In 2003, Reid Hoffman launched LinkedIn with the vision to create employment opportunities for people across the globe. With almost 740 million users, LinkedIn has become one of the largest platforms for professionals to build strong networks, hire new talents, find investors, or even get hired.
However, there are still some people who underestimate this platform’s potential on the professional level. These same people use it just like any other social networking site.
LinkedIn is your best friend when it comes to professional networking abroad.
Of course, you can use LinkedIn to build connections and socialize with people, but its capabilities are much more than that. If you use it well, LinkedIn can take your career to the greatest heights of success, whether at home or abroad.
Getting a job abroad can be a challenging endeavor, but that’s where LinkedIn comes to your rescue.
Why use LinkedIn to get a job abroad?
If you’re wondering how to get hired internationally, you should know that social networking sites can be valuable in your international job search based on the industry you want to serve. LinkedIn is hands down the most useful social networking site for people looking for a job abroad, regardless of industry.
LinkedIn is the largest business-focused social networking site with a significant number of users across all countries. One of the crucial advantages of using it for getting a job abroad is that the active users on this platform will be open to helping you in your international job search.
So, if you want a job abroad and still do not have a LinkedIn profile, it’s high time you work on one.
Three groups of individuals will be most receptive to helping international job seekers. They are:
- Online and offline networking groups
- Local industry connections
- Local headhunters or recruiters
On LinkedIn, you get limitless access to all three groups.
If you want to use LinkedIn to get a job abroad, be as specific as you can in your search, and LinkedIn will be more valuable in providing access to relevant employment opportunities.
READ: 11 Countries Where It’s Easy to Get a Work Visa
How to get hired internationally through LinkedIn
Will you score your dream job abroad through LinkedIn?
Here’s how to use LinkedIn to find a job abroad abroad:
1. Complete your profile on LinkedIn
The very first thing you need to work on is completing your LinkedIn profile. Make sure your profile includes essential items like:
- Professional description
- CV/Resume
- Professional picture
- Educational background
- Your competencies and skills
You can also upload other additional details if you would like to. This can be positive feedback from clients you have already worked with, your previous pay package, and some volunteer work you have done in the past.
This shows your motivation, and adding a letter of recommendation makes a major difference to your LinkedIn profile.
2. Select your profile headline carefully
Profile headline is one of the most ignored attributes on LinkedIn. Many users do not bother to put much thought into it. Generic headlines like VP Marketing, Financial Advisor, or Travel Blogger won’t cut it if you want to land a job abroad.
Think of your profile headline as your way of differentiating yourself on LinkedIn. Make sure your headline is not about you, but about how you can be helpful to your potential employers abroad. Ensure your headline stands out in search results, and even when you’re active on the site.
Also, pay attention to the banner just above your account. This will be additional information for prospective employers, and it helps you build your authority on LinkedIn. Ensure your banner is continually updated with accurate details, pictures, and relevant keywords.
3. Build connections
Building connections in your destination before you get there could be a game changer!
Do not be shy to connect with individuals you used to work with or those you would like to work with. Connect with people the same way you connect on other social networking sites, but think more professionally when building connections on LinkedIn.
Are you actively searching for a job abroad? Then connect with professionals in your industry in your target destination. Remember, LinkedIn is a vast network where the more people you connect with, the quicker you will reach your objectives and achieve your dream professional life.
Once you have made the first connections from your former colleagues, previous work experiences, or connections from school, immediately start building a wider network of like-minded individuals worldwide. For that, you can use the different search tools on LinkedIn.
Do not send many connection requests daily. If you do this, LinkedIn might flag you as a bot; experts recommend sending 10 to 30 requests daily. Once you are fully active on this platform, you will find that users are sending you requests, and you will eventually start growing at a reasonable speed.
Whether you are looking to connect with marketing consultants in Finland, translators in Chile, professional photographers in Singapore, or other professionals in your industry, you can find people worldwide using LinkedIn.
Growing your network on LinkedIn means reaching a wider audience when you start posting on your profile, and discovering more employment opportunities when your contacts post on their profiles.
4. Post regularly
Maintaining a posting schedule on LinkedIn will help you gain recognition more quickly.
To use LinkedIn to get a job abroad, you’ll want to post something every day or at regular intervals. Your posts can be text, a relevant image, or a LinkedIn video. Make sure to keep the length of the text or video short and succinct so that it can attract the ideal people right away.
5. Understand that LinkedIn has varied profile levels
There are regular profiles, and then there are Premium profiles on LinkedIn. If you want to connect with Premium users on the platform, you will have to pay to get a Premium account. This can be worthwhile investment if you want to accelerate the process of securing a job abroad.
Premium Career costs $29.99 (25€) per month, while Premium Business costs $59.99 (50€) per month. A Premium account is worth considering if you’re looking to permanently pursue your career abroad.
6. Research prospective employers through filters
Use filters to demarcate the type of jobs you want to do in your destination of choice. This will help you find the most relevant employers and job opportunities. You can also write articles about your previous job and interview experiences and upload pictures.
7. Use connections to build new relations
The main idea behind building connections on LinkedIn is to be in touch with every individual you have already worked with—managers, directors, and colleagues. It’s a small world, where you might cross paths with the same people in your industry, even in another country. So, keep in touch with past connections so they can be your source of building new relations.
Before sending connection requests to prospective employers or clients, try getting at least 10+ recommendations from your present and past colleagues, employers, suppliers, and clients. This way, your LinkedIn profile will influence your future connections.
8. Showcase your passion, knowledge, and expertise
Put your best foot forward and maintain a professional image.
The whole point behind creating a profile on LinkedIn is to engage in conversation with people in your industry, and put forward your expertise on the platform. You can also share your viewpoint, suggest tools and people to others, and make connections with 2nd-connection individuals, like colleagues or friends of existing connections.
Finally, a perfect way to get noticed on the platform is by contributing to the discussions you have with connections. Remember, the more the connections, the more conversations to engage in.
9. Follow companies and get in touch with their decision-makers directly
LinkedIn will give you access to individual connections and the scope to follow news updates of hundreds of companies worldwide. So, you can go through company profiles and find out whether you have first, second, or third-level connections with any of its employees.
If you find no connections, join the groups where you can find them. You can also click on Follow Company to get news updates of a company directly on your LinkedIn home page. To contact someone directly, join a group where you will find this contact, get introduced through a certain connection, or use your InMails if you have any.
And if you still can't make a connection, search for the company’s email address online.
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Land your dream job abroad through LinkedIn!
So, if you were dubious about finding international jobs on LinkedIn, you’ll hopefully now understand that this platform has great value. If you follow the steps above to find your dream job abroad on LinkedIn, you will find that your time spent on the platform was well worth it.