Job hunters can gain many advantages by using LinkedIn including, but not limited to: Information on the types of people employers hire, the name of the hiring manager at a particular job, and -- perhaps most importantly of all -- the potential to make a personal connection at the organization you are interested in joining.
Making connections is the key aspect of the social networking site, and this is easily done on LinkedIn through the "request an introduction" feature. Sent to both an existing contact and someone he know, this feature facilitates connections to individuals who can help your job search. You can't just make your introduction out of the blue, though, so here are some tips on how to go about doing this in the best possible manner:
- If you already have your contact's e-mail address, shoot them a message letting them know you are sending an introduction request. This has two benefits: It's the polite thing to do and it ensures they will actually get the request; some people don't always check their LinkedIn notifications.
- Remember that the message is going both to two people: Someone you know and someone you want to know. Even if your relationship with your existing contact is casual, your message still needs to be crafted in a professional manner.On a related note, you should be sure to mention how you know your existing contact.
Speaking of LinkedIn, we are going to start posting some arguments in our group. If you haven't already linked to us, head to our page and join before the fun starts.
