5 TIPS for getting started on LinkedIn

5TIPSfor getting started on LinkedIn

Take Home MESSAGES

But first of all some …

• Consider LinkedIn as your online CV.

• LinkedIn is also “a Facebook for professionals”.

• A decent page is really all you need, but there is other useful stuff to discover.

Let’s start!

– your online CV

WHY?

Obnoxious Old School FriendSenior Consultant Snake Oil Corporation

Obnoxious Old School Friend

abusive@snakeoil.com

All these contacts from near and far showing up, wanting to be a part of your professional life.

What’s the point?

Make your CV available and searchable.

Develop professional networks.

Find professional groups for the exchange of knowledge and contacts.

An official starting point for the professional you.

=

NGOs PUBLIC SECTOR

STARTUPS

MEDIA

ACADEMY

INDUSTRY

LI connects you with professionals who you seldom interact with.

My own “Advice for contacting …”. I am present on LI to make connections.

Just some notes on the company …

• Claiming themselves to be the world’s largest professional network on the Internet.

• Launched 2003. HQ in Silicon Valley.

• More than 400 million users worldwide.

• Revenues from recruiting services, content marketing and fees for premium accounts.

Tip no. 1

Get a professional- looking photo.

Technical aspects: • a decent lens

(> 300 €) • shallow depth of field

Social aspects: • eye contact and smile • relevant context and

clothing

Tip no. 2

Write a headline.

Use your 120 characters wisely! Include search terms. Explain what you do and how you can help.

Tip no. 3

Write a summary.

Not more than 500 characters! Include search terms. Explain what you do and how you can help.

1. What do you do? 2. What problem do you solve? 3. How is your solution different? 4. Why should I care?

Tip no. 4

Make a decision.

Either …

… go crazy and fill your page with lots of interesting stuff about you …

… or …

… compile carefully selected material to create a professional persona.

Whatever you choose: ask some trusted friends and colleagues to write Recommendations.

Tip no. 5

Communicate in English.

1.8 billion10 million

People understanding my own little peculiar language (Swedish) vs. people understanding English.

Take Home MESSAGES

Here we go again!

• Consider LinkedIn as your online CV.

• LinkedIn is also “a Facebook for professionals”.

• A decent page is really all you need, but there is other useful stuff to discover.

Remember what Bob sang!