PDF Summary:Linked, by Omar Garriott and Jeremy Schifeling

In today's job market, old methods have become outdated. In Linked, Omar Garriott and Jeremy Schifeling provide a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the contemporary employment landscape. The authors emphasize leveraging LinkedIn as a critical tool for building an impactful professional brand, expanding your network, and gaining a competitive edge.

This modern guide offers actionable strategies for crafting a LinkedIn profile that captivates recruiters, shares insights on cultivating meaningful connections, and explains how to harness LinkedIn's powerful search capabilities. Whether you're starting your career or seeking new opportunities, Linked equips you with the knowledge to optimize your job search in the digital age.

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Choose a vocation that aligns with your individual interests as well as your professional goals, as advised by Garriott and Schifeling.

Developing tailored programs and skillfully steering through applicant tracking systems.

The vast majority of Fortune 500 companies employ Applicant Tracking Systems as an initial step to sift through resumes prior to human recruiter evaluation. They offer advice on enhancing your curriculum vitae by selecting appropriate keywords, measurable accomplishments, and engaging wording that resonates with automated filtering systems as well as the human reviewers who follow. The authors advise creating a resume that's clear and concise, which complies with hiring software standards and emphasizes relevant skills and achievements specific to the job industry.

Ensuring that each job application you send out is crafted with careful attention to detail while also managing the quantity you submit.

Garriott and Schifeling recommend carefully assessing how well a job aligns with one's qualifications rather than applying to numerous openings without discernment. They recommend a measured approach that maintains equilibrium between the quantity of job applications sent out and the quality of each application. The authors advise setting a target for the number of job applications to submit each week, emphasizing the importance of applying for roles that match your skills and professional experience. Crafting a unique application for a specific role holds more value than sending out numerous nondescript ones.

Building a purposeful network to increase the chances of receiving endorsements.

The authors stress the significance of proactively building connections before the need arises, instead of hastily seeking out contacts when one urgently requires employment. They advise utilizing the LinkedIn network to forge relationships with individuals capable of providing insightful counsel, opening doors to new opportunities, and strengthening your career ambitions.

Building relationships with direct contacts, their friends, and previous pupils.

Garriott and Schifeling provide a systematic strategy for leveraging your current LinkedIn connections and making the most of introductions to their acquaintances, which in turn broadens your circle of professional contacts. They also outline how to utilize alumni networks to identify mentors and key hiring personnel, as well as individuals who can provide strong recommendations for positions at your desired firms.

Reaching out to hiring managers personally ensures that you will grab their attention.

The authors advise job seekers to expand their networking tactics to forge direct relationships with decision-makers in hiring, instead of confining their exchanges to individuals in recruitment positions. By positioning themselves as the solution to the problems highlighted by the hiring manager in the job description, job seekers can create valuable networks that could lead to concrete employment opportunities. This approach requires thorough research and carefully crafted conversation, which can yield significant benefits for those who diligently cultivate their visibility.

Undertaking comprehensive investigations to ensure the agreement is finalized.

Garriott and Schifeling emphasize that thorough investigation is a crucial element of an effective job search, which includes more than just getting ready for interviews. They advise thorough analysis at each phase, taking into account different career paths and carefully evaluating potential employers.

Understanding the main stakeholders, the industry, and the internal mechanisms of the company is essential.

The authors outline a comprehensive strategy to thoroughly comprehend a business, its sector, and the significant people engaged. To fully prepare for all aspects of the job search, it is essential to conduct in-depth research, which encompasses examining Company Pages, keeping up with industry trends, seeking knowledge from employment-related websites, and having informal discussions with current or former employees of the companies you're targeting.

Adequate preparation and adept negotiation are crucial for successful interviews.

Schifeling and Garriott stress the importance of being well-prepared before attending job interviews. They advise creating captivating narratives that showcase relevant expertise and accomplishments, while also formulating thought-provoking inquiries that demonstrate genuine interest and analytical thinking. Mastering negotiation skills is equally important. Develop a comprehension of salary numbers and confidently advocate for remuneration that reflects your input's worth.

Cultivating a unique personal brand is just as crucial as actively seeking out networking opportunities.

This section highlights the importance of actively developing one's individual reputation while engaging in networking, with a particular emphasis on making the most of LinkedIn. The book emphasizes the importance of crafting a compelling personal narrative and building robust professional relationships.

Developing a distinctive and engaging story and character.

Schifeling and Garriott stress the significance of crafting a distinctive and coherent personal identity that truly represents your abilities, background, and future goals. This entails moving past commonplace descriptors and clichés to construct a distinctive story that seizes attention and distinguishes you from your rivals.

Develop a tactical plan for writing the title and overview portions of your LinkedIn page.

The authors outline particular strategies to craft a LinkedIn Headline that appeals to human recruiters as well as enhances visibility in the platform's search capabilities. They recommend highlighting the job or role you are most enthusiastic about as the key term and making use of the remaining space to display your expertise, abilities, or sector-related experience. The About section provides an opportunity to narrate your career journey. Schifeling and Garriott advise starting your summary by providing a concise introduction, highlighting key achievements, and finishing with a delineation of your specialties and ways to get in touch.

Employing a range of multimedia resources to showcase your expertise.

The authors recommend utilizing LinkedIn's multimedia features to showcase one's abilities in a more engaging manner. This involves integrating links to various publications or initiatives, sharing multimedia like slideshows or films, and providing a concise introductory clip aimed at sparking curiosity. The authors acknowledge that while low-quality videos may have a negative effect, they argue that a well-crafted video can create a lasting impression on hiring managers.

