[verdverm]

1. having a really well written profile, hire an expert

2. less LI, but become a thought leader

3. Network, write, promote. People are more likely do business with people they "know" so make sure they see your face on a regular basis.

4. Sales skills and business acumen, you will need this if you want to break out of the average

[greggyb]

1. Never did spend more than a few minutes at a time, but have recruiters reaching out on the regular.

2. This is not a LinkedIn skill. I speak at industry conferences regularly through relationships I've built entirely outside of LinkedIn.

3. Conference speaking does this for me.

4. This isn't even tangentially relayed to LinkedIn.

My first job out of college was from a bunch of cold applications. Since then, I've gotten all my roles by reaching out to people (outside of LinkedIn) to connect, and through my network. The skills you highlight as important are not exclusive to, or necessarily learnable on LinkedIn.

[verdverm]

Yes, my point is that LinkedIn is part of an overall strategy.

The best way to use recruiters is to give them a few minutes regardless of the job, they have more, it's their business, and they will start pimping you out. Best job search hack ever!

I'm doing a few extra steps now

1. Tell them the company salaries are far too low, take a sample point back, hopefully a hack that raises everyone's salary

2. Getting intros to companies I want to do business with, not go work for. This has not been fruitful, but it is a recent strategy change