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How to Follow Companies Strategically on LinkedIn
If you want to turn LinkedIn from a passive résumé showcase into a career‑accelerating engine, the first habit you need to master is how to follow companies strategically on LinkedIn. By following the right organizations in a purposeful way, you can surface hidden job openings, receive insider industry updates, and position yourself in front of recruiters before they even post a vacancy. This guide walks you through every step, from selecting target firms to engaging with their content, and shows you how Resumly’s AI tools can amplify each move.
Why Following Companies Matters
Following companies isn’t just a click‑and‑forget activity. When you follow strategically, you:
- Gain early access to job postings – many firms share openings on their LinkedIn feed before they appear on job boards.
- Learn the company culture – regular posts reveal values, projects, and the language recruiters use.
- Build relevance – engaging with a company’s content signals genuine interest, increasing the chance a recruiter will notice you.
- Expand your network – employees who comment or like posts become potential connections.
According to a 2023 LinkedIn survey, 68% of job seekers who followed target companies reported receiving interview invitations within three months of their first follow. That’s a clear ROI for a habit that takes only a few minutes each week.
Step‑by‑Step Guide to Follow Companies Strategically
Below is a repeatable framework you can apply to any industry or career level. Follow each step, tick the checklist, and you’ll turn LinkedIn into a live job board tailored to you.
1. Identify Target Companies
Definition: Target companies are the organizations where you would love to work, based on role, culture, growth, and location.
How to find them:
- Use LinkedIn’s “Jobs You May Be Interested In” – note the employers that appear repeatedly.
- Leverage Resumly’s Job‑Match tool – visit Resumly Job Match to get AI‑curated suggestions based on your résumé.
- Check industry lists – Fortune 500, Crunchbase, or niche “Top 50 FinTech Startups” lists.
- Ask your network – a quick message to a mentor can surface hidden gems.
Pro tip: Aim for a balanced list – 5 large enterprises, 5 mid‑size firms, and 5 startups. This mix maximizes exposure while keeping your feed manageable.
2. Research Their Activity
Before you hit the Follow button, spend a few minutes scrolling through the company’s LinkedIn page:
- Post frequency – daily, weekly, or sporadic?
- Content type – blog links, employee spotlights, product launches?
- Engagement level – do posts get comments and shares?
Create a simple spreadsheet:
| Company | Avg. Posts/Week | Primary Content | Recent Hiring Signals |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExampleCo | 3 | Thought‑leadership, case studies | Posted 2 software engineer openings |
This research helps you prioritize which companies to follow first.
3. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
A polished profile is the landing page for anyone who clicks on your name after you engage with a company’s post.
- Headline: Include the role you want, e.g., “Product Manager | AI‑Driven SaaS | Open to New Opportunities”.
- About section: Write a concise value proposition (2‑3 sentences) that mirrors the language used by your target companies.
- Featured media: Add a link to your AI‑generated résumé from Resumly’s AI Resume Builder – see Resumly AI Resume Builder.
- Skills: Align with the top 5 skills listed in the company’s recent job ads.
If you need a quick makeover, try Resumly’s LinkedIn Profile Generator: https://www.resumly.ai/linkedin-profile-generator.
4. Use the “Follow” Feature Effectively
Now that you’ve vetted the company, click Follow. But don’t stop there:
- Set a reminder – schedule a weekly 5‑minute check‑in to review new posts.
- Turn on post notifications – click the three‑dot menu on the company page → Turn on notifications for real‑time alerts.
- Add to a custom LinkedIn list – use the “Save” feature to group companies by industry or location.
5. Engage with Content Strategically
Engagement is the engine that turns a passive follow into a conversation starter.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Like posts that genuinely interest you. | Like every post just to appear active. |
| Comment with thoughtful insights or ask a relevant question. | Leave generic comments like “Great post!” |
| Share posts with a personal note that ties back to your expertise. | Share without context – it looks spammy. |
| Tag a connection who might add value to the discussion. | Tag random people who have no relevance. |
Example comment:
“Impressive rollout of the new AI analytics dashboard, @CompanyName! I’ve recently built a similar solution using Python and Tableau – would love to learn more about the tech stack you used.”
Such comments showcase your knowledge and invite a direct reply.
6. Leverage Resumly Tools for Job Matching
While you’re nurturing your feed, let Resumly do the heavy lifting on the job‑search side:
- Auto‑Apply: Once a relevant posting appears, Resumly can auto‑populate your application with the AI‑optimized résumé. Learn more at Resumly Auto‑Apply.
