- 100% complete = 100% more likely to get noticed: “Your LinkedIn profile is your online business card, your résumé, and your letters of rec all in one.” According to Doyle, “The more robust your profile, the more you will get noticed.” “It should have all the same information that is on your resume including your qualifications, your experience, and your skills” (Doyle) You can just copy and paste from your résumé. Doyle also recommends adding a headshot: “Do be sure the photo represents the professional you and isn't too casual” and selecting an industry (often used by recruiters). Include links to your website or weblog if they represent the ‘professional’ you.
- You’re more experienced than you think: “Think really broadly about all the experience you have, including summer jobs, unpaid internships, volunteer work, and student organizations. You never know what might catch someone’s eye.” Doyle recommends adding the Volunteer Experience and Causes field to your LinkedIn Profile and notes that “41% of the professionals surveyed stated that when they are evaluating candidates, they consider volunteer work equally as valuable as paid work experience.”
- Use your inbox: Start with people you know. “Start building your LinkedIn network by uploading your online address book and connecting to friends, relatives, internship colleagues, and professionals you know in the “’real world’.” MindTools recommends requesting “an introduction to people in your extended network through your mutual contact” or forwarding your profile page to contacts on their lists.
- Get personal: “customize your connection requests with a friendly note and, if necessary, a reminder of where you met or what organization you have in common.” And selectively solicit recommendations with a personalized request. Doyle believes that “Recommendations from people you have worked with carry a lot of weight. To a potential employer, a LinkedIn recommendation is a reference in advance.”
- Join the “in” crowd: join LinkedIn Groups to meet people who share common interests. Make use of Groups You Might Like (GYML). Walsh led me to join e-learning 2.0, a group discussing instructional design techniques and technologies of eLearning.
- Lend a (virtual) hand: Answer questions or make comments through group discussions, mention when you’ve read something really pertinent, forward job listings if you know someone is looking. And take the time to write recommendations for your contacts.
- Update your status early and often: “Stay on other people’s radar screens by updating your LinkedIn status at least once a week—you can do this directly on LinkedIn or by linking your Twitter account and marking tweets with #in. Mention events you’re attending, projects you’ve completed, and other professional news.” Doyle notes you can change activity feed viewer settings.
- Question (and answer) everything: seek advice and answer questions through LinkedIn’s Answers . “With tools like LinkedIn Answers and groups, you can establish trust with those in your network and improve your reputation, while keeping up-to-date with industry news and trends.” (MindTools)
- Do your homework: Before an interview, “Access Company Pages to research organizations and their employees, and use Advanced Search to find things you have in common with people you’re meeting.“
- Now step away from the computer...”: When possible follow up with real contact. “Set up phone calls, attend live events, and send snail mail notes to people you interact with on LinkedIn. Remember that online methods should supplement, not replace, in-person relationship-building.”
If you’re like me and you want to see an example of how to construct your LinkedIn profile, I recommend Doyle’s “LinkedIn Profile Tips”. Each page starts with an image, which is really helpful. Or, if you prefer, look at her open profile page to see it in toto.
- Extensive experience
- Innovative
- Motivated
- Results-oriented
- Dynamic
- Proven track record
- Team player
- Fast-paced
- Problem solver
- Entrepreneurial
References & Additional Resources:
"Advantages of Using LinkedIn for Professional Networking." GreenHostIt. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.greenhostit.com/green-blog/96-social-media/336-linkedin-advantages-business-networking>.
Cain, Molly. "The 8 Things You Do Wrong On LinkedIn." Forbes. N.p., 10 May 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/glassheel/2012/05/10/the-8-things-you-do-wrong-on-linkedin/>.
Dority, Kim. "Using LinkedIn for Branding and Networking: Getting-Started Basics ." Infonista. N.p., 4 Nov. 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infonista.com/2011/using-linkedin-for-branding-and-networking-getting-started-basics/>.
Doyle, Alison. "LinkedIn Profile Tips." About.com. Job Searching. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://jobsearch.about.com/od/linkedin/ss/linkedin-profile-tips.htm>.
"How to Network Professionally Online." LinkedIn. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://careerservices.linkedin.com/Network-Professionally.pdf>.
Pribula, Alexis. "Why it’s easier than ever to find Groups You May Like." LinkedIn Blog. N.p., 23 Aug. 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/08/23/linkedin-gyml/>.
Ryan, Liz. "Top Ten Linked-In Do's and Don'ts." Ezine@rticles. N.p., 23 Apr. 2006. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Ten-Linked-In-Dos-and-Donts&id=184051>.
Shulman, Robyn. "An Unexpected Journey: How LinkedIn Changed My Life In One Year [SLIDESHOW]." LinkedIn Blog. N.p., 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://blog.linkedin.com/2012/10/25/unexpected-journey/>.
"Using LinkedIn Effectively: Growing Your Professional Network." Mind Tools. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/linkedin.htm>.
Walsh, K. "8 Great LinkedIn Groups for Educators." EmergingEdTech. N.p., 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.emergingedtech.com/2012/02/8-great-linkedin-groups-for-educators/>.
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