I had a chance to speak to Brad Mauney, LinkedIn’s senior product manager, search & social graph. There’s not much more important than being found, especially if you’re in a job search. One of the most useful aspects of any social media platform is the opportunity for people to find you. The adage, “If Google doesnâ€t know you, you may be no one,” is becoming more prevalent in todayâ€s socially focused environment. LinkedIn tends to rank very well in Google searches, so having an optimized profile is one useful way to be found online.

Itâ€s also important to stand out within LinkedIn. When someone is searching for a candidate with your expertise in that network, how can you help ensure your profile comes up high in their search results? Mauney explained that part of the algorithm LinkedIn uses to determine where you rank in a given search takes into account 1) how often your profile comes up in LinkedInâ€s search results and 2) how often searchers click through to view your information when it does appear.

How can you influence this elusive aspect of being found in LinkedIn? Mauney emphasizes the importance of creating a profile that engages viewers and entices them to click through to learn more about you.

How can you encourage people to want to know more about you on LinkedIn? Mauney suggests the following:

Include a picture in your profile. Krista Canfield, LinkedInâ€s senior manager, corporate communications, says, “Folks who have a photo are seven times more likely to have their profile viewed in general than folks who donâ€t have a photo.” While the statistic does not include data about the type of photo, itâ€s a good idea to use a picture where you appear friendly and approachable. Smile, and be sure you look like yourself, but on a good day! Use appropriate lighting; a professional photo is a great idea, but if that is not possible, take a close-up of your face, wearing clothing that isnâ€t distracting or busy.

Write an engaging headline. What can you include in your headline to pique a readerâ€s curiosity? Since your headline appears in search results, it naturally affects how many people decide to click through to learn more about you. Since you can improve your overall ranking in search by earning more click-throughs, pay special attention to your headline. Mauney suggests incorporating an elevator pitch in the headline and not limiting it to your current job title.

Grow your network. Another important factor influencing click-throughs is whether or not you are connected to the person searching. Statistically, people are more likely to click through to learn more about someone if they share a common connection. (Search results list levels of connectivity.) Mauney says a baseline of at least 50 people in your LinkedIn network is important to help users begin to see a real benefit from their connections. He noted that a “trusted network” is the most useful, and encouraged LinkedIn users to connect with people they actually know or do business with.

Other suggestions to help people find you on LinkedIn?

Completely fill out your LinkedIn profile with as many details as possible.

Think about the searcherâ€s intent.

Titles and “headlines” are important in LinkedIn.

Use LinkedInâ€s various tools, including “groups” and “answers.”

Read the complete post at U.S. News & World Report

The post How to be found in LinkedIn appeared first on Keppie Careers.

• Be the “home” for people’s professional identity. He noted LinkedIn’s focus on helping LinkedIn users put their best foot forward when applying for jobs.
• Provide insights for users and opportunities to learn from a community, thus making people better at their jobs
• Be “everywhere,” helping professionals access their networks access information and resources.

Nash noted LinkedIn is a “professional operating system for the web” and an “extension of “professional web,” a designation he believes the new “Apply Now” button solidifies. He explained the button helps package and “bring the power of LinkedIn to anyone.” Whether someone is applying for a job, or hiring for a large or small company, he believes this new tool will help.

Any employer or job seeker (who has a LinkedIn profile) may use the button free of charge. In fact, LinkedIn reports:

 “Thousands of companies have the Apply with LinkedIn plugin accessible on their websites today, including LinkedIn, Netflix, LivingSocial, Photobucket, Concur subsidiary TripIt, Foodspotting, GazeHawk, Munch On Me, and Formative Labs. LinkedIn has also teamed up with key Applicant Tracking System (ATS) partners who have enabled the Apply with LinkedIn plugin for their customers today, including Peoplefluent, Jobvite, SmartRecruiters, Bullhorn, and Jobscience.”

“How people hire hasn’t really changed in 15 years,” Nash said. He explained that today, we have an opportunity to know who the people hiring are and to identify whom they know. “Business software needs to acknowledge those relationships,” he said. Distinguishing it from other online applications, LinkedIn’s button offers anyone using it information about how they are linked to the person posting the job and/or the organization, whether or not the job is posted in LinkedIn.

Most job seekers would agree the opportunity to immediately know if they are connected via their LinkedIn networks to the hiring manager or someone in the target company is a great resource. However, easy isn’t always the best approach for job seekers. While this solution eliminates those pesky hoops job seekers usually need to jump through to apply for work, to best take advantage of the opportunity to apply using “Apply Now,” it’s important to keep a few things in mind:

• Complete your LinkedIn profile fully. Include your story in the “Summary” section and add your keywords in the “specialties” section. Pay special attention to your Headline. (I offer detailed information about how to optimize your profile in a free sample chapter of my book, Social Networking for Career Success.)
• If you are a student, don’t forget to complete LinkedIn’s student-focused sections.

Read the rest of my tips on my post on in U.S. News & World Report.

The post Tips to make the most of the “Apply with LinkedIn” button appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Hopefully, you have already been following companies (read more about following companies on LinkedIn here), but this is a pretty neat improvement. All you need to do is go to the top toolbar, select companies (see picture) and include keywords (which could be city, industry, etc.). LinkedIn finds a list of companies with your criteria where you have connections in your network. LinkedIn links you to those contacts and lets you know which companies currently list jobs in LinkedIn.

You’ll also have a chance to follow the company, which helps you track what is going on there. Take a look at LinkedIn’s video describing the new search function:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j5VoN_v-Us&feature=player_embedded

I think job seekers (or anyone thinking of making a change) will find this new functionality extremely useful! Be sure to keep up with The LinkedIn blog for updates.

The post LinkedIn adds new functionality to ‘Company’ search appeared first on Keppie Careers.