How LinkedIn Helped Obama Land the Job

 Yesterday, The New York Times ran a piece on how President-elect Obama leveraged the power of LinkedIn to raise money, organize supporters, respond to negative press, encourage people to vote, and ultimately win the election. With the help of LinkedIn and other online networking tools, he went from a relative unknown to someone with one of the most recognized brands in under two years. Can you leverage the power of LinkedIn to build your brand and your community to land your next job? Yes, you can, and here’s how.

1. Build an Authentic and Desirable Brand. Obama created a consistent brand that inspired trust and confidence with his supporters. Create a branded profile on LinkedIn to communicate your value to potential supporters who can serve as advocates for you as you move through your job search campaign. Be sure to deliver a message with strong keywords for your profession and industry and tangible proof of your accomplishments to help build your following.
2. Connect Your Supporters to Get the Message Out. Share your connections on LinkedIn and be a conduit for connecting people in your network. By making introductions, you display your willingness to support people in your network and help them get one step closer to their professional goals. Your contacts are more likely to support you if you have first supported them.
3. Share Your Ideas With Your Supporters. Obama used the web to communicate his message for change and foster trusting relationships with his supporters. Showcase your expertise and build trust within your networking circles by answering questions via LinkedIn’s Answers. Aim to give information for the sake of giving it, not to get something in return. You will be remembered for your wisdom and your generosity.
4. Seek Out New Supporters. LinkedIn is a powerful database that lets you find other potential connections that in turn can turn into contacts and supporters for your cause. Conduct various keyword searches based on names and companies to find others that can add value to your network.
5. Keep Your Supporters Updated. With the campaign behind him, you can be sure that Obama will continue to use the Web to govern and keep his supporters informed. Use the status feature and the new RSS feed capabilities to let your network know what you are working on. Each update helps reconnect you with your supporters and in turn deepen the relationship. Frequent updates to your network keep you top of mind as well.
6. Be Accessible to Your Supporters. Check your inbox daily and respond promptly to requests for endorsements and connections. Prove your commitment to your network by offering to help whenever possible.

In addition to these online strategies, don’t forget to get out there on the campaign trail, shaking hands and making connections with your supporters. Job search, like a presidential campaign, requires the human element. Face time with your network is also an important brand-building strategy that helps secure the votes and land the job.