LinkedIn In 2003, Reid Hoffman launched LinkedIn with the vision to create employment opportunities for people across the globe. With almost 740 million users, LinkedIn has become one of the largest platforms for professionals to build strong networks, hire new talents, find investors, or even get hired.
You can use LinkedIn to build connections and socialize with people, but its capabilities are much more than that. If you use it well, LinkedIn can take your career to the greatest heights of success, whether at home or abroad.
Why use LinkedIn to get a job abroad?
If you’re wondering how to get hired internationally, you should know that social networking sites can be valuable in your international job search based on the industry you want to serve. LinkedIn is hands down the most useful social networking site for people looking for a job abroad, regardless of industry.
Three groups of individuals will be most receptive to helping international job seekers. They are:
- Online and offline networking groups
- Local industry connections
- Local headhunters or recruiters
On LinkedIn, you get limitless access to all three groups.
If you want to use LinkedIn to get a job abroad, be as specific as you can in your search, and LinkedIn will be more valuable in providing access to relevant employment opportunities.
How to get hired internationally through LinkedIn
Here’s how to use LinkedIn to find a job abroad
1.Complete your profile on LinkedIn
The very first thing you need to work on is completing your LinkedIn profile. Make sure your profile includes essential items like:
- Professional description
- CV/Resume
- Professional picture
- Educational background
- Your competencies and skills
You can also upload other additional details if you would like to. This can be positive feedback from clients you have already worked with, your previous pay package, and some volunteer work you have done in the past.
2. Select your profile headline carefully
Profile headline is one of the most ignored attributes on LinkedIn. Many users do not bother to put much thought into it. Generic headlines like VP Marketing, Financial Advisor, or Travel Blogger won’t cut it if you want to land a job abroad.
Think of your profile headline as your way of differentiating yourself on LinkedIn. Make sure your headline is not about you, but about how you can be helpful to your potential employers abroad. Ensure your headline stands out in search results, and even when you’re active on the site.
3. Build connections
Do not be shy to connect with individuals you used to work with or those you would like to work with. Connect with people the same way you connect on other social networking sites, but think more professionally when building connections on LinkedIn.
Are you actively searching for a job abroad? Then connect with professionals in your industry in your target destination. Remember, it is a vast network where the more people you connect with, the quicker you will reach your objectives and achieve your dream professional life
Do not send many connection requests daily. If you do this, they might flag you as a bot; experts recommend sending 10 to 30 requests daily. Once you are fully active on this platform, you will find that users are sending you requests, and you will eventually start growing at a reasonable speed.
Growing your network on LinkedIn means reaching a wider audience when you start posting on your profile, and discovering more employment opportunities when your contacts post on their profiles.
4. Post regularly
To use LinkedIn to get a job abroad, you’ll want to post something every day or at regular intervals. Your posts can be text, a relevant image, or a LinkedIn video. Make sure to keep the length of the text or video short and succinct so that it can attract the ideal people right away.
5. Understand that LinkedIn has varied profile levels
There are regular profiles, and then there are Premium profiles on LinkedIn. If you want to connect with Premium users on the platform, you will have to pay to get a Premium account. This can be worthwhile investment if you want to accelerate the process of securing a job abroad.
6. Research prospective employers through filters
Use filters to demarcate the type of jobs you want to do in your destination of choice. This will help you find the most relevant employers and job opportunities. You can also write articles about your previous job and interview experiences and upload pictures
7. Use connections to build new relations
The main idea behind building connections on LinkedIn is to be in touch with every individual you have already worked with—managers, directors, and colleagues. It’s a small world, where you might cross paths with the same people in your industry, even in another country. So, keep in touch with past connections so they can be your source of building new relations.
8. Follow companies and get in touch with their decision-makers directly
LinkedIn will give you access to individual connections and the scope to follow news updates of hundreds of companies worldwide. So, you can go through company profiles and find out whether you have first, second, or third-level connections with any of its employees.
Land your dream job abroad through LinkedIn!
So, if you were about finding international jobs on LinkedIn, you’ll hopefully now understand that this platform has great value. If you follow the steps above to find your dream job abroad on LinkedIn, you will find that your time spent on the platform was well worth it.