Finding a new job - where to start?
Discussion
In my old job I shared an office with the guy who used to hire in contractors for placements both with customers and on internal projects. He'd generally find contractors via LinkedIn and only put out job adverts for permanent roles, although a few of those he got from LinkedIn too. Plus as said above when he had a CV for someone he'd generally look them up on LinkedIn for more information.
I left the company 6 months ago but they've just hired someone they found because she was linked to me on LinkedIn.
I wouldn't say focus on LinkedIn rather than job boards, but use both as they can reach slightly different audiences.
I left the company 6 months ago but they've just hired someone they found because she was linked to me on LinkedIn.
I wouldn't say focus on LinkedIn rather than job boards, but use both as they can reach slightly different audiences.
CzechItOut said:
bad company said:
Sorry but you're wrong there. The jobs on LinkedIn are indeed often out of date but headhunters use it regularly to identify candidates for jobs. Those jobs are often not advertised on LinkedIn or anywhere else.
I speak from experience.
I've done a little test in the past 48 hours. I set my LinkedIn profile to "looking for opportunities" and I changed by title from "Job Title at Company Name" to "Job Title specialising in xx technology". I have a well populated profile with several endorsements and recommendations. I also signed up for the free one month Premium access.I speak from experience.
The job vacancies recommended to me by LinkedIn are very broad in scope and location. Most are at least a week old and none have salary information.
I have been contacted by one recruiter, although the role they were offering is very similar to what I do now, in my home town and a decent salary.
As a comparison I set up a number of job alerts on Jobserve. I selected a specific job title/keyword pairing and then distances of 50 miles and 75 miles. I also set up an alert for local jobs (less than 15 miles) with a broader criteria.
In the last three days I have received:
Specific and 50 miles - 11, 4, 2 alerts
Specific and 75 miles (includes London) - 46, 50, 42 alerts
Broad and local - 15, 8, 20 alerts
All the Jobserve alerts are for roles posted in the last 24 hours.
While I accept there is a lot of duplication on Jobserve (the same role posted by multiple agencies) I do think by focusing on LinkedIn you are potentially missing out on a vast array of roles which don't seem to be advertised on there. The other benefit of Jobserve is that the majority of roles ave salary information.
Similarly, I do wonder if recruiters who go fishing on LinkedIn only do so as they are struggling to fill unattractive roles which haven't received plenty of applicants on the job boards.
Just my 2p.
Seems to me I'd rather have the linkedin version, and in fact thats how all my jobs for the previous 8-ish years have gone.
My last job off linkedin btw was a contract IT Director role that lasted 2 years (until I retired) and paid well into 6 figures.
I'm not saying everyone gets that result, but for me linkedin moved me from well paid to very well paid, without any job hunting effort on my part
keirik said:
so on linkedin you got a specific contact for someone with a real job, on jobserve you got a load of automated alerts, i.e. spam.
Seems to me I'd rather have the linkedin version, and in fact thats how all my jobs for the previous 8-ish years have gone.
My last job off linkedin btw was a contract IT Director role that lasted 2 years (until I retired) and paid well into 6 figures.
I'm not saying everyone gets that result, but for me linkedin moved me from well paid to very well paid, without any job hunting effort on my part
I wouldn't call Jobserve alerts spam, as these are all alerts I have set up my self using criteria I have specified, but I take your point about jobs coming to you on LinkedIn compared to having to sift through volume on Jobserve.Seems to me I'd rather have the linkedin version, and in fact thats how all my jobs for the previous 8-ish years have gone.
My last job off linkedin btw was a contract IT Director role that lasted 2 years (until I retired) and paid well into 6 figures.
I'm not saying everyone gets that result, but for me linkedin moved me from well paid to very well paid, without any job hunting effort on my part
It is interesting that you found acontract role in LinkedIn, as the vast major seem to be permanent. Is there a way to specific contract only - as I couldn't find a setting for that?
