JOB SPECIAL Top tips to follow on LinkedIn for bagging that coveted job

LinkedIn has become an incredible resource for building your professional identity online. And an important part of that process is done through its apps. Let's start with ways you can get more value out of LinkedIn's flagship app for Android, iOS or Windows:

Add your calendar to get info about your interviewer

If you sync your phone's calendar with LinkedIn's app, you'll be served up the profile of anyone you have penciled in on your schedule, so you can refresh yourself on their info before you meet.

Follow specific companies that you're interested inOnce you follow a company (or, better, a bunch of companies), LinkedIn will call up its profile in the Companies tab. You can browse its page and see its updates, employees, and job postings quickly and easily.

Apply for jobs directly through LinkedIn's app

You could land your next job based on just your killer LinkedIn profile. The list of positions in the 'Jobs' section of LinkedIn's app are tailored to your interests and you can apply for a position just by submitting your profile. Browsing through your list of recommendations can save you a lot of time by avoiding a long, painful hunt through other posting sites.

Use your news stream to build your personal brand and strengthen your connectionsInstead of just consuming, you can interact and add to the conversation when you have something to say. Nurture your network.

But don't go too crazy with commentsBe conversational, but not too casual, because using slang or not checking your grammar could be a turnoff to potential employers. LinkedIn isn't Facebook; you still want to stay professional.

You can use the Pulse tab to see a personalised selection of articles and news about topics related to your industryLinkedIn will recommend you follow certain categories related to your industry. You can then browse through and read articles from a wide variety of publishers and LinkedIn Influencers. There is a Pulse app as well.

Share helpful contentOn Pulse, you can share articles to your own LinkedIn profile, as well as to other social media in a few taps.

Stay up on what's happening even when you don't have WiFiIf you've got a commute before work, you can read up while underground if you save a story. Or you could read on your flight on the way to your next business meeting.

Use LinkedIn's new SlideShare app to check out presentations shared by people in your network or other expertsWhether you want to scope a relevant presentation to prep for a meeting or check out your boss's latest presentation to show you did your homework, SlideShare has you covered. The app will give you access to more than 15 million presentations and you'll get a notification whenever someone in your network uploads something new.

Try the Connected app to make networking easyEvery day, the app delivers a new list of targeted updates that will help you find ways to strengthen your existing relationships with a personal touch.

By Business Insider | 9 Oct, 2014