LinkedIn is considered an essential professional networking platform, which means that using it strategically may benefit your career in several ways. And given its degree of popularity, it’s no surprise that the site’s features are constantly evolving in an effort to improve the overall experience for its 450 million (!) users worldwide. A recent Forbes article highlights how some of the newest upgrades to the site might make landing a new job easier:

• See the connections of your connections. Referrals are the most effective way to secure a job, and the best referrals will come from within your network. So now when you notice someone who piques your professional interest, you can circle back to your mutual connection and ask for an introduction, if appropriate.

• Filter your notifications. LinkedIn’s notifications (e.g., reminders about people’s birthdays, work anniversaries, etc.) can serve as useful prompts to stay in touch with your connections; but the volume of such notifications can sometimes be overwhelming. A new option enables you to have full control over the reminders you want to receive.

• Use the hover feature to get info on a user — quickly. Want to know more about someone who shows up on your LinkedIn feed, without opening the person’s entire profile? This new tool allows you to get an overview of an individual by simply hovering over their name or photo when it pops up on your feed!

• Enhance your profile picture. Profiles that include a photo get a lot more attention than those without pics. Recognizing the importance of having a professional-looking head shot, LinkedIn now helps users add one with ease, thanks to new editing and filter features. No need to hire a photographer!

• Give your posts a boost by using multiple photos. Posting quality written content will drive more people to your page. It has also been proven that adding an image to the post attracts even more viewers. LinkedIn now allows you to include up to nine images per post, so you can really showcase your accomplishments.

For more helpful tips on using LinkedIn, read “Cancer and Careers’ Guide to LinkedIn” and watch our archived webinar Building an Effective LinkedIn Profile.

For additional job-hunting tools and information, be sure to check out the articles in our Looking for Work section and order or download a free copy of our Job Search Toolkit.