LinkedIn is a professional networking website that allows you to build relationships, share content, and find jobs. Features of the service include an individual career page that displays work history and recommendations from connections, an online resume submission feature and instant messaging features.

Use your profile to indicate that you're open to new opportunities, then watch for recruiters or company pages posting jobs in your area.

1. Create a Professional Profile

Your LinkedIn profile should reflect any new skills, publications or projects completed since your last update. In particular, its summary section needs to reflect these developments.

LinkedIn also includes sections dedicated to certifications, degrees, courses and other professional details. Take care to fill in these sections using keywords that will enable recruiters and potential connections to quickly find you!

Also consider activating "job seeker" mode, which will let recruiters know that you're open to new opportunities while simultaneously notifying your current employer of this change. However, keep in mind that their access may still be visible - should this cause concern, check your privacy settings; they are quite robust.

2. Update Your Profile

Your profile should not just serve as an online resume. Instead, use it as an opportunity to showcase yourself as an authority in your chosen field by regularly adding thought leadership content like blog posts about industry trends or best practices in your field.

Alternatively, set up jobs alerts so recruiters and hiring managers can easily locate you on LinkedIn and potentially reach out with potential job offers.

3. Join Groups

LinkedIn provides several groups dedicated to various industries that can be an excellent way to connect with professionals from related disciplines while engaging in discussions regarding industry trends and discussions about current events. Some groups even host job listings.

Be sure to read and abide by the group rules before joining. These should usually be posted in either its welcome post or on its page itself. Also avoid spamming the group with links of your own or posting questions that could easily be answered through Google searches.

Many LinkedIn groups require admin approval before newcomers can join, so be sure to keep checking pending group requests to ensure you remain welcome in each one.

4. Post Your Resume

LinkedIn can serve as an effective networking and job search tool, but its primary role is as a social media platform. Posting your resume may draw the employer's eye. Just ensure it comes with an accompanying post that is professional yet informative.

LinkedIn also offers the "Easy Apply" feature, enabling you to share your profile and resume directly with companies instead of filling out a full application. However, when using this feature it is important to follow best practices, as using this method could expose sensitive information relating to previous salaries and titles to connections (or the public if your privacy settings allow) of which some may contain personal details about yourself such as current salary/title information.

5. Search for Jobs

LinkedIn's Jobs page lists any available employment positions, with keyword searches to quickly narrow your results, but following companies of interest and checking their pages regularly for job announcements may also prove fruitful.

Your job search on LinkedIn can be refined further by scanning newsfeed posts (recruiters will often advertise job openings here) and performing advanced searches with LinkedIn's Search Operators. For those with time, upgrading to a premium account might help reduce search time significantly; you'll be able to export and save a list of jobs matching your criteria easily, making application easier and monitoring possible.

6. Send Connection Requests

Relying on LinkedIn to secure employment requires more than simply turning on "Open to Work" status and waiting for that perfect offer to come knocking. Instead, using LinkedIn requires networking, sending connection requests, and developing relationships within your network.

Writing an effective message increases your odds of having it accepted. Include details about meeting someone at an event, sharing common interests or noting professional connections between both of you.

Studies demonstrate the value of personalization. Salesbread's research revealed that adding one line to your LinkedIn invitation increases its acceptance rate by 88%! This factor becomes especially vital when targeting busy decision-makers.

7. Follow Companies

As part of your job search strategy, networking is crucial to success. Making connections in your target industry can open doors to recommended jobs or share job postings; also they provide invaluable advice that can aid your search efforts.

LinkedIn allows users to follow companies by visiting their pages. A company page usually features current job openings as well as news, updates and other pertinent details about them.

Following a company gives you access to their profiles, as well as any shared connections you have. According to one LinkedIn study, following a company can increase your chances of being hired more quickly since this indicates an interest in that particular firm and their opportunities.

8. Be Active

As part of any job search, it's vital that your profile remains up-to-date and active on LinkedIn. Doing this can increase visibility among recruiters and prospective employers and can speed up the hiring process.

Contributing in your field could mean contributing blog posts or articles, commenting on similar pieces in other forums, or participating in discussions in LinkedIn groups.

Keep active on LinkedIn means being responsive to recruiters or prospective employers quickly; otherwise it could send the wrong signal about whether you're interested in working for them. Also be mindful of your privacy settings so as not to expose too much personal data on your profile.