After having taken a redundancy package that included consultancy help to find a new job, probably the best advice given (which is kind of obvious) was to ensure I used ALL options open to me to spread the net. The argument about LinkedIn v other job application web resources is immaterial. It costs you nothing but a bit of time to do both. Why would you limit your options ?
You never know where the next job is coming from. Use LinkedIn and all the other web based job searches. Ensure all your colleagues and friends/family know you are looking for a new job and what you are looking for. If you know the type of industry you want to work in, google map search and log all the industries that are potentials in your area and go onto their websites. Sign up for JSA and use their tools for job search.
In the end, my next job came from an old colleague talking to another old colleague and my name got mentioned, passed on up the chain at that company and a job emerged from that conversation. The strangest personal network job success my job search consultant had was a mother in laws vicar after MiL had a Sunday morning conversation with him about her son in law :-).
Good luck !
You never know where the next job is coming from. Use LinkedIn and all the other web based job searches. Ensure all your colleagues and friends/family know you are looking for a new job and what you are looking for. If you know the type of industry you want to work in, google map search and log all the industries that are potentials in your area and go onto their websites. Sign up for JSA and use their tools for job search.
In the end, my next job came from an old colleague talking to another old colleague and my name got mentioned, passed on up the chain at that company and a job emerged from that conversation. The strangest personal network job success my job search consultant had was a mother in laws vicar after MiL had a Sunday morning conversation with him about her son in law :-).
Good luck !
CzechItOut said:
While I accept there is a lot of duplication on Jobserve (the same role posted by multiple agencies) I do think by focusing on LinkedIn you are potentially missing out on a vast array of roles which don't seem to be advertised on there. The other benefit of Jobserve is that the majority of roles ave salary information.
Similarly, I do wonder if recruiters who go fishing on LinkedIn only do so as they are struggling to fill unattractive roles which haven't received plenty of applicants on the job boards.
Just my 2p.
I’m not advocating just using LinkedIn but it’s an important part of your job search. Even if you apply for something via a job board and/or agency the potential employer is likely to check out your LinkedIn profile.Similarly, I do wonder if recruiters who go fishing on LinkedIn only do so as they are struggling to fill unattractive roles which haven't received plenty of applicants on the job boards.
Just my 2p.
Recruiters use LinkedIn all the time. Finding candidates for hard to fill jobs is the reason clients pay their fees.
I don't work in your field but linkedin for me is a must.
Many companies in my industry (data/sales/advertising) post things directly on there themselves, which is useful, and even if you are presented to an employer by a recruiter, they will usually always go to linkedin to check you out before saying yes or no. Not worth ignoring IMO.
I got my last job from linkedin and also multiple interviews.
Many companies in my industry (data/sales/advertising) post things directly on there themselves, which is useful, and even if you are presented to an employer by a recruiter, they will usually always go to linkedin to check you out before saying yes or no. Not worth ignoring IMO.
I got my last job from linkedin and also multiple interviews.
donnie85 said:
Any tips on being noticed on LinkedIn??
I have a profile but always wondered how people get jobs from there. Are you supposed to follow companies you want to work for and contact them? How do recruiters find you??
In settings you can make yourself 'open to recruiters'I have a profile but always wondered how people get jobs from there. Are you supposed to follow companies you want to work for and contact them? How do recruiters find you??
Companies post jobs in the JOBS tab
okgo said:
donnie85 said:
Any tips on being noticed on LinkedIn??
I have a profile but always wondered how people get jobs from there. Are you supposed to follow companies you want to work for and contact them? How do recruiters find you??
In settings you can make yourself 'open to recruiters'I have a profile but always wondered how people get jobs from there. Are you supposed to follow companies you want to work for and contact them? How do recruiters find you??
Companies post jobs in the JOBS tab
I know how to find jobs on there but was always confused how companies find you. For example id love to work for Capgemini. Do I just follow them on LinkedIn and hope they notice me? Or do I send them a direct message asking if they are jobs?
