13 LinkedIn Tips: A Handy Guide For Job Hunters (PICTURES)

LinkedIn offers a slew of helpful tools for landing a job, but making your profile stand out from the millions of others can sometimes seem like a daunting task. As of August 2011, the site boasted over 120 million users and more than 2 million companies worldwide.

If you want to be noticed (and hired!), one thing you should not do is describe yourself the same way everyone else does: In 2010, LinkedIn conducted a study that found the 10 most overused words on users' profile are "extensive experience," "innovative," "motivated," "results-oriented," "dynamic," "proven track record," "team player," "fast-paced," "problem solver," "entrepreneurial."

If you're looking for helpful tips about how you can use LinkedIn to your advantage, we've put together a guide to 13 tricks and tools that will help make your profile shine. Take a look through our list and vote for the most helpful tips. Did we leave out your favorite LinkedIn feature? Let us know in the comments (below).

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Use LinkedIn InMaps To Visualize Your Network

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If you're a visual learner, you'll likely benefit from this color-coded web that maps your LinkedIn connections. Each color represents a different group within your professional world. You can fill in the legend by labeling each color: Red for places you've worked, blue for friends and family, green for college, yellow for conferences you attended, and so on. Once your network is laid out for you, you'll be able to see in which areas you need to focus on building connections. You can also share the map with your connections on LinkedIn and elsewhere.

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If you're a visual learner, you'll likely benefit from this color-coded web that maps your LinkedIn connections. Each color represents a different group within your professional world. You can fill in the legend by labeling each color: Red for places you've worked, blue for friends and family, green for college, yellow for conferences you attended, and so on. Once your network is laid out for you, you'll be able to see in which areas you need to focus on building connections. You can also share the map with your connections on LinkedIn and elsewhere.

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Comments

[Jack Daniels Esq]

03:06 AM on 08/29/2011

By the comments count one can ...... oh never mind

[Jericha]

01:06 AM on 08/29/2011

Does anyone else read the name of that website "link-a-din?" o.O

[Jack Daniels Esq]

03:05 AM on 08/29/2011

lol - still do

[NevaforLeadership]

03:22 PM on 08/28/2011

Frantic headhunters and employment agencies are destroying LinkedIn, just as they destroyed job-hunting boards (already on the heap of obsolescence).

[manelady]

02:32 PM on 08/28/2011

Thought I'd sign up for Linkedin a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, the people who want to connect with me have nothing to do with my profession or able to connect me to work. A total waste.

[NevaforLeadership]

03:39 PM on 08/28/2011

It's up to you to find the right connections.

[Concerned Citizen in CA]

11:19 PM on 08/28/2011

Have you maintained any connections with former colleagues? Do you have any friends in the industry that you are looking for employment in? Search for them and invite them to be a connection. Those that are asking you to be their connection that you do not feel would be a good contact for you, deny their connection request - but be careful. That person may be more valuable as a connection than you realize.

[tallky]

01:42 PM on 08/28/2011

I find this site falling into all the "not" categories of good use. They make me think !! which leads to "I'm gone" and worse with the only shot they have with me, force me to fill out a box to enter my own page. Ugh - awful awful awful linkedin. Users are people who are afraid facebook isn't professional enough. Guess a billion users isn't inviting? No, scared someone will see a personal photo and find out they have a life. wow - think I said it, don't like linkedin. Out.

[NevaforLeadership]

03:42 PM on 08/28/2011

LinkedIn is the site for professionals; Facebook the site for socializing.

If you have professional aspirations, you would do well to work through LinkedIn's admittedly awkward set up to post your profile, garner profesional contacts, and show your professional value.

[Concerned Citizen in CA]

07:47 PM on 08/27/2011

Did you read the article? Do you even know what linkedin is for? Obviously not if you think this is a "dating site".

[Jack Daniels Esq]

08:02 PM on 08/27/2011

So which one are ya?
Oh - all of the above

[Charlie Fox]

11:45 PM on 08/26/2011

I understand why people looking for work would go to LinkedIn, but why would a prospective employer? They get resumes, probably a lot more than they hire, I would think they would go through the people who actually spent the time to send them something before they check out the people who just posted "Looking for Job" on the internet.

[Concerned Citizen in CA]

07:46 PM on 08/27/2011

A prospective employer may be looking to "steal" an employee from another company, someone that is not actively looking for a new job, but wouldn't be opposed to hearing offers from a prospective employer that might be willing to offer a better situation. Or an employer may be soon to have an opening and may want to check through their connections or network to find someone that would be qualified before they go to the expense of advertising the open position.

[NevaforLeadership]

03:37 PM on 08/28/2011

The point of LinkedIn goes far beyond resumes, employment agencies and headhunters.

The point is to bypass them altogether, much to their chagrin, as they desperately pull your information, uninvited, then pass through your front door, again uninvited, and pilfer your contacts' information.

Let's say three people are competing for a top job. The first has no LinkedIn presence. The second has posted a resume, with all the usual key words and b.s. listed in this article. The third's contacts include top industry leaders, mutual contacts, incredible recommendations, active blogging, and evidence of actual industry participation and results.

Which person do you think will get the job. No headhunters or employment agencies required.

That's what LinkedIn is all about.

[idmtbiker]

10:57 PM on 08/26/2011

why bother...LinkedIn sucks. just a bunch of unemployed contractors....desperate for connections to find a paying job....ugh.

[Concerned Citizen in CA]

07:53 PM on 08/27/2011

I have found a lot of currently employed former co-workers that range from regular employees to CFO's and VPs, with my old company and many other companies. Maybe people in your industry just doesn't use Linkedin. It doesn't mean that it sucks for everyone.

[NevaforLeadership]

03:38 PM on 08/28/2011

Employed people of consequence make sure they are on LinkedIn.

[idmtbiker]

10:53 PM on 08/26/2011

oh shit...Linkin sucked. I did it, and then closed my profile, it is just a bunch of independent contractors using the site to find work... what a waste of time, if you are not an unemployed contractor.....ugh..