Getting the Most out of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the internet’s ticket for business networking, but many new users haven’t beefed up their profiles to their fullest potential. LinkedIn should be treated with the same carefulness of a resume or a cover letter, so let’s take a look at the basics first and make sure we are on the right track. Then we will explore the social media giant’s other important features.
LinkedIn’s Basics
Having bulleted information below your current and past jobs under the work experience tab allows businesses to easily navigate your work history, and it keeps your profile from appearing to bare or dull.
According to a recent Mashable article, Sharlyn Lauby, president of Internal Talent Management stated:
“A person’s profile should, at minimum, reflect his or her current situation. That includes an up-to-date headline along with information about his or her most recent position. A recent photo and contact information are also musts.”
Just like Facebook, your status updates are essential for starting conversations. Keep your status updates business related, and other members are sure to comment on them.
LinkedIn Recommendations
When you are promoting yourself on the social media site, its always beneficial to have a second or third opinion. This is where recommendations come in. Reach out to those that you have worked with in the past and ask for a recommendation. If they aren’t members yet, invite them to join, as it is very easy to import your email contacts. Be careful not to overload your profile with too many recommendations though, the ones that you include should be high quality and thoughful. No recruiters want to trawl through hundreds of recommendations when searching for a new hire or business partner.
LinkedIn Applications
One of their coolest features is the ability to implement applications into your profile. Apps can add creativity and break the monotony of a normal profile. It also lets your connections know more about your personality.
Here are a few favorites that Mashup writer, Erica Swallow recommended in her article:
- SlideShare Presentations: If you’re a public speaker or publish lots of reports, SlideShare is a useful tool for getting the word out about your work. If you don’t have a SlideShare account, get one. If you do, this app is a great way to showcase your most recent reports or presentations on your profile.
- WordPress: Add personal flair to your profile by importing your latest WordPress blog posts onto your profile. You can choose to display all posts or only those tagged “linked in.”
- Tweets: If you’re a huge LinkedIn buff with a passion for Twitter, Tweets is a great Twitter client for accessing the microblogging service right from your own page. Plus, you can choose to display your most recent tweets on your profile.
- My Travel: Powered by TripIt, this app enables you to see where your professional network is traveling and post your upcoming trips. It then shows you who in your network will be close to you on your travels.
LinkedIn’s Resume Builder
This is one that everyone can be excited about: LinkedIn’s Resume Builder frees us from the boring process of updating our resume on Microsoft Word with a variety of great looking templates and easy functionality. The resume builder pulls from the information in your profile however, so if you want to make the best use of this feature, it is key to constantly keep your profile up-to-date.
You’re On Your Way To Being LinkedIn
So now that you’ve gotten down the basics, asked for recommendations, added a few nifty apps, and spiced up your resume with their Resume Builder, you’re ready to start networking. Remember that the social media giant is in a constant state of evolution, so come back to us for more tips on how to keep your profile a step ahead of the competition.