Getting LinkedIn To What?

Getting LinkedIn To What?

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  Getting LinkedIn toWhat? Understanding Online Professional Networking www.careercenter.illinois.edu
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  LinkedIn Connections Onlinerésumé Company research Recommendations Follow Groups Professional www.careercenter.illinois.edu Facebook Friends Social updates Picture/video sharing Games Fan followings Social VS
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  Founded in 2003– professional social media Members from over 200 countries Fortune 500 executives Over 400,000 groups Over 55 MILLION professionals (grown 15 million since September) LinkedIn profiles are first ‘hits’ listed in a Google search www.careercenter.illinois.edu FAST FACTS
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  Develop a networkof professional contacts Create a professional profile for potential employers to see Publish research and presentations; streamline blogs and websites Collaborate and problem-solve Find and be found www.careercenter.illinois.edu Why get LinkedIn?
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  Professional profile versussocial A complete profile is 40X more likely to be seen Be careful what you share Include volunteer, RSO, and committee work along with other relevant activities Tell your story – 1 st impressions are crucial Have a strong ‘title’ and summary Include keywords/specialties Ensure you have a professional photo www.careercenter.illinois.edu Profiles
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  Keep your profilecurrent! Obtain recommendations Claim your LinkedIn url – add a ‘public profile’ Create your profile in additional languages if applicable Include website links to research, presentations, or relevant blogs Update your ‘ Opportunity Preferences ’ www.careercenter.illinois.edu Profiles
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  Connect with peopleyou already know Watch the connections your links make…chances are, you know them as well (but don’t spam!!) Join groups related to your field, school, etc Do be careful about who you add as connections Introductions can be difficult if you don’t know person “ I Don’t Know” button LIONs (LinkedIn Open Networkers) Collect business cards of people you meet at workshops, conferences, career fairs, committee meetings to follow up with later www.careercenter.illinois.edu Making Connections
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  Determine what informationyou are seeking Prepare list of questions and introductory email Include Illinois connection! Personalize your message & be clear about intentions If someone ‘introduces’ you, copy them on emails Use Keyword search to find people with similar interests Find out more about your potential connection and review his/her profile Request advice/guidance - not jobs/donations/etc. Trends in industry, general feedback on career path, or information Recommendations of others with whom to connect www.careercenter.illinois.edu Creating Connections
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  Maintaining Connections Request(& give) recommendations Illustrate achievements Project credibility Never share others’ personal information with colleagues Do make your connections public Ask for telephone connection: 15-20 minutes Informational Interviews Always follow-up with thank you emails/notes! Keep your contacts/connections informed www.careercenter.illinois.edu
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  Groups provide moreconnections & discussion Groups have sections for Discussions, Job Postings, Event Announcements, News Dissemination, and more Enable further research on group members and help build your LinkedIn presence Update settings to receive digests, etc. Groups www.careercenter.illinois.edu
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  Research Companies Findinformation on companies in a specific geographic location Look for related companies and ‘popular’ profiles Review ‘before’ and ‘after’ career paths Read ‘News’ about the company Check out a company’s ‘new hires’ www.careercenter.illinois.edu
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  Job Search FeatureUtilize the ‘ Find a Job ’ feature to search for actual positions Join groups and check out their ‘ Jobs ’ tabs When looking at jobs, check out who you might be connected to Students graduating this year can get a free premium account ( http://grads.linkedin.com/ ) www.careercenter.illinois.edu
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  Applications allowyou to post portions of blog posts you’ve written to your page Amazon reading lists allow visitors to review your current interests Add presentations via Slide Share Twitter, Microsoft Outlook, Blackberry, iPhone www.careercenter.illinois.edu Applications
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  Final Tips Writethings up in Word first Don’t spam, have a reason to connect! Join Groups, follow discussions, contribute to the conversation Share your LinkedIn profile Build your network! www.careercenter.illinois.edu
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  QUESTIONS? www.careercenter.illinois.edu