Using LinkedIn to Find a Better Job Within Your Current Company - CareerEnlightenment.com

Using LinkedIn to Find a Better Job Within Your Current Company Your company has just hired a new person for the promotion that you deserved. Not only did you not get the job, you didn’t even know that the job was open. If this scenario describes you, you’re definitely not alone. Many companies do a terrible job of cultivating and promoting internal candidates.Before you head over to LinkedIn in a huff to find a job with a new company, consider using LinkedIn to find a new position within your current company. If your company has 100 or more employees, then LinkedIn’s search algorithm will show you open jobs not only in new companies but also within your current company. LinkedIn updated the algorithm because 42 percent of employees would prefer to remain with their current companies if their companies advertised a job opening matching their skills and experience.Why Promoting From Within Is Good Strategy for Your CompanyBusinesses hire communications experts for marketing and public relations (click here for information about MA in Commun ications programs) because they think that their image as a company depends on how they market their brand. However, companies can have great product or service brands and still struggle to attract talent. This disparity often happens because companies fail to invest in their greatest resource: current employees. They underestimate just how much satisfied employees improve recruiting and talent acquisition.Some experts argue that promoting from within perpetuates ongoing company problems. Moving the company forward, they argue, requires fresh blood and a fresh perspective. However, companies don’t necessarily have to hire from the outside to find someone with a fresh perspective. In most companies, hiring someone new costs 1.5 times as much as training a current employee.Before you start searching for your next in-house promotion or job transfer, think about how to sell yourself as the right solution. For example, if you apply for a job in a different department or location, expla in how you bring fresh perspective. If you want to advance in your current department, explain how your experience makes you the right person to move the team forward. Don’t let the company’s preference for outside hires keep you from advocating for yourself. Advancing within your company instead of moving elsewhere could be a great career move. Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Finding Your Next Job on LinkedInStart brushing up your LinkedIn profile by making a list of your on-the-job accomplishments. Quantify them if you can (e.g., “increased revenue by 14 percent”) or present them in the form of a portfolio. Evaluate your headline and your summary to see whether it accurately communicates your unique value. After you’ve refreshed your information, ask your curre nt boss and some respected co-workers for recommendations. In addition to searching LinkedIn’s search field (at the top of the page) for job openings, watch the “Jobs You May Be Interested In” section for openings within your company.Once you’ve found an attractive opening, keep these three tips in mind:Be discreet. Vicki Ayers, senior director of executive recruitment at RPA, Inc., says that when internal employees apply for positions, they’ll experience one of three outcomes: They’ll be rejected outright, they’ll be advanced as a courtesy before being rejected or they’ll be placed into serious consideration for the job. If you tell everyone that you’ve applied and one of the first two outcomes occurs, then you might feel embarrassed or even more resentful of your workplace. Put your hat in the ring, but don’t post a LinkedIn update saying that you applied for the job.Be thorough. You have some advantages as an internal candidate, but you should still follow all directions related to applying. Fill out applications, answer questionnaires, attend interviews and do whatever an external candidate would do. In the public sector, neglecting to comply with all requirements could mean dismissal from the job search.Be independent. Avoid recruiting your co-workers, other managers, clients or community members to advocate on your behalf. Always remember that messages you send on LinkedIn aren’t private. Your achievements and assets should speak for themselves, so avoid pitting people against one another.As with any external job search, you might apply for multiple positions before finding a good fit. However, if you like your company and you don’t want to leave, LinkedIn could help you find the perfect internal opportunity.