Remember, only 85% of jobs ever make it to the "public" job market.
Why?
Because hiring managers use HR as a last result.
First, they'll tap their personal network (increasingly, their LinkedIn network) and take stock of any promising professionals who, for whatever reason, have shown up on their radar over the last six months.
If one of them is looking for new opportunities, guess who's going to get the job. (Long before it's formally advertised.)
So, in a sense, I guess you can say that LinkedIn is "stealing" jobs.
Now, you know the old saying:
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
Instead of being upset about this, recognize it as a GREAT thing.
It's easier than you think to get on managers' radars and put yourself in the running for these jobs.
Today, I'm going to share one of the most powerful strategies I know.
Here's what you do:
(1) Connect with as many managers as you can.
Use some of the methods I shared earlier – or, if all else fails, use Lisa Rangel's advanced search tips (more on this in a moment) to seek out managers whose teams are a good a fit for your skills, and connect with them
(2) Think of some interesting ideas that are worth sharing.
Grab some index cards and a pen. Think about some important lessons, insights, trends, experiences, or anything interesting that you'd feel comfortable talking about in a public forum. You don't have to write magazine articles or marathon blog posts. We’re talking about 500-word ideas you can share that are valuable.
(3) Use LinkedIn's Publishing Platform feature to publish these articles as short blogs. It's relatively simple. You don't need a website. You just need a LinkedIn profile. If your micro-blogs are interesting and valuable, managers WILL read them – and when they do, you'll be firmly on their radar and one of the first people they'll think about when they're looking for their next hire.
Give this a try and get back to me!