by Marci Reynolds, CEO of J2B Marketing

Online Branding, Social Media & SEO Expert

Click on this link to go to the Video Blog: How To Use LinkedIn Groups for Your Job Search (Video Blog)

About J2B Marketing

J2B Marketing is a “Job Seeker 2 Business”™ Internet Marketing Services Firm based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts and offering services virtually across the United States. From LinkedIn profile makeovers to launching Twitter strategies, J2B harnesses the latest internet and marketing communication tools available to help Job Seekers get back to work faster. The firm is led by Marci Reynolds, previously VP North America Sales Operations at Monster.com. Learn more at www.j2bmarketing.com.

Video Transcript

Hello.. this is Marci Reynolds, CEO of J2B Marketing and today’s video will cover How To Use LinkedIn Groups for your job search.

I must admit that I am LinkedIn addict! I use LinkedIn for both business and personal networking, and probably log on to LinkedIn at least three times per day.  I love it!  And ….I am a member of about 25 different Linked In Groups…

So….What are LinkedIn groups?

LinkedIn groups are online communities of professionals that have common interests, affiliations, professions and goals. There are groups for sales, marketing, technical and HR. There are groups for Alumni of colleges and universities. There are groups to help startups and small businesses

By searching the LinkedIn Groups Directory, at the top right of your LinkedIn home page,  there is no doubt you will find a few LinkedIn Groups that are right for you.

Here are a few examples…

If you are a Sales Rep looking for your next inside or outside sales position, you could join groups for Sales Professionals.  These may include:

• Sales Best Practices with more than 36,000 members
• Inside Sales Experts with 3,000 members

If you are a Purchasing or Procurement leader, you could join the groups

• Procurement Professionals with close to 30,000 members
• Supply Chain Today with 16,000 members

There are thousand and thousands of groups covering every industry and profession.

So…What Happens After You Join A Linked In Group

Once you join a LinkedIn group you will have access to the group information, activities and members And there are many benefits to your job search.. Here are just a few…

1. You will be able to network with others in your specific field- and ultimately expand your LinkedIn network
2. You will be exposed to articles and discussions on industry best practices- to help keep your skills currentYou can participate in group discussions and demonstrate your skills, abilities and knowledge
3. Most groups have a Job Board. You may get access to job postings that can not be found anywhere else.
4. When you identify specific companies or industries that you want to work for, you can search the group members,. Identify other members who work for- or used to work for your target company- then reach out to them to connect.

• They may be able to provide some important inside information about the company.
• They may some advice
• Or, they have be able to forward your resume to specific contacts at the company

5. Other members will be able to direct message you. This gives you the opportunity to help others with their job search. Helping others will also help you.

In closing: LinkedIn Groups are an excellent job search tool.  So go forth and Join, participate and leverage LinkedIn groups that best align with your job search goals.

• Previous Entry: 5 Ways To Use Twitter For Your Job Search
• Next Entry: Building a Tweet Content Strategy For Your Job Search