Cultivating a robust network within the corporate community

Garriott and Schifeling stress the importance of being proactive in establishing professional relationships in today's job market. They emphasize the significance of building meaningful relationships within your field rather than just amassing a list of superficial acquaintances.

Initiating contact with pertinent individuals.

The authors present numerous strategies for broadening your network of professional contacts on LinkedIn. This entails integrating contacts from various platforms, deliberately growing your network with individuals who could offer endorsements or advice, staying informed about significant companies and industry influencers, engaging in pertinent groups, and proactively engaging with the accounts of those you aim to connect with to enhance the likelihood of reciprocal interaction. A varied and carefully developed network significantly boosts the likelihood of discovering concealed employment prospects and obtaining important recommendations.

Building relationships and actively pursuing endorsements via your circle of contacts.

The authors emphasize the importance of treating networking as a continuous process rather than an isolated event. You must consistently engage with and nurture your network by periodically reaching out to your connections. They recommend maintaining communication with individuals who have given you informational interviews, taking the initiative to offer help, and creating a memorable presence within your professional circle.

Harnessing the power of informational interviews.

Schifeling and Garriott stress the importance of preparing for informational interviews with the same thoroughness and attention to detail that one would apply to a traditional job interview. These informal conversations are valuable chances to leave a positive impression.

Show your dedication when you're considering applying.

Schifeling and Garriott advise job seekers to view informational interviews as opportunities to demonstrate their professional behavior, expertise in the field, and genuine passion for the sectors they are interested in. To achieve success, it is essential to meticulously investigate both the company and the person conducting the interview, ask questions that stimulate discussion, and provide well-thought-out answers that demonstrate your competence and enthusiasm.

Gaining specialized insight to identify highly suitable opportunities.

Garriott and Schifeling advise engaging in informational interviews to gain a comprehensive insight into the workings of a business, how its team members collaborate, and the attributes it values in potential hires. The authors suggest asking detailed questions to understand the challenges and opportunities of the company, which leads to a deeper understanding than what is available through the company's public online platforms. Collecting this data can enhance your approach to job applications and provide valuable topics for conversation in future interviews.

Utilizing in-depth research and digital resources to achieve professional advancement.

This section of the book highlights the strength of LinkedIn's analytical tools and the importance of integrating LinkedIn searches with other internet tools to gain a broader understanding of potential employers, anticipated salaries, and industry trends. The text underscores the significance of digital learning environments in fostering career progression and enhancing vocational skills.

Employing LinkedIn's advanced search and analysis capabilities

Schifeling and Garriott describe methods for utilizing LinkedIn's advanced search features to identify and actively seek out prospective employment positions. They offer comprehensive explanations and instances relevant to each filter. They advise taking into account factors like the organization's size, the industry it functions within, and the number of applicants to pinpoint the best opportunities and increase the chances of a positive result.

Employing strategies to pinpoint job opportunities with significant potential.

Schifeling and Garriott provide comprehensive guidance on how to leverage filters to uncover often overlooked opportunities. Utilizing the "Under 10 Applicants" filter can assist you in pinpointing job openings that have attracted fewer applicants, thus increasing your chances of obtaining a job.

Investigating the distinctive traits and functional processes of various corporations.

The authors detail the method of analyzing the vast datasets from the advanced subscription service of a prominent professional networking platform, specifically focusing on the Company Insights feature, to discern patterns of recruitment, understand the distribution of employee demographics, and track the career trajectories of high-level executives. Although these observations might lack the practicality of other research techniques, they provide valuable insights into a company's growth path and structural organization, aiding in the assessment of various opportunities.

Expanding your digital footprint beyond just LinkedIn.

The authors also stress the significance of broadening your employment hunt to encompass diverse digital platforms, while recognizing the dominant position of LinkedIn in the realm of online job markets.

Exploring the organization's ethos, evaluating prospective financial rewards, and readying oneself for anticipated questions during the phase of job interviews.

Schifeling and Garriott highlight the significance of leveraging platforms like Glassdoor, Blind, and The Org to acquire knowledge about expected salaries, to understand the ethos of organizations, and to prepare effectively for interview processes. These platforms provide a wealth of shared knowledge often lacking in the formal online representations of companies.

Staying abreast of the latest developments and changes in the sector.

Garriott and Schifeling suggest staying informed about industry advancements and innovations by monitoring relevant hashtags, joining niche groups, and signing up for newsletters and content from influential individuals, in addition to LinkedIn's informative platforms.

Consistently improving one's knowledge and abilities.

The authors emphasize the importance of continuous learning and skill development, arguing that in fast-changing industries, adaptable generalists often hold an advantage over narrowly specialized experts. They highlight various online platforms that facilitate professional growth.

Leveraging digital learning resources like the ones provided by LinkedIn.

The authors recommend engaging in educational programs offered by LinkedIn to cultivate the crucial competencies required for your selected professional path. They suggest utilizing the free trial provided by the platform to explore relevant courses and assess their alignment with your goals. They also recognize Coursera and Udacity among other online learning platforms as beneficial resources.

Demonstrate your commitment to continuous self-improvement and adaptability.

Schifeling and Garriott highlight the importance of demonstrating a dedication to ongoing learning and flexibility, which can significantly improve your attractiveness to potential employers. They suggest displaying completed courses relevant to your field on your LinkedIn profile as a demonstration of your commitment to continuous learning and self-enhancement when interviewing for jobs.