- ATS Resume Checker: Ensure your résumé passes applicant‑tracking systems before you submit. Try it here: https://www.resumly.ai/ats-resume-checker.
- Career Clock: Track how many days you’ve been actively following and engaging with each company. Visit https://www.resumly.ai/ai-career-clock.
By aligning your LinkedIn activity with Resumly’s automation, you create a feedback loop: the more you engage, the more tailored job suggestions you receive.
Checklist: Follow Companies Strategically
- Identify 15 target companies (5 large, 5 mid‑size, 5 startups).
- Research each company’s posting cadence and content type.
- Optimize LinkedIn headline, summary, and featured media.
- Follow each company and enable post notifications.
- Engage with at least two posts per week (like + comment).
- Share one post per week with a personal insight.
- Use Resumly’s Job Match and Auto‑Apply tools.
- Review analytics monthly to see which engagements led to interview requests.
Do’s and Don’ts of Strategic Following
Do:
- Personalize every comment.
- Align your profile keywords with the company’s language.
- Track engagement metrics (likes, comments, replies).
- Use Resumly’s Interview Practice to prepare for conversations that may arise from your comments (https://www.resumly.ai/features/interview-practice).
Don’t:
- Follow hundreds of companies indiscriminately – it dilutes your feed.
- Spam the same generic comment on multiple posts.
- Neglect your profile; a sloppy résumé defeats the purpose of engagement.
- Rely solely on LinkedIn – complement with Resumly’s Job Search feature (https://www.resumly.ai/features/job-search).
Real‑World Example: Sarah’s Journey from Follower to Interview
Background: Sarah, a mid‑level data analyst, wanted to break into product analytics at a top SaaS firm.
- Target list: She identified 12 companies, including her dream employer, DataPulse.
- Research: Noticed DataPulse posted weekly “Team Spotlight” videos.
- Profile tweak: Updated her headline to “Data Analyst | Product Analytics Enthusiast | Open to SaaS Roles”. Added a Resumly‑generated résumé to the Featured section.
- Follow & notify: Followed DataPulse and turned on notifications.
- Engagement: Commented on a Team Spotlight video: “Great to see the cross‑functional collaboration! I recently built a churn‑prediction model that reduced churn by 12% – would love to discuss the methodology.”
- Result: The hiring manager replied, invited her to a coffee chat, and later scheduled an interview. Sarah used Resumly’s AI Cover Letter tool to craft a tailored cover letter (https://www.resumly.ai/features/ai-cover-letter).
Takeaway: Strategic following + targeted engagement + Resumly’s AI tools turned a passive follower into a candidate within 4 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many companies should I follow at once?
Aim for 10‑20 high‑quality companies. This keeps your feed relevant and prevents overwhelm.
2. Does following a company guarantee I’ll see their job posts?
No, but it increases the likelihood by 2‑3× because LinkedIn’s algorithm surfaces content from followed pages higher in your feed.
3. Should I also connect with employees after I follow a company?
Yes. Send a brief, personalized connection request referencing a recent post you liked. Example: “Hi Alex, I enjoyed your recent post on AI ethics at DataPulse and would love to connect.”
4. How often should I engage with a company’s content?
Consistency beats volume. Aim for 2‑3 meaningful interactions per week (like + comment or share).
5. Can Resumly help me track which engagements led to interviews?
Absolutely. Use the Application Tracker (https://www.resumly.ai/features/application-tracker) to log each interaction and its outcome.
6. What if a company never posts job openings on LinkedIn?
Expand your strategy: follow the company’s employees, join related LinkedIn Groups, and use Resumly’s Job Search Keywords tool to discover hidden listings (https://www.resumly.ai/job-search-keywords).
7. Is it okay to follow a competitor of my target company?
Yes. Monitoring competitors gives you insight into industry trends and can reveal alternative hiring pipelines.
8. How do I avoid looking like a bot when I comment frequently?
Vary your language, reference specific details from the post, and sprinkle in genuine curiosity. Authenticity is key.
Conclusion
Mastering how to follow companies strategically on LinkedIn is a low‑cost, high‑impact habit that fuels your job search, expands your professional network, and positions you as a proactive candidate. By selecting the right firms, optimizing your profile, engaging thoughtfully, and pairing your efforts with Resumly’s AI‑powered tools, you turn every follow into a potential interview.
Ready to supercharge your LinkedIn strategy? Start with Resumly’s free LinkedIn Profile Generator and explore the AI Resume Builder to make sure recruiters see the best version of you. Then, put the steps in this guide into action and watch the opportunities roll in.
For more career‑building resources, visit the Resumly blog: https://www.resumly.ai/blog
