Networking on LinkedIn - LinkedIn Tutorial

- Networking. So what are some ways to effectively network on LinkedIn, because obviously that's a big focus here, right? Number one, profile setup. We've done the prep work in this course for that. So everything is prepared, and now we're just saying everything looks good on paper and is optimized for searches and stuff like that, but you still want to do more. So now what are some of the next steps? Well, we engage with other people that may be in our local communities, people that we want to get to know, maybe people that we could connect with that could be hiring. For some people, this means reaching out to someone on LinkedIn through direct messages or DMs. I used to be completely all about DMs. However, as the volume of Dms I personally received began to grow, dramatically, it became kind of a hassle for me to deal with. It became cumbersome. I found that while DMs can be valuable, if you're looking to connect with someone specific, like a recruiter or a hiring manager at a technology company, being mindful about how you approach them. Instead of spending a lot of time to customize and craft a specific DM these days, I think it's better to comment on their post. Don't comment something like, "I need a job. Can you give me a job? I'm trying to get hired at this company." No, no, no, no. Instead, add value to the discussion. So let's say they're talking about how they're using X, Y, Z technology. I can kind of add value by saying, "I actually have experience with this technology." The coolest thing is everyone who views that post will see my comment, and now it's helping me tap into their network. Like-minded people keep like-minded people around. They might check out your profile and they might reach out to you over DM saying, "Hey, I really like what you said here. I'm hiring for X, Y, Z." Boom! You got an organic conversation going. My last tip for you, and something I personally like to do, if there are certain companies that I want to work at, I start adding the people that work there to connect with them, to talk with them, engage with them, or even follow. That gives you a great way to start building rapport with some people. Harness the power of LinkedIn to not just collect connections, but to curate meaningful interactions that resonate with each other. Dive deep and watch our professional opportunities grow.