Greetings everyone! I've been speaking to a couple of friends starting their careers in different fields, and when I asked them about their linkedin accounts, it turns out that some people didn't have, or best case scenario, it was not a complete one. So I decided to make this article, to help them and others, wanting to utilize it better, from my perspective.If you want to connect with people, make a business network, and drive opportunities to you, Linkedin is indeed the best social platform for that. And you need to maximize your chances in areas that can be improved. So let's cut to the chase!
You can always come back and refer to the steps, or treat this as a step by step guide. It is important to know WHY and not just read the titles.
1) FILL in your profile! I've seen many people just adding work experience and education, and that's it. NO. Add your portfolio. Both online links and a pdf if you have it. Online is a MUST, accessibility is your best friend. Fill your profile with languages, add all the personal projects you do to improve yourself with appropriate links, and add your hobby achievements, present or past. A medal in a competition, or a Guinness World Record, whatever. It shows you are a person who gets involved in stuff, and tells a bit about your character. Always have everything set to public in your profile, linkedin is about transparency, especially if nobody knows you, you have to show your cards and colors. Try to add at least something in every category!
2) Place JOB ALERTS
In areas/cities/countries you want to work to. Add your desired roles e.g. 3d environment artist, or junior game developer, or whatever. Also search for job advertisements within Linkedin and check what they require (some of them have the skills publicly visible) so add those to your skill set or change their names accordingly to what the employer is searching for (if you have them, of course). You will start appearing in more searches. 3) Do the linkedin SKILL TESTS They add a badge to your profile and show that you at least understand the software. They are multiple choice, some are harder than others (e.g. Photoshop, it was harder for me than I thought). When you take the tests for the software that you know, try the peripheral ones (E.g. if you use 3ds max, try doing the Maya test, or if you use Revit, try Sketchup etc.) Nothing to lose there.
4) Join LINKEDIN GROUPS
I started utilizing that one fairly recently, but you can join groups that you are interested in, and relative to your craft. The reason? They provide you with interesting links, articles etc, which you can repost or comment to, and gain more exposure for yourself.
5) Search for companies/studios in the area you are interested in and FOLLOW THEM. You will be notified if one of them has a job opportunity for you! Once you click follow, a list of suggested similar companies will be available for you underneath. Open each one in a different tab, because if you follow them, a new list of suggestions will be available. This can easily take up 1000 tabs depending on your craft, but try and be methodical and not miss any! It would be nice to spend a couple of seconds checking each company's website, whereabouts and what they actually do, to be certain this could be a potential place for you to work. If some of them also have job advertisments, don't apply with "easy apply", better do it through their website/email. "Easy" in this case means lazy!
6) From the TOP companies that you liked most, start connecting with all the people who work there
and send them a brief message! You don't have to send a message to everyone but it would be nice to check their profile or portfolio for a few seconds and give them a sincere compliment about their work, something you liked or if you see you have something in common (e.g. Hey Chris, good job on that building with the roof garden, it was a great idea! Enjoy the summer, cheers!). I actually use cheers in every message to close it off, hehe!
7) Check the employment history from all the people that are employed somewhere in the same or similar position that you are searching for: that includes the people you connect with.And also check their internship places. The reason? You might find new work places that you otherwise would have missed, and you know for certain that in those places they take/took interns. Again, when you follow those companies, check for the suggested ones.
8) Your feed will start having articles etc,
from every company and people you have followed. Be active with comments, likes, and re-posts, so that your name starts appearing more and more within the circle you are trying to be a part of. People who like and comment on your articles and reposts, have your name displayed on their news feed as well = more exposure for you and you basically say to everyone "hey, I am here and I am involved". Over time your face/name seems more familiar, and people prefer "familiar and involved", to "unfamiliar random person". 9) Search for webinars, meet ups (online and physical), conferences and other social events that happen around your area of interest and they are free, or with a participation fee that you are willing to pay. They are the best places to meet people who are in the same place as you, people with common interrests, and people who might recommend you in the future! I have found some fellas whom which we exchange job positions and opportunities whenever we find one that matches the other person. Worst case scenario, you can just check your competition :) In these events, I also hit people with a private message, saying a compliment and then connecting with them on Linkedin! I hope this wasn't too hard to read, and hopefully will help you build your profile! If you want a quick review after you have completed it, please do not hesitate to contact me :) https://www.artstation.com/lazarosinep https://www.linkedin.com/in/lazaros-inepologlou-42a326167/ https://twitter.com/Call_me__Larry https://sketchfab.com/larry_3d https://soundcloud.com/lazaros-inep #3dblog #3d_larry #3d_fam #polycount #Linkedin #SocialMedia #Career #lazarosinepologlou #lazarosinep