LinkedIn Premium is a great tool for job seekers looking to maximize their chances of landing their dream job. With over 722 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network and a powerful platform for making connections and finding opportunities.
LinkedIn Premium unlocks additional features that can give you a competitive edge in your job search, like seeing who has viewed your profile, sending unlimited InMails to recruiters, and getting data-driven insights about how you compare with other applicants. This guide will walk through everything you need to know to leverage LinkedIn Premium for your job hunt.
Benefits of LinkedIn Premium for job seekers
Here are some of the key ways LinkedIn Premium can benefit you in your job search:
See who’s viewed your profile
One of the most useful features of Premium is the ability to see who has checked out your profile recently. You’ll get insights into which companies and recruiters are interested in you, so you can focus your efforts on those high-potential connections.
Send unlimited InMails
InMail allows you to directly contact anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected. This is hugely valuable for reaching recruiters and hiring managers. With the unlimited InMails in Premium, you can personalized messages to your top prospects.
Advanced profile searching
Premium lets you search profiles using multiple filters like location, company, job function, skills, and more. You can easily identify and target the hiring managers and recruiters at your dream companies.
Job insights and comparison
Ever wonder how your skills and experience stack up against other applicants? With Premium, you get insights about how you compare based on your profile. This helps you focus your efforts on jobs where you’re most competitive.
Learning and development courses
Premium includes access to over 16,000 expert-led courses covering business, creative, and technical topics. This is a great way to build relevant skills during your job search.
Tips for using LinkedIn Premium to find a job
Now that you know the major benefits of Premium for job hunting, here are some proven tips for putting it to work:
Research target companies
Use Premium search tools to research your target companies and identify key decision makers like recruiters, hiring managers, and department heads. Make a list of ideal prospects at each company.
Connect with contacts at target companies
Try to connect with employees who work at companies you want to target, especially if you have a shared connection who can introduce you. This gives you an insider ally.
Optimize your profile
Make sure your profile is optimized with relevant keywords. Recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates, so you want to stand out in results.
Engage with your network
Active engagement on LinkedIn raises your visibility and credibility. Like and comment on posts, join Groups, and publish your own thoughtful content.
Send personalized InMails
Use Premium InMails to contact recruiters and hiring managers you identified in your research. Personalize each message to show you’re a strong match.
Apply for jobs listed on LinkedIn
Thousands of companies list openings on LinkedIn. Use Premium tools like saved jobs and application insights to organize and track your applications.
Follow up Persistently
Finding a job takes persistence. If you don’t hear back after a week, follow up. Nurture relationships with regular check-ins and updates on your progress.
Additional tips for job seekers
Beyond the Premium features, here are some general best practices for using LinkedIn to land your next job:
Showcase achievements in your profile
Quantify your experience and impact. Recruiters want to see the value you delivered, not just a bland job description. Highlight achievements.
Get recommendations and endorsements
Social proof like recommendations and endorsements boost your credibility. Ask managers, colleagues, and clients from past jobs to endorse you and write recommendations.
Join relevant industry and alumni Groups
Groups expand your reach. Join ones related to your industry and alumni groups from your university. This exposes you to new contacts and conversations.
Follow companies that interest you
By following companies, you’ll get notified about new openings and company updates. You can also build connections with their employees.
Attend LinkedIn events and workshops
From panels to seminars to happy hours, LinkedIn frequently hosts professional events. These are great networking opportunities and a chance to connect face-to-face.
| LinkedIn Feature | Job Seeker Benefit |
|---|---|
| Profile Views | See who’s looked at your profile so you can target interested companies |
| InMail Messages | Directly contact recruiters and hiring managers at companies you want to work for |
| Advanced Profile Search | Quickly find key decision makers like recruiters and hiring managers |
| Job Insights | Discover how your experience stacks up against job requirements and other applicants |
| Learning Courses | Build relevant skills and expertise during your job search |
Putting it all together
In summary, here are the key steps for landing a job with LinkedIn Premium:
Step 1: Upgrade to Premium
Purchase a Premium subscription to unlock tools that will supercharge your search. Month-to-month and annual plans are available.
Step 2: Optimize your profile
With a Premium account, thoroughly optimize your profile by adding multimedia, getting endorsements, showing achievements, and using keywords.
Step 3: Identify target companies and decision makers
Research who you want to work for and the relevant recruiters, hiring managers, and other contacts at those companies.
Step 4: Engage your networks
Be active engaging with your connections by liking, commenting, posting, and joining Groups. This expands your reach.
Step 5: Contact company insiders
Leverage your Premium InMails to directly contact recruiters, hiring managers, and employees at target companies.
Step 6: Apply to LinkedIn jobs
Apply for relevant openings on LinkedIn and use Premium tools to organize and track applications.
Step 7: Follow up
Don’t just apply and wait! Follow up with contacts to nurture relationships over time. Persistence and regular communication is key.
Using LinkedIn Premium thoughtfully and systematically will give you a big advantage in connecting with the right people and opportunities. The investment is well worth it to land your next dream job faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Premium account required to apply for jobs on LinkedIn?
No, a Premium account is not required to apply for jobs on LinkedIn. All LinkedIn members can view and apply for jobs listed on the platform. However, Premium provides additional tools to help manage and track your job applications.
What is the difference between basic LinkedIn and Premium?
The basic LinkedIn account is free and allows you to create a profile, connect with others, join Groups, follow companies, and apply to jobs. LinkedIn Premium provides added features like seeing who viewed your profile, unlimited InMails, expanded search filters, professional learning courses, and more.
How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
LinkedIn Premium costs $29.99 per month for a basic plan. There are also Premium Career and Business edition plans with more features that cost $54.99-$79.99 per month. Discounted annual subscriptions are available. Students and recent graduates get 50% off.
Can I cancel LinkedIn Premium at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your LinkedIn Premium subscription at any time. Depending on the plan, you may be refunded for any unused portion of your subscription if you cancel partway through the billing period. You simply lose access to the Premium features after cancellation.
Is LinkedIn Premium worth it for job seekers?
For most active job seekers, LinkedIn Premium is worth the investment. The ability to see who’s viewed you, message recruiters, research companies, and track application progress can significantly increase your chances of landing interviews and job offers.
Conclusion
Leveraging LinkedIn Premium provides invaluable tools that give job seekers a competitive edge in their search. Take advantage of the expanded profile views, InMail messages, advanced searches, job insights, and learning content. Systematically research target companies, optimize your profile, engage your network, contact company insiders, apply to jobs, and follow up. With the right strategy, LinkedIn Premium can help you land your next great job opportunity faster.