To kickstart our How to Land a Job series, we explore the first step: leveraging a personal connection. A credible reference or a personal introduction will be key during the application process. It sets you apart from the stack of resumes (your competition). Lucky for you, there’s a social network that can show you the overlap between your personal network and the job you want. The key is learning how to use it to your advantage.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week, every week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn how to leverage your personal connections…

Key Takeaways

• Personal connections are key. Personal connections are key. Should we say it one more time?
• Use LinkedIn to find connections to the industry you want to be a part of.
• Make a robust LinkedIn profile. Join groups, like brands that you respect, and share things you’re interested in.
• Your LinkedIn profile picture shouldn’t be too casual or too formal… somewhere in between.
• Keep in mind that when someone introduces you to their network, you’re responsible for following through. You’re representing the person doing you a favor. Don’t take it lightly!
• Don’t be afraid to reach out to close friends and ask them to introduce you to one of their connections.