I know i posted earlier about LinkedIn and its benefits well i can fill in some more detail.
Just accepted a job offer which resulted in me being "found" on LinkedIn and the job being mentioned on LinkedIn by an employee.
Now after leaving the military in 2013 i worked abroad in Afghanistan for 5 years until last year. Did some short term work in the Falklands then returned Nov and since Jan have been looking.
I filled out my LinkedIn profile with good detail on what i could offer and snapshot of work history. Also put in online links to work that either i was involved in or directly shows me. I hasten to add, this is probably easier for me due to what i do than someone who works in a big office.
I would certainly suggest you get LinkedIn Premium because it allows you to monitor who views your profile and other stuff. I had time to do this but start to view constantly areas of your work with other companies etc. Sometimes not easy to do if you have other things or indeed actually working but it does help.
I used though other job websites such as Glassdoor and Indeed. I didn't like Monster and others as for instance you put in "Fuel Operations Manager" and you get a job that gives you a FUEL card!!!. The one thing that was a pain was the way career portals take apart your CV and then you having to re-write it. And of course the fact depending on role, you have to tailor the CV so the right words get picked up by the software.
Make sure on LinkedIn your dates match up. I have seen a lot of profiles which are poorly laid out and written.....recruiters will just pass them by.
My new job allows me to work from home, abroad work and is being tailored as its a new position so i am certainly happy.
Just accepted a job offer which resulted in me being "found" on LinkedIn and the job being mentioned on LinkedIn by an employee.
Now after leaving the military in 2013 i worked abroad in Afghanistan for 5 years until last year. Did some short term work in the Falklands then returned Nov and since Jan have been looking.
I filled out my LinkedIn profile with good detail on what i could offer and snapshot of work history. Also put in online links to work that either i was involved in or directly shows me. I hasten to add, this is probably easier for me due to what i do than someone who works in a big office.
I would certainly suggest you get LinkedIn Premium because it allows you to monitor who views your profile and other stuff. I had time to do this but start to view constantly areas of your work with other companies etc. Sometimes not easy to do if you have other things or indeed actually working but it does help.
I used though other job websites such as Glassdoor and Indeed. I didn't like Monster and others as for instance you put in "Fuel Operations Manager" and you get a job that gives you a FUEL card!!!. The one thing that was a pain was the way career portals take apart your CV and then you having to re-write it. And of course the fact depending on role, you have to tailor the CV so the right words get picked up by the software.
Make sure on LinkedIn your dates match up. I have seen a lot of profiles which are poorly laid out and written.....recruiters will just pass them by.
My new job allows me to work from home, abroad work and is being tailored as its a new position so i am certainly happy.
Edited by petop on Friday 8th March 17:20
Eamonnn said:
If I had a CV it would say I have a degree in Accountancy (although that is not a path I want to explore further), I'm highly numerate, an advanced excel user (but no VBA) and I have experience writing SQL. I've always had an extremely keen eye for detail / accuracy / data integrity / pedantry, team player, enjoy solving complex data problems, logical thinker, have generated dashboards and insight, communications, Powerpoint, Access etc etc etc.
Have your thought about a career in Project Controls? Your skill set sounds perfect and theres plenty of perm and contracting positions out there.
nitrodave said:
I see LinkedIn as being a critical tool for work. Get your profile set up and connect with everyone you've worked with and even those you're associated to. There's lots of interesting jobs on there and a decent profile is as good as a decent CV.
I've previously used it to find jobs and currently use it to connect with fellow industry folk and formed some very fruitful relationships through it.
Do not underestimate how useful it can be.
Also don't over estimate how useful linkedin could be.I've previously used it to find jobs and currently use it to connect with fellow industry folk and formed some very fruitful relationships through it.
Do not underestimate how useful it can be.
I've been freelance for 10 years and only ever had a total of 5 weeks without work. And none of it came via LinkedIn
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