4 LinkedIn messaging tips for career builders
The key to successful connections with these different personalities lies in both the approach and the details of communication, according to Blake Angove, director of technology services at staffing company LaSalle Network. "LinkedIn doesn't just have to be for job seekers — there's value beyond that," he says. "It's built for professional networking, which makes it easy for you to effectively search out and connect with the professionals you're looking for, for a variety of reasons."
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Knowing how to reach out to people the right way can be the difference between ignored messages and ones that spark lasting relationships. Here's how to effectively connect with four key LinkedIn user types — hiring managers, mentors, other IT pros and former managers —along with tips on how to get what you want from them.
If you recently applied for a job or completed an interview, you might be eager to reach out to the hiring manager or HR representative for updates. If you're hesitant about whether LinkedIn is the right way to communicate, trust your instinct and don't reach out via the social networks, according to career strategist and LinkedIn expert Nicole Williams. However, in the right situations, connecting with hiring pros via LinkedIn can show your continued interest in the position and commitment to the process, and it can keep you and your resume top of mind, Williams says.
LinkedIn does not let users message others if they're not already connected or don't have paid accounts. So if you want to reach out to someone with whom you're not connected, send an invitation first, with a customized personal note. "Keep your message concise and friendly, and let them know it was great meeting them and their team," she says. "Bring up an anecdote or topic that was floated around during your interview and expand on it. The interview is still going on at this point. Impress them with this message, and keep it brief."
If you use LinkedIn to follow up on a job application, first make sure the contents of your resume match your LinkedIn profile, Angove says. "One of the easiest ways to turn off a hiring manager is if dates or info don't line up."
In your message, it's a good idea to let recipients know how you applied to the job, and tell them you're following up to answer any questions they may have, Angove says. The message should be short and to the point. "Don't follow up more than once with them via LinkedIn," he says. "LinkedIn sends your message to both their LinkedIn account and the email address they associate with it, so they'll see it in two places." And if you don't receive a timely response, consider reaching out to someone else in HR with a slightly different message, he says.
If you hope to find a new mentor on LinkedIn, you need to know where to look. LinkedIn's "Groups" and "Advanced Search" features are two good places to start.
You should first search for relevant Groups based on your location, according to Angove. This can help you find nearby professionals, cultivate relationship, and then seek out the most active users. "These are the people who are already in the mindset of being a mentor — they're already sharing, they're already teaching," he says.
Using LinkedIn's Advanced Search feature, you can search by industry, title, location and keyword to narrow down results, according to Williams. When you find professionals that fit your criteria, reach out with purposeful messages. "Do you want that person to help you find a job Make your skill set better" Angove asks. "Once you identify that, craft your message around that goal."
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However, you shouldn't immediately ask people to be your mentor, Williams says. Instead, you should first attempt to establish a rapport. "Introduce yourself and compliment them on their career," she says. "Through several exchanges, you'll see that a mentor relationship is starting to form."
If you're just starting a search for new technology vendors or are in the middle of a companywide software implementation, reaching out to other IT professionals who have successfully navigated the same terrain can provide a wealth of useful advice. "IT pros love to teach and share best practices and successes on projects, and by tapping into that you can gain a lot of value," Angove says.
LinkedIn user Groups dedicated to projects similar to yours are good places to find likeminded pros, according to Angove. Connecting with Groups also lets you create dialogues with people you aren't directly connected to, and that helps build new relationships with potentially valuable contacts. "Just remember to keep it professional," he says. "Your questions and comments are visible to everyone in that group."
If you're polishing or updating your LinkedIn profile to prepare for a new job search, recommendations from former colleagues are some of the most impactful additions, according to Williams. It's ideal to ask your current manager for such a recommendation right after you complete a successful project, but that's not always possible.
When reaching out to former managers for recommendations after the fact, ask them to comment on your ability to perform in certain situations and provide specific examples, Williams says. "Feel free to send over bullets for them to use as inspiration," she says. "You want these references to speak to your range as an employee."
It's also a good idea to request recommendations that speak to the specific responsibilities required for the job you're trying to land, according to Angove. "If you apply for a software development position, ask your manager to talk about writing and delivering code because that's most applicable to the job," he says.