Using LinkedIn

The best thing about LinkedIn (and other social media) is that the people who use it are there to network, and you can connect with people in a tiny fraction of the time that it would take you to identify and connect via traditional networking channels. While social media is no substitute for in-person interactions, it is a great supplement – and it can help you obtain those valuable face-to-face meetings in the first place.

For lawyers, LinkedIn is currently the most important social medium, although others (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus) are useful as well. This section focuses mainly on LinkedIn, but you should discuss other social media options with your counselor.

Start With Your Existing Network

Invite all members of your existing network – everyone you know and are in touch with – to connect with you on LinkedIn. Between former colleagues, classmates, neighbors, friends, family members and service providers, you likely have hundreds of contacts. You can then ask these people for help, as appropriate.

Example: "Hi, Jane. I hope all is well with you and your family. I have a question: I’m seriously interested in the posted opportunity for an in-house Assistant Compliance Officer at ABC Corp. (posted on ___). I see you are connected with John Doe, who is recruiting for this position." [Then, choose one of the following three options, and switch to communicating via email or phone after you do]:

  1. "I was wondering whether you would be willing to forward my resume and speak with him on my behalf. If you would feel more comfortable, I would be happy to speak with you first or to draft a cover email for you to use and edit as you see fit."

  2. "I was hoping that you might have a suggestion as to the best way for me to express interest and, hopefully, meet him."

  3. "Would you by chance also know the hiring manager (General Counsel, department head, etc.) for this area of responsibility at ABC Corp.?"

Connect With People With Whom You've Lost Touch

Think about people you would like to be connected with but with whom you’ve lost touch (e.g., former colleagues and classmates, people from other law firms, people you know from extracurricular or committee work). Later, after you re-establish the relationship, you can talk about your job search. Reach out to those people, but make sure to send them tailored, personalized invitations to connect; do not just use LinkedIn’s standard “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” Try to be conversational rather than too formal.

Example: "Dear John, it’s been a long time, and I was just thinking about you because I read something about ____. I’m glad to see that you are ___. I’d love to reconnect with you via LinkedIn, and then have a proper conversation to catch up, so please accept this invitation to connect. I look forward to speaking soon! Best, Jane"

Follow Up With People You Meet During Your Networking Efforts

You can also use LinkedIn to follow up with someone you recently met at a networking event or conference. This is especially helpful if that person did not give you a business card, but you would still like to stay in touch. Simply search for the person by name or by employer.

Example: "Dear John Doe, I enjoyed meeting you briefly at the ___ event yesterday and chatting about ____. As promised, here is an invitation to connect with me via LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting!" [Once he accepts your invitation, you can send an email or message to meet for coffee.]

Expand Your Network By Finding New Connections on LinkedIn

There are at least three great ways you can use LinkedIn to expand your network.

1.  Focus on your target organizations.

Search for people at your target organizations (use the company search function) to find first-, second- and third-degree connections. Connect with these people (you can ask your mutual connections for introductions) so you can learn more about your target organizations.

Example: "Dear John, Our mutual connection, ____, recommended that I reach out to you as a resource to learn more about ABC Corporation. I would be grateful if you would accept this invitation to connect, and then I will message you. Thanks so much!"

2.  Find people with common interests.

When looking at a contact’s profile, you can see “viewers of this profile also viewed…” (on the lower right of the screen). Use this feature to expand your networking options; you can send an email to those people, introducing yourself and identifying your common interests.

Example: "Dear John Doe, Your name keeps popping up on LinkedIn as someone who shares an interest in ___. I would be grateful if you would accept this invitation to connect. Thank you."

3.  Use LinkedIn Groups.

Join some industry- and expertise-related Groups. Offer comments, start a discussion and let yourself be seen as a subject matter expert or as someone with valuable things to say. You can use the Group to network generally and, more specifically, to connect with other members who work at your target organizations.

Example: "Dear John Doe, I would like to follow up with you on the ___ comment that you wrote in the ___ Group. I found your perspective very insightful, and I would be grateful if you would accept this invitation to connect. Thank you."

Other Ways to Use Social Media to Help With Your Job Search

  • Use LinkedIn to search for current and former employees of your target organization, so you can see whether you know anyone who works there or used to work there. You can use this information to expand your network.

  • Use the job listings posted on LinkedIn’s Job Board (you can search either geographically or by using Boolean terms). LinkedIn is especially good for in-house corporate job postings.

  • Use the Company Selection feature of LinkedIn to stay current with information about your target organizations.

  • Follow your target organizations (and their competitors) by “liking” their Facebook pages so you can stay current and learn what’s important to them.

  • Follow your target organizations on Twitter and Facebook. You do not have to “like” the organizations or tweet anything yourself; just read what the organizations have to say about themselves and their industries.

  • Follow the blogs of movers and shakers in your target industry. Or, if you are so inclined, consider starting your own blog, so you can be viewed as a mover and shaker.

  • Consider whether to offer to write recommendations for some of your LinkedIn connections. (Discuss this first with your counselor, as it depends on the person and the circumstances.) After you write a recommendation for someone, LinkedIn will automatically ask that person if he or she wants to write a recommendation for you. Some percentage of your recommendees will say yes. (Remember to guide them tactfully to stay consistent with your narrative/message, especially if you are seeking to reinvent yourself.)

  • Tend to your LinkedIn account periodically (at least once per week) so that your profile appears in others’ search results. Also, make sure there are searchable keywords in your LinkedIn profile so that when recruiters conduct searches for specific expertise in your substantive area (e.g., vendor agreements, outsourcing, commercial contracts; life sciences; EEOC, wage and hour class actions, employment litigation), your profile will appear in their top results.

  • Google yourself, and also sanitize your Facebook page, to make sure that nothing inappropriate comes up and that whatever a future employer sees about you is 100% positive. If you come across negative or unflattering information, discuss it with your counselor immediately.

 

 

 

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