LinkedIn: it’s not about who you know, it’s about who they know

Research shows that the vast majority of LinkedIn users who actively job searching find their next job through their Level 2 connections, not their Level 1 connections.

It’s more than the number of our Level 1 connections. If we concentrate only on building our network, we miss the point and the power of LinkedIn. The real power of LinkedIn lies in the relationships that our Level 1 connections have. Our Level 1 connections have their connections who become our Level 2 connections. This “2 Zone” makes our network more valuable. Our 109 Level 1 connections balloon out to possibly tens of thousands of contacts at Level 2.

There are many advantages to using LinkedIn. I present on Using LinkedIn frequently. I consistently encourage my friends and job seekers to learn more about LinkedIn. Active users are more likely to own our careers and rely less on job postings. LinkedIn is a social platform… We built out network and it is up to us to interact with our connections. Nurture your relationships. Visit your LinkedIn home page to see the updates, and then comment on them. Take part in the conversations that help nurture your network. A former colleague asked me this week “How do you have time to maintain your network?” My answer is “How do you have time not to?” Active participation makes healthy relationships possible. I consider using LinkedIn time well invested.