You’re interested in exploring new opportunities, but you’re not sure where to start. Whether you’re searching for full-time work or part-time jobs in Allentown, PA, you’re wondering if LinkedIn is a good platform to guide your search.
Considering LinkedIn has more than 706 million users in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, it’s certainly an important place to have a presence. Of course, simply creating a profile on the site won’t get you hired, so it’s important to manage your expectations. Here’s a look at what you can expect to get from this social networking site.
5 Pros and Cons of Using LinkedIn for Your Job Search
Pro: Research Prospective Companies
It’s important to learn as much as possible about a prospective employer, and LinkedIn makes this easy. Companies are able to create LinkedIn pages that introduce their brand to candidates and offer a glimpse at what it’s like to work there.
The site also pulls information from employees’ LinkedIn profiles, so you can learn key information, such as the types of jobs the company has and the skills needed to do them.
Con: All Employers Don’t Post Jobs on the Site
No doubt, an overwhelming amount of employers are active on LinkedIn. However, using the site exclusively in your job hunt will likely cause you to miss out on those who don’t recruit through the platform. Therefore, it’s important to use other channels as well, to ensure your search remains well-rounded.
Pro: Connect With Existing Contacts
Staying in touch with your network is always a good idea — especially when you’re searching for jobs. However, reaching out individually to former managers, colleagues, classmates, and other associates can be time-consuming and maintaining current contact information is often challenging. LinkedIn makes this easy, because it’s one platform that can connect you to most of your network, considering the sheer volume of people who use it.
Con: It Can Be Hard to Get Noticed
Given the number of people on LinkedIn, simply having a profile on the site isn’t enough. Getting noticed by a potential employer requires a sizable amount of attention — i.e., regularly updating your profile, sharing status updates often and writing blog posts. If you already don’t have much time in your schedule, adding this to your plate can be stressful.
Pro: Easily Expand Your Network
The number of people on LinkedIn can also certainly work in your favor — especially when it comes to making new contacts. You’re able to reach out to people who work at companies you’re interested in, join groups relative to your field, connect with fellow alums from your alma mater and so much more. This creates nearly unlimited opportunities to expand your network with people who can help you move up the ladder.
Ready to take the next step in your career?
HTSS, Inc. is here to connect you with top Lehigh Valley companies where you can create a future. Contact us today to learn more!