In 2012 there were 5.7 billion professionally oriented searches on LinkedIn.

That’s a ton.

Since it’s such a popular feature, LinkedIn users demanded a better search experience. Luckily, LinkedIn’s software development team listened and launched an enhanced version of their search technology.

(It happened on March 25. Did you notice?)

The good news is this new search makes it easier for recruiters to find you but ONLY if you’ve written your profile correctly.

Here are three ways to leverage LinkedIn’s new search approach. Follow these steps and you’ll improve your profile, and as a result your job search.

1. Saved Search

Guess what? LinkedIn’s new search adapts to your style and your network. The more you search, the better your experience will be.

As your network grows, your search results will change. So be sure to save searches you make frequently to save you time and so LinkedIn will adjust to your needs.

Want to save your search? It’s easy. Run a search, and then on the results page, click the green plus (+) sign on the top right.

I recommend saving searches on keywords you are trying to rank for so you can determine if you’re making progress.

Also, you can save searches for job titles you are going for at certain companies to see if anyone new is there to network with.

2. Autocomplete for Keyword Research

Knowing what words to use in your profile can be a guessing game. Sometimes “Bursar” is better than “accountant,” sometimes “advocate” is better than “organizer.”

LinkedIn’s new search feature provides an autocomplete and autosuggest which you can use to see what words are popular trends.

Review the example below (image). I searched for .NET to see what skills I should include in a client’s profile. I’ll admit, I would have never thought of .NET Compact Network.

Give it a try. Start by typing your current job title or skills to see what LinkedIn suggests for you.

3. The New Jobs Page

LinkedIn’s new Jobs page provides some great features. I think the suggested jobs section is the best. LinkedIn gathers the information from your network and your profile, then reveals the logos of companies you might have some interest in working for.

Below that, there’s a section that explains what jobs are open from people in your network. Of course, applying for a job where you have a referral is always best practice.

Try setting up an e-mail alert so you know if any new jobs open up in your network. Pretty nice, right?

Getting Your Profile to Show Up on an Employer’s Search

As you can tell, search results are prioritized based on connection. So there is just no substitute for having as many well-connected people in your network as possible. But you also need to make sure your profile has these elements:

  • Tells a story.

  • Includes relevant keywords.

  • Convinces employers to connect with you.

Yes, I know. Writing about yourself can be very frustrating. Which is why using a LinkedIn profile writing service is a smart investment.