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Linkedin is fast becoming the top social media side for workplace professionals. There are now some 40 million+ professionals that are signed up on Linkedin. Every Fortune 500 Corporation has Executive on Linkedin. it can be used for many purposes such as: growing a network, growing and expanding your customer base, learning the latest trends, being recognized as an expert in a niche by answering  questions, etc. I am going to focus on how you can tap into the hidden job network on Linkedin. Companies and Recruiters on using Linkedin to find candidates for the positions they are trying to hire. Best of all, it is free to join.

After joining Linkedin, the first thing you need to do is fill out your profile as much as possible. I am going to share with you what I believe to be the top 3 tips for optimizing your profile on Linkedin. By implementing these 3 tips you will greatly increase the possibilities of the hidden job network on Linkedin finding you. Here are my 3 top profile tips!

Profile Tip #1 See your profile just like your resume.

The more detailed you are in your job description section the better. Why do you say? Because it is all keyword searchable! In other words, if I am on the hunt for a Director of Revenue Recognition, I will search for a few key words and those who have the key words on their profile will rise to the top.
Filling out as much info as you can on your profile will work in your favor. Take your resume and plug in you accomplishments and job responsibilities. Do not make the mistake that many people make and just place the name of your company. Copy and paste your resume info so that it is all keyword searchable for hiring managers and recruiters.

Profile Tip #2 Another great way to build your profile and presence is by customizing your Linkedin profile link.

This is fast becoming the internet business card for professionals online.
With your unique link, you can quickly and easily get your profile and contact info to people for them to review. Reset your public profile link in your settings and replace the numbers with your name. Then, you can place the link under your email signature and put something like:

“Join my network of accounting & finance professionals.”

Here is what your personal profile web address is at the moment on Linkedin.

By default: www.linkedin.com/in/37938128192

My suggestion is to change all of the numbers above to your actual name (if available).so, that it will look more like this: www.linkedin.com/in/JohnSmith

Step by Step Instructions:

Step 1: Login to your Linkedin account

Step 2: Click on “account & settings” in the top right hand of the page.

Step 3: Under “Profile Settings” click on “Public Profile”

Step 4: Click “edit” under “Your Public Profile URL”

Step 5: Replace your name with the numbers and now you have a Linkedin address that you can use to market yourself and grow your network. A new popular place for this is in the email signature. Since I am an active user on Linkedin, I will click and add someone if I see a link in their email signature. This would then give them access to over 2,000+ accounting, finance, and HR professionals. By the way, if you are not connected to me on Linkedin, then send me an invite here and I will accept: www.linkedin.com/in/JonathanMilligan

Your new email signature could like like this:

John Smith, CPA
Shareholder
Smith & Smith, CPA
Join my network of accounting & finance professionals

http://www.linkedin.com/in/JohnSmith

Profile Tip #3: Update Status Availability

Your “status availability” appears at the top of your profile. “Status” means a description of what you are doing right now. This works like the “what are you doing right now” functions on both Facebook (www.facebook.com) and Twitter (www.twitter.com). You can type in something like:

Brad is “a CPA with Big 4 background and 8 years of experience open to a Controller opportunity.”

Now, here is the big key with this. You need to change your settings so that “everyone” not just your connections can view your “update status.” To do this you need to follow some similar steps as above:

Step 1: Login to your Linkedin account

Step 2: Click on “account & settings” in the top right hand of the page.

Step 3: Under “Profile Settings” click on “Status Visibility”

Step 4: Change to “everyone” and click save changes.

I would then update your status every few days so that it can appear fresh for all to see. Take a few moments right now and implement those 3 steps and you will dramatically increase the chances of those hidden jobs finding you! If you would like more insight and information, please download my FREE “Linkedin Job Search Strategy Guide” book that you see to the right of this page.

You can also email subscribe to my post in the top right hand corner of the page as I will be giving you more secrets to conducting a job search on Linkedin.