LinkedIn is one of the oldest social media sites still in operation today. Founded in December of 2002 the platform has grown considerably over the years - unlike the numerous ones which have ultimately disappeared in that amount of time.
According to Top Dog Social Media over 84 million people use LinkedIn in the United States alone. To put this in proper perspective, this is around 27% of the entire population. But LinkedIn is not your average social media platform.
Instead of catering towards typical social interactions, LinkedIn was developed to help business professionals network and build profiles which are essentially online, living resumes.
Being on LinkedIn is an important step for individuals hoping to continue growing and nurturing their career paths in the construction, engineering, and environmental industries. Here we discuss why.
Building Your Network
With so many professionals on LinkedIn, the site is the perfect medium for building your network of industry professionals. Other users even have the ability to endorse the skills you've listed on your profile, which is essentially verification you can actually perform the way you state.
A good network can open up a world of opportunities for those serious about their careers. It can assist in getting new jobs or promotions and allow you to keep up to date on the latest industry trends, such as:
• What does the future cost projections on materials look like?
• What are the newest technologies or trends to hit these industries?
• What environmental issues are currently occurring throughout the world?
Living Resume
The term "living resume" means the information on your LinkedIn Profile can be constantly updated or added to so everything is as current as possible.
It is for this reason that so many hiring manager have taken to using these profiles in their process. A person who submitted their resume for consideration three months ago may have new skills or education relevant to that position.
To properly leverage this, however, you must keep the profile as current as possible. When you receive a new certification, get a degree, or complete a related project you should list it on your LinkedIn profile within 48 hours of completion.
Allowing your profile to grow stale will hamper your career growth. This is especially true in all careers in the construction, engineering, and environmental industries where staying current is vital to both safety and efficiency.
Promote Yourself
LinkedIn is the perfect catalyst for professiona promotion efforts. You can share your profile to other social sites, including blogs or websites. Your profile will also show up in search engine results, which can then be seen by employers searching for professionals in your industry.
All your professional information is at the fingertips of everyone - which is a solid asset in building a solid career. Your achievements, certifications, education, previous projects, cover letter, and links proving what you've stated are all featured on your page. Providing this information publicly allows you to appear transparent, trustworthy, and confident.
Get Hired
LinkedIn is one of the best ways for industry professionals to get hired. Your profile gives the option of stating you are open to offers, actively seeking a new job, or not open to any offers currently. Employers or hiring managers can search for professionals seeking employment by industry and desired skills.
While anyone can submit their resumes to specific jobs, using LinkedIn as a method of getting hired is a step above the rest. This is thanks to the fact that limited work is necessary on your own behalf. Simply keep your profile updated and continue advancing your qualifications to have job offers start coming to you.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing. To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit michaeldesafey.com
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