Ron Nash, the founder of The Nash Group and TheFriendZone.Tv, served as the expert guest for episode II. This is still the most listened to episode thus far. During this show Ron share a few strategies of how you can use LinkedIn like a headhunter during your job search. Feel free to read and/or listen to them.

This is the most challenging time since the Great Depression. Likewise, this is the time to roll up your sleeves and do the heavy lifting. Remember “if you’re not a friend, you are just another job seeker.” The power of a friend will get you to where you want to go.

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LinkedIn is one of the most valuable tools a job seeker can use. You can build relationships with people and find opportunities. You can find your dream job but you must be clear in terms of what you are looking for, have a process, perform the heavy lifting, and have accountability.

To use LinkedIn like a headhunter you need to follow the steps below:

1. Create a list of fifty companies. You can locate companies by conducting a search using spider search engines such as Indeed.com and JuJu.com.

2. Narrow this list down to 20 targeted companies by conducting research. Visit the companies’ websites to acquire executives’ names, profits or losses, products or services, products or services performance, R&D pipeline, competitors, market share, and so on.

3. Use LinkedIn’s advanced search to locate employees at each of your targeted companies. Input the names and titles of these individuals in an Excel spreadsheet or database.

4. Start contacting individuals in your list of contacts to make friends. Remember, you are not asking for a job but for an informational interview. Below is a script you can use.

“Hi my name is Ron Nash, how are you today? Is this a good time?” Then remain quiet and listen for his or her response which could be no this is not a good time, yes it is a good time, or I’m not interested. You should also listen for background noise and the pace and tone of this individual to make sure it is a good time to talk. You do not want to go into your pitch when the individual you contacted is busy or distracted.

Next mention what you have in common with this individual (graduate of a specific school, member of a professional association, and so on) to help build rapport.

“The purpose of my phone call is I conducted a search on LinkedIn and saw you went to UofM. I’m conducting research as I build my new list of companies that I am going to approach and I thought I reach out to you and ask for your advice of how to stage myself as I develop new strategies and techniques that might be useful in my job search. Would you be ok with that?

The response will be sure, I’m not interested, or this is not a good time. If it’s not a good time, schedule a convenient time for an informational interview.

5. During your informational interviews have a list of intelligent questions to ask. These questions can include:

• How long have you been in this industry?
• What did it take for you to get into this industry?
• From your perspective if you were me or a job seeker, what would you do to get into an amazing company that is doing well?
• Do you know anyone looking for any superstars?
• In your network of people, is there anyone you recommend I can continue to have dialogue and network with?

If you can get individuals to talk, you will have a good chance to build rapport and transition to the friend zone. Once you get into the friend zone you are in a different world since friends help friends. If you are not a friend you are another job seeker.

6. Finally, you want to thank people for their time. Do not be a taker. It’s ok to ask but make sure you give back. “Thank you some much for your time. I will like to invite you to my LinkedIn network to keep in touch. If there is ever a time in your career, job search, or anything you have going on when you need to reach someone I am connected with; let me know and I will do anything I can for you.”

Do not hesitate to leave feedback or ask questions in the comments section. The knowledge of a crowd is greater than the knowledge of a few. Likewise, participate in JobRadioUSA’s free online career community and persuade others to do the same.

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• 4 Ways to Uncover Hidden Jobs
• 6 Step Process to Ace Any Job Interview
• The Characteristics of a Dynamic Resume
• The Four Components of a Dynamic Cover Letter
• How to Prepare for an Upcoming, Potential Layoff
• How to Cope with a Difficult Job Search