Section 11: LinkedIn
With more than 930 million users, LinkedIn is the largest online platform to build your professional network.
LinkedIn is an extremely valuable resource for the military community, particularly those in the transition phase.
You can use LinkedIn to build an expansive global network of professional connections, find mentors with a similar background, stay in touch with former teammates, and search for jobs.
Many recruiters and hiring teams utilize LinkedIn to find potential candidates. LinkedIn has become such a popular resource for recruiters that there is a separate paid version specifically designed for their recruiting needs.
Recruiters using this version are able to search by criteria such as job title, location, skills, company, industry, and specific keywords. Keep these in mind as you build, update, and optimize your profile.
Optimizing your profile helps improve your search rankings. Just like Google search results, you'll get more views if you're on the 1st page than if you're on the 10th page.
In a sense, your LinkedIn profile is like a professional marketing campaign for yourself. You’re building a professional brand image that showcases what you offer employers.
Think of LinkedIn as an extension of your resume. Instead of trying to fit everything into 1-2 pages, you’re afforded more space to describe your accomplishments and background.