Creating a Professional Profile on LinkedIn
Lucy Hawkins, Careers Adviser
Learning objectives
• Increased understanding of how LinkedIn can be useful
• Practical knowledge of the key aspects of profiles within LinkedIn
• Increased confidence in analysing the success of a LinkedIn profile
• Knowledge of how to manage a profile• Knowledge of where to go for further help and
information.
What is LinkedIn?
An online, dynamic CV
A professional social network
A place to save your contacts
A messaging system
A way to be found
A database of career information
A jobs board
Who’s using it?
• 30m students (fastest growing demographic)
• 93% of recruiters• Successful
professionals• Job seekers
How could you use it?
Exploring options
• Alumni searches
• Keyword searches
• Joining groups• Reading
discussions• Browsing jobs
Job hunting
• Searching for jobs
• An online CV• Being found by
recruiters• Finding
informational interviews
Managing contacts
• Connecting with peers, tutors
• Connecting with professionals you know
• Adding contact details
JOB HUNTING ON
What jobs are on LinkedIn?
Lots, but not everything!
Costs c. £190 to post a job
Are other job hunters on there?
From the US, but a good indication...
c.14,000 Oxford students and researchers use it
Job hunting with searches
• Job category in search with keyword(s)
• Use filters for location, company, connections...
• Save (optional) or click through
Job hunting with groups
• In job/ discussion tabs• Free to post a discussion
THE
PROFILE
Job hunting
• Searching for jobs
• An online CV• Being found by
recruiters• Finding
informational interviews
Exploring options
• Alumni searches • Keyword
searches • Joining groups • Reading
discussions • Browsing jobs
LinkedIn profiles
Analyse the profiles you see:• Are they credible?• What makes them credible?
Anatomy of a profile page
• Headline (free editable text)• Your link (customisable)• Picture (a good idea)
Anatomy of a profile page
• Summary: packed with search keywords
• Manage (show, hide, accept) endorsements
• List skills
Anatomy of a profile page
• Quick summary of what you did
• Consistent with your CV
• Ask for recommendations
• Add rich media if you have some
Anatomy of a profile page
• No recommendations, but good for volunteer experience
• Add languages
Anatomy of a profile page
• Add ‘Education’ first
• Use optional ‘courses’ feature to add details of papers.
• Also optional – test scores, projects, publications
Anatomy of a profile page
• ‘Advice’ useful (set vacation message here)
• Organisations and (not shown) groups can be visible evidence of interests too
Anatomy of a profile page
• Following relevant companies or organisations can help to evidence your interests
EDITING YOUR
PROFILE
Making it yours
Your online ‘brand’
Professional?Innovative?Academic?
Commercially aware?
Credible?
Creative? Fun?
Motivated?
Choose 3 adjectives for you...What edits would help this
come across?
Editing your profile
Change contact info
Drag and drop to reorder sections
Change pictureCustomise URLAdd links
Change tone/ detail / add keywords
Public profiles
• Control whether you appear in search results and to non-connections
Settings
Go through each area in privacy and settings to:• Control emails sent to
you• Control use of your data
by others• Control visibility of
connections• + lots more!
FINDING PEOPLE ON
Job hunting
• Searching for jobs
• An online CV • Being found by
recruiters • Finding
informational interviews
Managing contacts
• Connecting with peers, tutors
• Connecting with professionals you know
• Adding contact details
Finding people
Also, join the:• Oxford alumni group• Careers Service group• Industry groups
How can I find alumni?
Connecting with people
• If 2nd or 3rd degree connection, ‘get introduced’ is free
• Click ‘connect’, if you know them
• InMail – paid for message
Bespoke connecting message
• Make your connection feel valued
• Short, genuine and personal
• Say why you want to connect
• If not via profile, no prompt for this
LinkedIn Contacts (Advanced)
• Activate LinkedIn Contacts
• Add relationship notes
• Even on non-connections
• Get reminders of birthdays etc, store emails.
MANAGING YOUR
PROFILE
Reviewing (termly?)
• Set a date• Check and update the
content• Add/edit connections,
groups, contact details• Manage endorsements• Ask for
recommendations• Decide if it’s fruitful
Alternatives to LinkedIn
Specific professional social networks include:
For academic researchFor creative industries
For alumni mentors – Oxford Careers Network (although many also on LinkedIn)
Further questions welcome...!
Exploring options
• Alumni searches
• Keyword searches
• Joining groups • Reading
discussions • Browsing jobs
Job hunting
• Searching for jobs
• An online CV • Being found by
recruiters • Finding
informational interviews
Managing contacts
• Connecting with peers, tutors
• Connecting with professionals you know
• Adding contact details
Further help
• www.help.linkedin.com• www.linkedin.com/studentjobs• http://linkd.in/OxfordCareers• Join groups for your industry• Use our guide to Information
Interviewing• Careers Appointment• Careers Lounges
Quick Q&A: www.twitter.com/OxfordCareers
Follow www.facebook.com/OxfordCareers
Questions: www.linkd.in/OxfordCareers
Videos youtube.com/oxfordcareersservice
www.careers.ox.ac.uk
Recommended
