Introduction
You may be surprised to know that LinkedIn is one of the few social media networks that has been in existence long before Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. However, according to Handy, now the professional social network platform is probably more important for you than all the others combined. Here are the reasons why you need a LinkedIn account:
The Reasons
- Access to its quintessential job board – There are numerous reasons for you to have a LinkedIn profile. This one probably takes prime preference. LinkedIn has a robust job board where you can search for jobs by location and keywords like industry type, position, and more. If you aren’t actively seeking a new job, you can simply set up job alerts.
You will get those job alerts via email updates depending on your career interests and can grab the right opportunity when it shows itself. LinkedIn also allows you to be a bit sneaky. Just turn on the “I’m Interested” button and LinkedIn will show recruiters that you are interested in new opportunities. However, this is hidden from managers, coworkers and other colleagues at your company.
- Climb up on Google rankings – When you apply for a job, one of the first things that recruiters would do is Google your name. You can try Googling yourself right now and there’s a high probability that you don’t show up on the first page.
LinkedIn is one of the or “THE” dominant professional social networking platforms and Google’s algorithm likes that. So, it is easier to rank up your LinkedIn profile on the first page of Google compared to your own website. You should also edit out your profile to stand apart from the crowd and improve your rankings.
- Brand Building – Corporates drown millions or even billions to build and promote their brand. You need to build your professional brand as well and you can do that without pooling huge sums of money. You need to figure out what’s marketable about you, how you stand out from your peers in your industry, and why you deserve a hefty salary.
Achieving all of that through a personal website can be time-consuming, frustrating or expensive. However, LinkedIn is a great way to put yourself on the map. You can provide a powerful summary, profile picture and take other steps to let recruiters, managers, and co-workers know about you and your skills.
- Professional list of contacts – Remember that inspiring young professional at that expo a few years back? Or that acquaintance who wanted to freelance for your company? Probably not, right?
Instead of stashed business cards that can get lost or damaged, you can add new professionals you meet on LinkedIn. If they are in your connections, you can find them with a scroll and reconnect with a click.
Conclusion
According to Handy, these are just a few reasons that highlight the importance of having a LinkedIn account. When you start using it, you would find it to be indispensable for your career. Not to mention, it can boost your career to new heights and help you develop a strong personal brand.