The Value of LinkedIn, 2nd-Degree Connections

LinkedIn is a professional social network. It shares a look similar to Facebook, with a feed of posts from your connections. LinkedIn offers many features like a job listing board, groups for like-minded discussions, and a profile to keep your resume up-to-date. However, one of its most helpful features is often overlooked. LinkedIn can show you professional connections that you share with someone else. This is can be extremely valuable in your job search or building relationships in or outside your field. 

For Job Seekers

Let's say that you are looking for a marketing job at Coca-Cola. You go to LinkedIn to search for 'Coca-Cola' and see people who work for the company. You find that Jennifer, a Marketing Exec for Coca-Cola, shares a connection with you. It's Matthew, your friend from High School. That's called a 2nd-degree connection. You would have never been able to learn that so quickly, if at all. It's time to give Matthew a call and ask him about Jennifer. Maybe he can even put in a good word for you.

This feature can also be useful if you are trying to connect to an expert in your field - you might find you share a connection with that person and ask for an introduction. Overall, LinkedIn is a useful resource to quickly and efficiently discover professional connections and act as a Rolodex as you build your network.

For Job Posters

If you are not on the job hunt, you can use LinkedIn in the reverse to post job opportunities within a trusted network and see what applicants have connections within your own network. For the candidates you are most interested in, you can reach out to those shared connections for insight.Next time you find yourself in search of professional connections, take advantage of the visualized web of connections that LinkedIn provides. That's where its best value lies.