“We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.” —Arianna Huffington, author, and businesswoman.

Finding a job abroad can be extremely difficult, and this is where LinkedIn comes in handy. 

Many employers and recruiters now hunt for new talent on this platform. This means it’s crucial to be visible.

Let’s check 6 tips to help you use LinkedIn to your advantage to get a job anywhere in the world.

1- Make connections

LinkedIn is a network,  and the more people you connect with, the quicker you’ll reach your goals.

Make connections with your ideal clients, HR professionals in your dream industry, or in the country you wish to establish yourself.

The best way to do it is by using the searches tools right on LinkedIn. But, don’t send too many connection requests per day as LinkedIn may think you’re using a bot or some software to send requests automatically. It is recommended to send between 10 to 30 requests per day. Once you get more active on the platform, you’ll find that people will start sending you requests, so you’ll be growing at a reasonable speed after a while.

2- Optimize your connections

Look through forums and discussion groups and try and find individuals who have a similar background to your own but are now working in your desired area or country. The point here isn’t to add as many connections as possible but to add valuable connections. Target people with extensive networks and try and connect with them. 

Participate in as many discussions as you can. You never know who may come across the group and, if you’ve demonstrated advanced knowledge and skills through your participation, you may find the job comes to you. 

Make a list of international companies you would like to work for, then follow their updates on LinkedIn – a lot of companies now post new positions or have a separate LinkedIn account specifically for recruitment.

If you can find ex-pats who went to the same university as you, this is the perfect way to start a conversation with them. Many headhunters work with ex-pats. 

Remember, headhunters may talk to you as if they are assisting you with your job search, but their client is the company. So, pay attention to the way they work before engaging with them. 

3- Get their attention

Follow a similar process to the one you would when writing or tailoring your resume. Pull up a few job descriptions for the type of job you have or would like to have.

Think about which ones apply to you and your experience and which specific words and phrases are being used to describe them. 

For example, maybe many companies you’re interested in are looking for a programmer “proficient in JavaScript” or a digital marketer with experience putting together webinars. If you’re struggling, look for people who have the jobs you want, and see what skills and experiences they emphasize on their profiles.

4- Utilize the ‘Open To’ section to your advantage

Beneath your profile picture is a section that shows recruiters specific job titles that you’re open to hearing of. 

It’s extremely useful if you’re aiming for a position that is a step above your current role. It’s also helpful if you’re hoping to transition your career into a different field.

You can share your open-to-work status by checking either “share with recruiters only” or “share with all LinkedIn members.” 

When you choose ”Share with recruiters only,” only a small subset of recruiters are notified whose organizations have paid for access “LinkedIn Recruiter.” 

The option “Share with all LinkedIn members” could hurt your chances of being contacted, because recruiters may think you are not actively looking for a job.

Only accept requests to connect from the quality search firms that you know and have already spoken with (the best firms will talk to you first before sending an invite to connect). 

5- Get active

Make sure that you are active on LinkedIn to increase your marketability, searchability, and visibility. Every time you click a like or when you comment or share that gets featured or showcased in your network’s feed. This will mean that you will be at the top of people’s minds in your network. This will create many opportunities for you, and you’ll find it helpful. 

Establish yourself as a thought leader by sharing articles of interest to people in your field and commenting on other people’s links. You can also use LinkedIn’s publishing feature to share your work – and the more views it attracts, the more potential connections you gain.

6- Search for jobs

Use LinkedIn’s job search facility to find out about job openings anywhere in the world. If you find any that are of relevance to your background and career objectives, select the “apply now” button and apply online. If there are opportunities that are not a perfect match but are in a similar area, get in touch with the recruiter and send them your details; there may be jobs in the future that are of a perfect match.

Don’t forget to follow the company to be notified of their news and updates regularly, as this information will be helpful to you if you are invited for an interview.

WEEKLY VOCABULARY 🗣

Abroad: in or to a foreign country or countries.

Citizenship: the position or status of being a citizen of a particular country.

Obstacle: a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress.

Transition: the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

Resignación: aceptación con paciencia y conformidad de una adversidad o de cualquier estado o situación perjudicial.

PHRASAL VERBS ✍

Pull through: get through an illness or other dangerous or difficult situation.

“How difficult is job loss! I hope you’ll pull through quickly.”

Look forward: to look forward to something that is going to happen in the future.

“Leila’s looking forward to starting his new job in Dubai.” 

IDIOMS 📒

Out of the blue: randomly or unexpectedly.

Throw a wrench in the works: create an obstacle that makes something more challenging; o damage or change (something) in a way that ruins it or prevents it from working properly.

Related Articles:

Optimize your LinkedIn profile https://www.englishpriority.com/optimize-your-linkedin-profile/

LinkedIn profile in English https://www.englishpriority.com/linkedin-profile-in-english/

Employment Vocabulary https://www.englishpriority.com/employment-vocabulary/

Want to practice even more?…