Back in November my teammate, Kate Colclazier, posted a blog about the veteran community’s usage of LinkedIn and I am here to carry that torch forward by discussing my personal experience networking via this social media platform.
A few years ago, I really started ramping up my network connections on LinkedIn by connecting with employers, HR reps, hiring managers, and other veteran-centric organizations during my travels for work. Every base visit and networking function whether before or after hiring events, I was making new connections. My rationale was, the better I am networked, the better the vets and spouses that connect with me will be networked. And as I am often heard saying, “your network is your net worth” along with “networking is only one letter away from not working”. I am a dad; I say corny dad stuff… But it does not mean it is not true.
Currently, I have about 7,100 followers and just over 6,600 first-person connections and was recently approached by two different organizations to record a podcast with them discussing my background and our mission here at INvets. Both found me/ heard of me because of the content I had posted and/or shared on LinkedIn.
The bottom line, it doesn’t matter how cool you are or how many certificates and degrees you have hanging on your wall, if nobody knows you exist your chances of finding a position are minimal. Do you have to use LinkedIn? No. But your options are going to be drastically limited if you don’t. So get out there and start growing that network, your dream job may just be waiting to find you.