4 Powerful LinkedIn Tools Youre Probably Not Using

4 Powerful LinkedIn Tools You’re Probably Not Using 4 Powerful LinkedIn Tools You’re Probably Not Using LinkedIn has turned into one of the world’s strongest networking tools. But in my years of working for LinkedIn, it seems many of the platform’s best features go unnoticed. Ultimately, I feel this is due to the overwhelming nature of LinkedIn and the available LinkedIn tools. There’s so much to do that it can be hard to know where to focus. I’m a part of the customer success team at LinkedIn, and I’m also a career success coach with Vertucci Career Academy. I work day in and day out helping clients hire people and helping job seekers get hired. I also assist people to get the most out of LinkedIn. Here are some of my favorite LinkedIn tools that many people don’t know about: 1.  Alumni Tool As you’re looking for connections or people you may know within certain companies, there’s no better place to get started than the Alumni Tool. Is an alumnus or alumna of your school already working in the industry or company you’d like to work in? Imagine reaching out to people and already having something in common simply because you went to the same school. Who doesn’t love their alma mater, right? I’ve had several people reach out to me simply because I work at LinkedIn and also went to the University of Central Florida. I’m always happy to refer people and help them make additional connections, and I promise I don’t just do that because I work at LinkedIn. My guess is 99 percent of people would love to help a fellow alumnus or alumna. 2.  Veterans Tool Are you a military veteran? LinkedIn is committed to helping service members and veterans succeed in transitioning from their military role to working in the private sector. This particular tool is designed for networking among fellow veterans. Specifically, it’s designed to help connect members coming out of service with veterans who have already found civilian work. What a great way to meet someone! Here’s a sample communication: “I see we both served in the Marine Corps. I’d love to speak with you about how you transitioned to the private sector. I’m specifically interested in working at a company similar to the one where you landed. Do you have some time to chat with me about how you got started?” In addition to helping fellow veterans get connected, LinkedIn also has a veterans landing page, which offers a free one-year subscription to a premium jobseeker account and Lynda.com for  any eligible military and veteran members. Definitely share information about this awesome resource with our servicemen and women! 3.  Volunteer Marketplace Have you ever found yourself wanting to volunteer your skills to local nonprofits but you weren’t sure of where or how to start? This LinkedIn tool has you covered! Nonprofits can now publicize skilled volunteer needs. Perhaps they need legal counsel or marketing assistance on a voluntary basis. Well, they can now be matched with local legal or marketing professionals looking to volunteer their time and skills to worthy causes. I often advise people looking to develop new skills to consider volunteering first. Nonprofit organizations can be a great place to help you build your experience or portfolio of projects. Leverage the Volunteer Marketplace to find out how you can best service your community. You can also build your network as you volunteer! 4.  LinkedIn for Students I love this resource! This LinkedIn tool is designed for students, but I feel it has applications for anyone and everyone looking to learn more about LinkedIn. Want some great tips on creating your profile? Looking for advice on what to say when networking? Need some job search advice? It’s all here! With this tool, you can view videos, tip sheets, and articles. When first starting out on LinkedIn, this is an awesome resource regardless of whether or not you’re a student. And when you’re ready for advanced tips and tricks, always remember the Help Center has you covered. I hope you found some useful resources you may not have known about before. Always keep in mind: the point of LinkedIn is to grow and nurture your network. Utilize these awesome LinkedIn tools to help you identify easy ways to do exactly that. Interested in more tips about  using social media in your job search? Check out our social media for job seekers category. Rebecca Vertucci is a proven expert on recruiting, hiring, and all things LinkedIn. She vetted and placed hundreds of candidates while working for corporate HR departments and recruiting agencies before joining LinkedIn where she is a senior customer success manager. Now, as a cofounder of Vertucci Career Academy, Rebecca shares her extensive knowledge and unique perspective with job seekers and those in career transitions through her online course offerings, as well as one-on-one and group coaching programs. For more information on working with Rebecca, please email her at Rebecca@VertucciCareerAcademy.com. She offers free career consultations for all members. Readers, give these LinkedIn Tools a try! Tell us about your experience in the comments section below!