about at least one of the two. You will hit a jackpot if you are reading a book that the interviewer likes or if you blogged about something s/he is interested in:)

5. Join groups - join groups of your industry. For example, I joined groups like Internet Product Mgt, Silicon Valley Meetup, etc. Join all HR groups. This will put all HR people in your group.

6. Your profile should have a theme. If I read it, I should be able to tell what industry and function you are interested in.

7. Start contacting people on LI. Let us say you found a job in company ABC. Look for people in ABC and if possible for people in the department you are looking for work for. Send them messages.

8. How to write messages. Do NOT ask for a job. Your messages should be really short. Tell them you are interested learning more about ABC and that job position. And that you want to have a short phone conversation with them. Thank them for your time. NOT more than 5 lines. You will be surprised how well it works.

9. The phone conversation - start by thanking them for your time, then "tell them about yourself" ask about the culture, what they like most, and the last Q should be if they can help you with the job. MOST people will say fwd me your resume. There you go you hve hit gold.

10. Repeat till you get a job :)