Whether you're officially looking for a new job or just trying to get noticed by the right people in case they might be interested in you, the number one thing you need to do is get your LinkedIn profile in front of the hiring managers at your target companies.

In this article I will outline the four proactive LinkedIn steps you can take to get that done.

By the way, I will be sharing these and many more tips, tricks, and strategies at my virtual workshop Using Advanced LinkedIn Strategies to Up Your Job Search Game. The workshop will be on August 16, noon-2pm CT. No worries if you're busy, because all registrants will receive a recording of the session.

Note: Keep in mind that a successful job search during a pandemic may require some strategies you feel are too aggressive or don't fit your personality. However, tough times require tough steps; so try to keep an open mind about the strategies that may seem like a stretch for you.
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Four strategies that will get your LinkedIn profile in front of hiring managers

Keyword optimize your profile. The LinkedIn algorithm that determines who shows up higher in a LinkedIn search is similar to the digital gatekeeper most companies use, which is referred to as ATS (Applicant Tracking System).

Identify the most important keywords in a job posting you're interested in, and then place those words throughout your profile as you explain your experience. Place them in your headline, job titles, and the Skills & Endorsements section for the most impact.

For help with this, download my Keywords Worksheet by clicking here.

Ask your connections to refer you to the right people at your target companies. If the hiring manager or someone in HR shows up as a 2nd degree connection, investigate the people who show up as mutual connections, and see if they can put in a good word for you with their friend.

This investigative work may sound like it takes too much time. However, this "who knows whom" capability is one of the most valuable functions on LinkedIn. If you don't take advantage of this critical information in your job search, you'll be missing out on a powerful resource—the power of established relationships.

Confidently send a LinkedIn connection request to the hiring manager. I hear from many of my clients that this strategy is what helped them cut through the multilayered hiring process that is prevalent today.

If the hiring manager has the Connect button displayed on his or her profile, take advantage of this opportunity to send an invitation to join your LinkedIn network. The key here is to compose a customized message to connect that includes a strategically crafted, professionally written, 300-character note. Here is an example of what that could look like:

Hi, William:

I just got done talking with Bob Smith, your friend and mine. He suggested I connect with you to let you know that I just applied for the Project Manager position at your company and couldn't be more excited about the opportunity. I look forward to talking with you soon. In the meantime, I would be honored to have you join my network.

Wayne

Can you guess what he'll do when he gets this note from you, even if he doesn't decide to connect? It's very likely he'll look at your LinkedIn profile—the first step in getting past the gatekeeper.

Insightfully comment on a LinkedIn post from the hiring manager. LinkedIn has shared that since the beginning of the pandemic, more people are posting updates than ever before. Thus, chances are the hiring manager at a target company or maybe someone from his or her department has shared a post you could strategically comment on.

Why would you want to do this? Well, when people comment on my posts, the first thing I do is look at their profiles. Chances are pretty good that your comment will entice a hiring gatekeeper to take a look at your profile, too.

I'm confident that if you start consistently following some or all of these strategies, you'll get more profile views by the right people at the right companies, which will lead to more lucrative job interviews.

REMINDER: Using Advanced LinkedIn Strategies to Up Your Job Search Game

If you'd like to learn more simple ways to get noticed, get past the gatekeeper, and get hired, register now for my upcoming two-hour workshop on August 16. Click here to get more details and register. And remember—if you aren't able to attend the live virtual event, your registration includes a link to the recording.

Here is what a recent workshop participant shared about her results after attending:

"I attended a LinkedIn workshop by Wayne. Updated my LinkedIn profile using all his Awesome tips and got 4 interviews with top Fortune 500 companies 5 days later. His tips really elevated my profile. I would highly recommend everyone attend his workshops, they are great!"