Let’s clear something up about job searching on LinkedIn.

Let’s clear something up about job searching on LinkedIn.

It’s not about spraying resumes and hoping someone notices.

And it’s definitely not about sending a connection request followed immediately by “Are you hiring?”

What actually works looks a lot more like this:

Start with the company, not the job post.

Look at who’s already there. Hiring managers. Team leads. Recruiters. People doing the work you want to do.

Then connect like a human.

Personal note. No pitch. No resume. No ask.

Once you’re connected, slow down.

Please pay attention to what they share. Comment thoughtfully.

Acknowledge their work. Be relevant, not performative.

Only after there’s context and rapport do you open the door.

Not “I need a job.” More like “I’ve done work like this

and would love to learn more about how your team approaches it.”

This is not a hack.

It’s not fast.

And it won’t work if you treat people like stepping stones.

But it does work when your positioning is clear, and your outreach is intentional.

Here’s the question I’ll leave you with: Where in this process do you usually rush or skip steps?

That’s usually where things break down.

I share more practical, real-world job search guidance like this here on LinkedIn if you want to follow along: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniemitchellwexler/