LinkedIn Premium

I never had premium myself, what I was advised to do was search companies and the message their HR department. Ask about upcoming roles that interest you. The message should be tailored to that specific role/company and not a general message! I don't use LinkedIn much anymore as I think it's quite toxic. I know this didn't really answer your question, although I hope it is of some benefit perhaps..

I never had any progress myself with LinkedIn. I got the odd interview, although it's very scarce. I just apply for jobs on indeed. However, I am a low wage earner. As for your situation. it wouldn't hurt to contact the engineering manager. I would think it would benefit you if that person you were in contact with was on an interview panel of an interview you attend. I have a level 8 and I don't think it does me any favours when applying for min-wage jobs. As it looks like I am overqualified for the role. Not sure if this is the case with you, depends on what the entry requirements are for the role.

LinkedIn premium is very expensive. But if your sector is heavily featured, the added insights are worth it. You get a free month usually anyway to try it out

It isn't worth it. I find linkedIn an absolute melt of a platform - unfortunately I need to be on it for work reasons - but as a job hunting platform just a little better than useless. In the past we have advertised jobs on it and you'd literally get 1000's of applications for a role and 99.99% of applicants are just not even remotely qualified for the role and you have to sift through crap to find a single decent candidate and eventually you just give look looking at them.

I moved jobs recently after 20+ years in the one organisation. I wanted to move in to a slightly different area and had spent a good bit of lockdown studying. It took about 6 months of checking job sites, recruitment agencies to find something of interest and eventually the right position in the right place came up.

Bizarrely I thought that 20 years in the one place would have gone against me .. but in the interview stage what the new employer wanted was someone with mature understanding of how small business worked and to bring that in ... so don't be afraid to bring old experience in with you !

I took the free months trial when I was job hunting, but found it pretty much pointless apart from seeing who looked at your profile after applying for some jobs.