Creating Connections with Linked In

PrivacyKeeping things private while you renovate your profile

• Find drop down menu from picture/head image on right

• Select privacy settings• Under Privacy Controls select

turn on/off your activity broadcastsDon’t forget to visit this to turn it back on after you are finished updating your profile

Create

• Sign Up for an Account• Why do they want to access my email??• Request connections from our existing network• Add some work experience

Cultivate

Headline Photo Summary Skills Keywords

Contact Card – Your First Contact Card – Your First ImpressionImpression

Headline

Photo

Public URL

Contact Card – Headline

What is your What is your main goal for main goal for your Linked In your Linked In

profile?profile?

Content from: http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com/library/linkedin/the-right-keywords-for-your-linkedin-profile-headline/

• Keywords: Terms a recruiter / hiring manager would be using to search for a candidate

Job postings and job descriptions are great places to find keywords

• USP (Unique Selling Proposition):What services or skills do you have to offer an employer?

How do you differ from other candidates?

Contact Card – HeadlineContact Card – Headline

Contact Card – Photo

• You need a photo:  LinkedIn profiles with photos receive 50-70%

more inquires than profiles without. *

• Recent, and of good quality.Not cropped from some group photo …

• This is an opportunity to show an employer that you are approachable. So smile.

From http://www.careerealism.com/linkedin-photo-tips/

Summary Section“Tell stories. If you can grab some attention with something about yourself that we wouldn’t know from your resume bullets, you’re heading in the right direction. Jason Alba in particular suggests writing PAR (Problem – Action – Result) stories in your summary statement. I would recommend including at least one, and also including up to three bullets with your top accomplishments. Can you “wow” a recruiter or hiring manager with one of your experiences or achievements? The Summary is your first chance. Grab it.”

from: http://www.careercast.com/career-news/5-essential-tips-killer-linkedin-summary

Summary SectionKey Tips:

•Write in first person•Show your personality•Use those keywords again!•It’s okay to use headers and subheaders; make it easy to read•Include your contact information (if you feel comfortable)•Consider adding a ‘call to action’ in your last paragraph•3 Stunningly good linked in profile summaries: http://www.linkedinsights.com/3-stunningly-good-linkedin-profile-summaries/

Skills Section“The assets highlighted on LinkedIn should reflect the things you want to do more of, not necessarily the things you are competent at. Think of your LinkedIn profile, including your endorsements, as a billboard to promote your best work today — the stuff that brings you alive — rather than work you can do handily, but with little enthusiasm.” *

From http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/01/11/how-to-make-the-most-of-linkedin-endorsements/

Endorsements are Good• Endorsements are attached to the Skills on your profile –

a connection can agree that you are proficient in that skill, as well as adding skills to your profile.

Control:•Endorsements•Recommendations•Groups•Get the Word Out•Control

Control

•Endorsements•Recommendations•Groups•Get the Word Out

How to get endorsements

• Step 1: Identify connections that have witnessed or experienced your skill or expertise.

• Step 2: Go and endorse some of their skills.BE SINCERE – don’t endorse just for kicks, try to sincerely highlight other people’s strengths

Recommendations are Better

•Recommendations are like a reference, provided by your connections on LinkedIn.

•Give recommendations liberally, but sincerely (even to people you aren’t connected to!)

•You can request that people give them to you.

Groups• Best used for:

Sharing information Posting jobs Engaging in discussion

• Be successful by: Being active in conversations Sharing resources or information Asking for support or advice Reaching out to members individually

Groups (Tips and Tricks)

• Groups are a great way to connect with people you don’t already know

• Join groups of interest to employers/companies you’d like to get closer to

• Send direct messages to people that you’d like to connect with, gather information from, or prospect jobs from

From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EWM-jghoKw

• Customize your public URL

• Add your URL or a ‘button’ to your:

Email signaturesResumeWebsite

Get the Word Out

Connect • The program will initially mine the email address

you used to register your profile and offer connections of anyone that is in your email that is on LinkedIn

• It will do the same as you identify companies you have previously worked for and the colleges, trade schools, tech institutes or universities you attended

• As you connect with people, the program will offer you lists of people who are the connections of people you know – you will know some people in common

There are so many ways!

Let LinkedIn mine your contactsLet LinkedIn suggestSearchGroupsFollow

More information on connecting• When you view someone else’s profile, on the lower right

hand side you will see a list of people or companies that others have looked at when viewing this person. There can be many leads for you through this list, also.

• You can search for people and ask to connect but there is expected to be an existing relationship for a direct invitation; if not, search your connections to and ask for an introduction from a common connection

Always include a personal message when you send your invitations to connect

• Join groups (previous slide)• Follow companies you are interested in

How to use LinkedIn to look for a job search

• Using the ‘advanced search’ function of LinkedIn• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eTDnSnDMgE

• Additional ways to use LinkedIn for networking• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2IN3xoimP4

Last thoughts

Keep this profile current; visit often and post regularly (useful stuff only!)

LinkedIn 101 & 102

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpVGyVt8Po (creating account and basics)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVLEACHHO7g (creating connections and conversations)

More Information