LinkedIn For Dummies
| June 23, 2011 | Posted by admin under Networking |
Build your profile
The first step to effectively using LinkedIn is to have a complete profile for others to see. Make sure to add your education (including your major and what activities/societies you participated in), and put that at the very top if you’re a college student or recent graduate. Next, add your job/internship/volunteer experience. Though LinkedIn allows you to put as much text below each one as you’d like, keep descriptions concise and informative. Also, if you’re feeling ambitious, add a summary that will give your connections a chance to get to know you a little better. Think of your summary as a cover letter. Finally, add a picture and “title” for yourself, as this is what most people will see when your name comes up initially on their screen. Choose a picture of yourself in business attire looking your best, as this will give a visual to go along with your experience, etc. Your title should be your current position or, if you’re a student, your school and major.
Make connections
Much like Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn allows you add friends and colleagues to your network as “connections”. You’ll be able to interact with your connections and see what they’re up to professionally, and, likewise, they will be able to see whatever professional information you’ve provided as well.
Obviously, this type of interactivity has benefits, especially for recent college grads looking for employment. Having your name and experience out there for any of your connections to see can provide unexpected benefits. Maybe a former boss is looking for a new employee, or maybe a family friend knows of a great online marketing position available in New York City, where you’ve been dying to live.
Another helpful feature is the way connections are structured as either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd connections based on who they’re “friends” with. This allows the process of finding professionals you wish to connect with to be much more efficient and provides you with knowledge of the networks of your own connections.
Join groups
The purpose of social networking is bringing people together, right? What better way to do that than to join groups on LinkedIn, where you can find fellow professionals who are in your industry, your field, or even those interested in the same football team or rock band.
The obvious advantage to joining groups is the ability to interact with other professionals who share common interests, and this can lead to a successful connection for both parties who otherwise would have never met. And, when it comes to groups relating to your profession, you’ll be able to bounce ideas off of other knowledgeable professionals and even borrow some ideas for your own company.
What’s next
So you have your LinkedIn account set up, you’ve made some connections and joined some groups, and you’re wondering what’s next. Stay interactive! Post interesting articles or news, comment on those posted by others, contribute to discussions in groups, and make sure your experience and education is updated. Do everything you can to have a presence, and it could pay off!
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