How to Use LinkedIn Groups A Comprehensive Guide

How to Use LinkedIn Groups A Comprehensive Guide How to Use LinkedIn Groups A Comprehensive Guide LinkedIn is an essential tool for job seekers as it allows you to promote your personal brand, stay on top of your industry, and connect with people who share your interests. LinkedIn groups are a powerful way to do all these things at once, making your LinkedIn efforts as effective as possible.LinkedIn groups are particularly helpful to connect with people in your space, publish and read content related to your profession, and extend your reach beyond your connections. If you want to promote your personal brand to the right people, LinkedIn groups are instrumental. Groups are created for people to gather around a specific area of interest, allowing you to target a specific segment of LinkedIn users and grow your audience and engagement rate.If you are new to using LinkedIn groups, this guide will provide you with everything you need to get started and begin reaping the fruits of this fe ature.How to search for groups on LinkedInTo search for groups on LinkedIn, click the search bar on the top of your homepage. Type in one or multiple keywords related to your area of interest.The keywords may be an industry, a role, a product. For exampleMarketingAccount ManagerSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Then, hit the enter/return key.On the upper left menu bar, click more, then on groups. You are now able to see which groups exist for the specific keywords you have entered.How to join groups on LinkedInTo join a group on LinkedIn, visit the group page you are interested in and send a request to the groups administrators. Below the banner picture, logo, name, description, and number of members is a blue button that reads Request to join. Make sure to read the description and understand the groups rules before sending your request.Where are my groups on LinkedIn?Access your groups directly by going to linkedin.com/groups/.You can also see your LinkedIn groups on the left side of you r homepage. Below your profile summary is a menu with your recent interactions, groups, and hashtags. Click any of these groups to directly access their feed. Click show more to open the list. Click see all to go to the page where you can see all your LinkedIn groups.How to create a group on LinkedInTo create a group on LinkedIn, go to linkedin.com/groups/ then click Create a new group.You can also access this page by clicking the work button located on the top right corner of your homepage.Once on the main group page, click create a new group on the top right corner of the page.Give your group a title, write up a description, and set the rules as well as the privacy settings.How to leave a LinkedIn groupTo leave a group on LinkedIn, first access the group by clicking on it on the left side menu of your homepage. Once on the groups feed, click the menu on the top right corner. Scroll down the list and click leave this group. A confirmation will pop up to confirm that you want to le ave the group.How to use LinkedIn groups in your job searchLinkedIn groups effectively help you sort out the people you engage during your job search. An effective job search involves connecting and building relationships with people who work for companies where youd like to be employed, letting the world know that you are looking for a position, and accessing as many relevant job postings as you can especially those under-advertised.Look for the groups where you are the fruchtwein likely to share common points with other members. Make sure you bring value to these groups and that you can become an integral part of the community. People are more likely to engage with you and help you if they relate to you. There are plenty of groups specifically focused on job postings. For example, if you search accountant jobs in groups, youll find tons of groups where you can see under advertised postings.What the experts say about LinkedIn groupsWhile experts agree that LinkedIn groups are not what they used to be 4 or 5 years ago, they say you can still leverage them to engage people in a way that will prove effective to your job search. Luiz Carlos de Oliveira Junior, director at WHY Consultoria in Brazil, says you need to focus on large groups with high engagement rates and to know your purpose.Luiz is a member of over 50 groups as his purpose is to increase his networks size. If you are a job seeker, he advises picking 1-to-3 groups that fit what you are looking for and participate actively. Publish content, interact with members who like and/or comment on your content, and show respect and consideration.Pick 1-to-3 groups that fit what you are looking for and participate actively.Luiz Carlos de Oliveira JuniorThere are two rules, Luiz says, be polite, be a giver.Bruce Johnston, a LinkedIn coach based in Ontario, Canada, suggests starting with your school alumni groups and to get into the areas that interest you from there.You can also send free messages to fellow gro up members, he says. So you should find someone interesting in the group and ask them a sincere question about what they do. He adds, There are few people who dont like talking about themselves Its all about active and targeted networking.Example Job Seeker LinkedIn GroupsThere are several LinkedIn groups you can join as a job seeker. Some are aimed at specific roles and positions while others are more general. Here are some examplesThe Job Seeker Networking Group Find a Recruiter (42K+ members)MBA Highway MBA Job Search Career Network (46K+ members)PHARMACIST CAREER NETWORK (14K+ members)Veteran Mentor Network (135K+ members)