Are You a Groupie?

November 20, 2012

If you are on LinkedIn and have a profile that is 100% complete, pat yourself on the back. You are ahead of the game. If you want to get even further ahead, however, you should be joining and participating in relevant LinkedIn industry groups.

Participating in LinkedIn groups offers several advantages, including:

• Increased Visibility
Depending on your newsfeed privacy settings, each discussion you begin or participate in will show up in the newsfeed of your connections. The more they see you, the more likely they are to think of you when an opportunity arises.

• Expertise Building
When you comment on discussions, share links, or ask thoughtful questions, you are establishing that you are knowledgeable and on top of trends in your industry.

• Networking
Often, people are more willing to accept connection invitations from other group members than they are unsolicited connection requests. If you’ve been trying to connect with a particular contact at a company, joining a mutual group can be a great in.

• Job Listings
Sometimes groups run by companies or recruiting firms will present job opportunities their LinkedIn group that they may not list elsewhere.

So how do you find relevant groups to join? There are a couple of methods. You can click on the Groups tab at the top of your home page, select Groups You May Like, and LinkedIn will make some suggestions based on your industry and activity. You can also find groups by watching your newsfeed and looking for groups and discussions your connections are active in.

If you’re ready to get started, we’d love to welcome you to our own LinkedIn group, Dallas Networking and Career Advice. Also, don’t forget to take a look at our current list of open positions and contact us if you see something that interests you.