It’s no secret to job seekers that LinkedIn is the most widely used professional social networking site out there. A huge majority of job searches can be helped by utilising the site to its fullest potential. And yet, many people are missing out on a vast number of opportunities by using LinkedIn ineffectively. Here are eight tips to help you use LinkedIn to its highest potential to help secure you your dream role.

Keep Your Profile As Current As Possible

It can seem arduous to spend time filling in your LinkedIn profile, and even more of a pain to go back and update it. But if it isn’t showing you in your most experienced and qualified light then it’s doing you a huge disservice. Set aside some time every few months to go over all your information and make sure it’s as up to date and impressive as possible.

Be Clear And Comprehensive About Your Experience And Skills

There are literally thousands of different skills you can input into your LinkedIn profile, so skipping over any can well mean missing out on opportunities. Take your time on this section and make sure you’re including anything that may be important, You never know how potential employers will come to find you, but by adding all your skills you’re setting up more avenues for them to do so.

Personalise Your Profile

Having a professional profile picture is one of the best ways to maximise the potential of your profile being clicked on. It reminds future employers that you’re a human being, and not just a list of skills and past jobs. You can also customise your headline to give your profile more personality. It’s the first thing people will read on your profile, so make it eye-catching, interesting and a little bit unique.

Let People Know You’re Looking

The most impressive, unique and carefully curated profile in the world won’t get you a job unless people know you want one. Try to include somewhere in your introductory paragraph that you’re seeking new challenges or wanting to expand your horizons. This will give future potential employers an easier in, and make them more likely to reach out.

Build A Solid Network

No matter how much you work on your profile, if you exist as an island, you massively cut down the potential of you landing your dream job. The more connections you have, the more your visibility grows exponentially. And if you see someone on there who you think could be the link between you and a position you’d love, then add them!

Follow Companies You’re Interested In

LinkedIn has an extremely useful function which allows you to stay up to date with positions and opportunities at a huge range of companies. Make a list of those you think you’d like to work for and follow them. This feature is also a great way to discover even more, potentially similar companies which may pique your interest. By actively following them, you’ll be among the first to know when a potential job crops up.

Take Advantage Of The Advanced Search

Another brilliant feature of LinkedIn is the advanced search. One really useful way to use the search is ideal if you have your heart set on one particular company. You can search the company name as see if any of your connections have links to said company. In a world where who you know can really matter, this can be a smart way to get your foot in the door.

Actually Use LinkedIn

It can be all too easy to create a LinkedIn profile, input your many skills and talents, and then sit back thinking your work is done. But sadly, this isn’t the case. It may sound obvious, but if you want to use LinkedIn to find a job, you actually have to use LinkedIn. Join groups, interact with others, send out messages, and constantly update your profile. As with many things, the more time you put into your LinkedIn presence, the greater the potential rewards.

Annie Walton Doyle writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs.