“I’m on LinkedIn…now what?”
Whether you’re a recent grad, a new business owner, a professional in your field or a current user looking for a refresher, we want to help you get the most out of your LinkedIn profile. Like most social media platforms, LinkedIn hosts a personal profile where you can list your professional information, job experience and marketable skills. Why LinkedIn? It’s the world’s largest professional network!
Unlike any other social media network, it’s important to complete your LinkedIn profile to the best of your ability, especially if you want to utilize it for job hunting. LinkedIn measures what is called your “profile strength” on a scale from Beginner to All-Star. The more complete your profile is, the more likely you are to appear in search results. For example, if you list skills like “marketing” or “promotions,” potential employers may find your profile as they search based on those keywords.
Become a LinkedIn All-Star
Now you might be wondering, what makes an All-Star profile? Creating your profile might seem overwhelming, but take it one step at a time. Here are several key components to keep in mind when building your profile:
- Industry and Location
- Your Current Job Position and Description
- Previous Job Positions and Descriptions
- Education
- At Least Five Skills
- Profile Picture
- At Least 50 Connections
- A Profile Summary
- Work Samples
- Any Volunteer Experience
Start Connecting
In the list above, we mentioned obtaining connections. Where do you begin? Thanks to LinkedIn, it’s simple to get started. Start by performing some basic searches for people that you know by name. Click the “Connect” button next to the names to add them to your network. You can even send a customized message along with your invitations to connect. Once you’ve made connections, your “People You May Know” page will start to grow. Before you know it, you’ll have 50 connections and beyond! After you’ve built some connections, think about recommendations. Take some time and endorse your connections’ skills and talents. Most of the time, your connections will reciprocate, which is a great way to boost your profile and proof of your professional skills.
Join LinkedIn Groups
To expand your network beyond just those who know know directly, we recommend joining various LinkedIn Groups. They are similar to Facebook Groups in that they are places to share information, ask questions and get to know others in your industry. Once you join a group (or groups), be sure to participate! You’ll soon find yourself making new connections, finding new job leads and more viewing activity on your profile.
Share Content
Does your company have a new published article? Perhaps you’ve just completed a certification or training. Did you find an article to share? Sharing content through LinkedIn will help to amplify your profile. Share a variety of content and share often. If you’re not sure what to share, a status update will do!
How Often
Once your LinkedIn account is set up, just how often do you need to log in? We recommend logging in for a few minutes each day or perhaps once a week for an extended period of time. The more time you spend on your profile updating your information, adding content or sharing information, the more likely your profile is to be viewed. Think of your LinkedIn profile as a very detailed version of your resume, essentially everything that you can’t fit on that one page summary of yourself.
Whether you’re looking for a job or you just want to network, if you haven’t checked out LinkedIn and all that is has to offer, today’s the day! Create your profile, see what it’s all about and start making connections. The more thorough you are in describing yourself, your career and your accomplishments, the easier it is to connect. So take the opportunity to toot your own horn!
Rethink out of the Box 