Building a Backlink to Your Career: Networking on LinkedIn

In Search Engine Optimization (SEO), a "backlink" is a link from one website to another. The more quality backlinks a site has, the more authoritative Google considers it to be. In your career, your professional network is your collection of backlinks.

A referral from a current employee is the most powerful backlink you can have. It immediately moves your application to the top of the pile. But how do you get them?

Start by identifying companies you're interested in. Find people in roles similar to yours and send them a personalized connection request. Don't ask for a job. Ask for a brief 15-minute chat to learn about their experience at the company. Be genuine and respectful of their time. Build the relationship before you need it. A strong network, combined with the speed advantage from Vopko, is an unbeatable combination.