To be cutting edge back when LinkedIn launched back in 2003, all you needed was an account and a profile that outlined your jobs, titles and where you went to school.
Boasting a 2014 membership of 300 million, a passive profile alone no longer cuts it – particularly if yours is an industry inundated with job seekers.
You need to actively engage your audience and expand your network – here’s how:
Post
Try to post at least once a week. This can be as little as “liking” an article of interest, sharing what others have written with a comment of your own, or posting something yourself.
The more you post, the more your profile will appear at the tops of the feeds of your connections.
Connect
Shoot for at least 250 connections. More than 500 is ideal, however, to gain access to thousands of second- and third-level connections.
Participate
Locate groups worth joining by going to Interests, selecting “Groups” and searching by job function or industry. Being a member of a group allows you to message privately with its members who are not a direct connection. It is also a great venue to identify those who work at your target companies, recruiters and HR Managers.
Most topic-oriented groups are rich with like-minded professionals sharing industry insight and job opportunities. They are great way to connect with people and find discussions worth sharing with your connections outside the group.
BONUS: When you participate in a group your visibility gets boosted because your contributions appear in both your individual and group feeds.
A Competitive Edge
To get the most benefit from LinkedIn and position yourself ahead of the competition, you have to become a proactive user. This means reaching out to others, participating in the community and continuously working to expand your network.