Many people who have a LinkedIn profile fail to follow multiple groups and organizations. This is one of the most important functions of the LinkedIn. It is important to search your LinkedIn connections for people who are influencers in your industry. I recommend joining relevant groups and following people on LinkedIn who are connected to your career interests. This allows you to comment on relevant topics in public forums, which may get you the attention from the so-called influencers that you’re seeking.
It’s important to join a large number of professional groups related to your skills and industry. For example, if you are a project manager in Chicago, do a search for Project Managers in the greater Chicago area. Many jobs are not publicly posted. You will only get access to them if you are a member of the professional group. It’s also important to follow companies in your industry. The algorithms contained within LinkedIn recommend more influencers for you to connect with based on the number of groups you are associated with. The more professional groups and companies you follow, the more likely you are to get introduced to industry gatekeepers in your area. If you’ve developed multiple relationships over time with the right people, they will come to you with these job openings.
Generally speaking, LinkedIn Groups are incredible resources and they can help you ramp up your job search quickly. By joining groups relevant to your profession or industry, you’ll show that you’re well connected and up to speed on trends within the industry. In addition, you’ll instantly be connected to people and part of relevant discussions in your field – kind of like an ongoing, online networking event.