Who you choose to follow on LinkedIn can significantly impact your career prospects and professional network. With over 722 million members, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network and following the right connections can open doors to job opportunities, industry insights, and expanded networks.
Why does it matter who I follow?
There are several key reasons why being selective about who you follow on LinkedIn matters:
- Your feed gets filled with their updates – The content posted by people you follow makes up the bulk of your LinkedIn feed. Following relevant voices keeps you up-to-date on trends and opportunities in your industry.
- It expands your professional network – Following people allows you to connect with new contacts and build relationships with professionals in your field.
- It shapes how others perceive you – The types of people and brands you follow communicates your interests and areas of expertise. Following thought leaders and reputable sources enhances your personal brand.
- You gain access to new opportunities – Following recruiters, hiring managers, and senior professionals at target companies gives exposure to open jobs and career options.
In summary, being selective with who you follow gives control over the information and connections available to you through your LinkedIn feed and profile.
How do I choose who to follow?
Here are some tips on curating your LinkedIn follow list:
- Look up key leaders in your industry such as founders of successful companies, authors, speakers, and media personalities. Follow them to gain insight into trends and innovations.
- Identify and follow important voices at your dream companies or organizations to get on their radar and learn about their priorities.
- Search for and follow recruiters who place candidates in roles you would be interested in. This exposes you to more relevant job postings.
- Follow alumni from your university or college who work in your desired field. This activates the alumni network and provides mentorship opportunities.
- Search names of speakers or panelists from industry events you have attended or plan to attend. Stay connected after the event.
- Ask colleagues and mentors for recommendations on who to follow based on your goals and interests.
Who should I avoid following?
While it’s good to be selective about who you follow, you generally want to avoid:
- Contacts irrelevant to your industry or interests
- People you do not know on a professional basis
- Contacts who post too frequently and clutter up your feed
- Anyone displaying inappropriate or unprofessional behavior
Follow people selectively but also be willing to unfollow contacts if their content is not aligned with your preferences or goals for your LinkedIn feed.
Following the right people by role
Here is a breakdown of some key roles and people worth following:
Industry experts and thought leaders
Follow authors, speakers, researchers, and consultants who shape perspectives in your field. This provides insider knowledge and sets you apart as an informed professional.
Professional associations and media
Follow relevant professional associations and publications to stay on top of industry news, training opportunities, and trend reports.
Alumni from your university
Connect with fellow alumni working in your industry. This activates your alumni network and unlocks mentorship potential.
Recruiters and talent acquisition
Follow recruiters from companies you want to work for. Being on their radar can expose you to unposted opportunities.
Hiring managers and senior leaders
Get noticed by following hiring managers, founders, directors, and executives at target employers. Learn about company priorities and culture.
Colleagues and clients
Follow coworkers and people you interact with at partner organizations. Strengthen these relationships by engaging with their content.
Tips for managing your follow list
Here are some best practices for maintaining who you follow on LinkedIn:
- Review your list quarterly and unfollow contacts irrelevant to your current goals.
- Keep the list to under 500 follows for optimal engagement and feed management.
- Identify and follow new voices who emerge as leaders or experts in your field.
- Look for contacts from companies you now want to target for opportunities.
- Subscribe to LinkedIn Lists to easily follow or unfollow groups of professionals.
Conclusion
Being strategic about who you follow on LinkedIn directly impacts the value you get from the platform. Follow industry experts to stay aware of the latest knowledge, follow talent acquisition contacts to unlock opportunities, and follow professional associations to get involved. Review and refine your list regularly to optimize it as your career evolves.