How to use LinkedIn to get a banking job

LinkedIn is a site for connecting with industry professionals and ultimately progressing your career. It's a simple business network specifically not for your distant relatives you secretly hate to share funny cat pictures. According to Career Enlightenment, 80% of companies use LinkedIn to hire candidates. This proves that LinkedIn, when used correctly, is great opportunity for getting access to the investment banking job of your dreams. Here are a few ways you can get that job using LinkedIn:

Sell yourself!

Think of your LinkedIn profile as your digital CV, yet dynamic. Being transparent and providing details is essential. Adjust your LinkedIn profile to make it more enticing and search-friendly. If applicable, link to previous work on your profile, especially content that's visually appealing to make your profile stand out. Multimedia work is fantastic at demanding attention. Show who you are by exhibiting your skills. Not only should you showcase your career experience, but your current activities and interests.

As The Wall Street Job Report stated in regards to using LinkedIn to get a job, "You owe it to yourself to make your LinkedIn profile as complete and thorough as your resume - and then make it better. LinkedIn is a vehicle for you to communicate with those interested in your potential without the limitations of a traditional resume. Make it say "Look at me."

Make yourself visible

One of the biggest mistakes a job searcher can make is being modest. Throw yourself into the deep end, and challenge yourself to speak to the people that can get you to the places you need. Confidence can even exude through online activity.

If possible, ask your LinkedIn contacts to not only endorse your skills, but give you a written recommendation that will appear on your profile. An Avid Careerist study on LinkedIn found that recommendations carry more credibility, so kindly ask your LinkedIn connections for one!

A good way of finding relevant banking connections is using Google. Google search displays more information on the page than LinkedIn's search. Use Google advanced search techniques to filter and get to the content you need: Typing site: (e.g. site:LinkedIn.com) will give you only google results from that website. Using "" around a phrase will specifically look for the words specified.

Network

Use LinkedIn groups to boost your professional prospects. This allows you to connect with industry contacts you wouldn't otherwise be able to communicate with. Search for terms relating to your industry, (e.g. bankers!) and start talking online and connect with others in the same group. These contacts are all potential business prospects that can lead you to your dream job. It is vital, however, you join groups relevant to your industry.

Join in group discussion topics and contribute effectively. Connect with as many relevant industry figures to broaden your network as far as possible. Start following companies you are interested in working for, as it allows you to see who's joining and leaving the company and who to follow that's relevant.

Cross promote

LinkedIn isn't the only social network that can help your job search: Using in conjunction Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ can help maximise exposure to vacancies and employers. Promoting your LinkedIn and other social media accounts on your LinkedIn profile demonstrates your knowledge of social media and will impress employers. Finally, be sure to search for yourself to see how prevalent you are on search engines. If your name isn't on the first page, continue heavily engaging with social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, gain connections, and you'll soon see your name at the top of google search results. Persistence is key.

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