If you’re one of the more than 1 million people who were laid off this year, you’ve probably been busy tackling your checklist to land your next job.
You need to spruce up that résumé, start your online job hunt and connect with old colleagues and professional contacts. But there’s also one more thing you should do right now, experts say. If you’re on the professional social network LinkedIn, a few strategic moves could boost your visibility to hiring managers and recruiters.
“It’s much harder to break into the labor market right now,” said Elise Gould, senior economist at Economic Policy Institute. “Employers just aren’t hiring at the rate that they did last year or the previous years.”
From Amazon to Meta, Walmart and Starbucks, new data showsthat layoffs accelerated in October, bringing the total to 1.1 million, a level not seen since 2020. While the job market may be particularly challenging for some, especially those in industries that are cutting back or young people entering the workforce, the rate of job openings has stayed relatively stable — meaning there’s still opportunity for job seekers, Gould said.
Here are a few things you can do on LinkedIn to increase your chances of landing your next gig.
List your new consulting firm
Some people worry about showing that their employment has ended at one employer without being able to add a new job. So add a new job, said Michelle Volberg, founder of an executive search firm and CEO of Twill, a talent recommendation platform.
“The job market is so competitive right now, you really have to stand out and you want to do it in thoughtful ways,” she said. “Create value.”
Start by opening a limited liability company, which usually involves filling out some paperwork and paying a fee. Start building a portfolio of projects and clients, which at first might be your friends and family who let you do a few things free, Volberg said. Then make a list of 25 employers you want to work for and offer your free consulting services. You can say something like, “I’m interested in your company’s mission, and I have some ideas I’d like to share with you free that could help you with” a specific named client. The idea is to give them a preview in the outreach without giving away your ideas. Save those for a Zoom or in-person meeting, Volberg said.
Be clear about boundaries around your work, including the scope of the project and time expectations. Put them in writing. Use the time to create value and establish a relationship with the employer, but don’t offer free work beyond 30 days, Volberg said. Once you’ve done three or four projects, start charging. You can research market rates through ChatGPT and other AI services and gut check them with connections or professionals in industry social networking groups, including those on Slack, Volberg said.
In the end, you may have a foot in the door at a new employer or a new path to working for yourself.
Don’t lie about the break
Update your LinkedIn as soon as you can to signal you no longer work at your employer. If you’re not interested in consulting, you can update your LinkedIn profile to include a career break.
The feature is under “Experience” on your profile and allows you to include details and skills that could be useful to employers during your unemployment.
“Make sure you’re including what you’re doing in that time that could be seen as transferrable skills,” said Catherine Fisher, career expert at LinkedIn.
You could include a community project you led or a marketing campaign you did for your child’s school fundraiser, or maybe you built something with AI that helped a volunteer organization improve their processes. “AI literacy is a top skill, so is communication, leadership and collaboration,” Fisher said about what employers seek. “Ways you can show you possess those skills are important.”
Show off your expertise
Face it: You have skills and knowledge. It’s time to share that with your professional network to help get you some visibility, Volberg said.
Regularly publish thoughtful or educational posts relevant to people in your industry, like other people’s posts, and leave smart comments.
“It’s highly underrated,” said Volberg. “You can really stand out by posting as a thought leader.”
Recruiters and hiring managers are always looking, Volberg said. Even if they don’t know you’re available to hire, if they like you, they’re more likely to message you. Posting and publicly engaging with others about industry topics just helps you increase your reach.
Signal that you’re looking
Let people know you’re looking. There are several ways to do this, depending on your comfort level.
One way to do this is to click the “open to” button below your name in your profile and hit “finding a new job.” You can set preferences like job titles and locations as well as choose whether only recruiters can see it or all LinkedIn members. If you choose all LinkedIn members, a green frame will appear around your profile photo that says “#OpenToWork.”
The banner is the best way to remind everyone in your network that you’re searching and LinkedIn’s data shows people are more likely to get noticed that way, Fisher said. But some hiring managers may see this as the worker being not in demand, Volberg cautioned.
Another way to signal you’re open is to post about your layoff on the network. Tell your story, explain your expertise, and let people know what you’re looking for.
Engage with employers
Search for employers you’d like to work for, follow their pages, and connect with people who work for them in your direct or extended networks.
LinkedIn recently released AI-powered people and job searches, which allows users to ask for what they’re looking for using natural language. You might type something like “product managers that work at Apple,” and LinkedIn can surface relevant people. Similarly, you can say, “I’m looking for a full-time sales role in financial services” to find jobs that might fit.
Follow your dream employers’ pages so you can get updates from them and so recruiters can get a sense that you’re interested, Fisher said. Message people who are first or second connections. They may also be able to make introductions.
“A secret I always share is that everyone loves to talk about themselves, so just say, ‘I want to learn about you,’” Volberg said. “Find ways to bring value to them.”
Being laid off in a competitive job market can be taxing. But think of it like a really tough breakup, with LinkedIn helping you “glow up,” Volberg said.
“You can be on your couch with ice cream for a couple of days, but then get up,” she said.
The post These LinkedIn tweaks could get you noticed faster after a layoff appeared first on Washington Post.
