Want a Job in Tech? Here is how to use the top online marketplace for job seekers to get that job.

Want a job in Tech? Here is how to use the top online marketplace for job seekers to get that job. LinkedIn is the world’s largest talent pool with 3 million active job listings. Let me show you how you can tap into this treasure trove of job listings to find your first — or next — job in tech.

Why Use LinkedIn?

Over 20,000 US companies use LinkedIn to recruit. Most of these companies will be using recruiters to fill these open positions. You want to get the attention of these recruiters because they can put your resume in the hands of the hiring managers at these companies.

How Do Recruiters Use LinkedIn?

LinkedIn Recruiter is the tool that allows recruiters to seek candidates that meet the job requirements for positions they are trying to fill. Here are some of the benefits recruiters receive with this product:

Access to Everyone

LinkedIn Recruiter allows recruiters to have access to people on LinkedIn that users of the site do not have. With this product, recruiters have direct access to everyone on LinkedIn.

You don’t have to reach out and become a connection to a recruiter for them to see and access your profile. Instead, they will see this information. You just have to structure your profile in a way that makes it easier for them to reach out to you about open positions.

Advanced People Search

• location
• industry
• current position
• past position(s)
• skills

7 Requirements to Become a LinkedIn All-Star

LinkedIn provides different levels for your profile based on the information it contains. The highest level is a LinkedIn All-Star. If you meet all 7 requirements to reach All-Star level, you will find yourself on the radar of recruiters. Here are the 7 requirements to become a LinkedIn All-Star.

• A profile picture
• Your industry and location
• Up-to-date current position
• Two past positions
• Your education
• Your skills
• At least 50 connections

Profile Picture

Industry and Location

If you are looking to move to a new area for work, be sure to specify the zip code for that area as your current location and not where you are currently living.

You will select your industry from a drop-down list.
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Current Position

I would recommend that you use keywords that are relevant to the position that you want in the description of the work that you do. The reason being that recruiters will search for selected keywords. You want to make sure your description includes those potential keywords.

Two Past Positions

If you are a recent graduate or somebody that does not have two previous positions, you can meet this requirement by listing a job where you might have worked on a part-time basis while you were a student.

Education

Your Skills (minimum of 3)

You have the option of ordering this list. I would put the skills that you definitely are seeking in a job at the top. The other reason for having the most important skills listed first is when people view your profile, LinkedIn will give them an option to endorse you for your skills. They will only be shown the top four listed skills.

At Least 50 Connections

If you graduated from a university or high school, you can search LinkedIn for people who graduated from the same school. You can then reach out to them and ask them to connect with you.

You can get your family members to be your connections. You can also ask your co-workers and friends to connect with you.

If you are still struggling to find 50 connections, then search people that have the title of “LION”. LION stands for LinkedIn Open Networker. A LION is a LinkedIn user who understands the power of having a large LinkedIn Network. LIONs will connect with almost anyone on LinkedIn regardless of whether they know, trust, or even respect the person. You can easily find at least 50 LIONS on LinkedIn and connect with them.

Having Recruiters Contact You

If you are interested, respond to the recruiter. The recruiter will collect your resume and submit it to the hiring manager at the company.

This is how you can use LinkedIn to get your first — or next — job in tech.