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Mastering Networking and LinkedIn: Your Guide to Building Professional Connections
The document provides an overview of networking and LinkedIn profile development, emphasizing the importance of networking in career advancement and the features of LinkedIn as a professional networking tool. It outlines steps for building a LinkedIn profile, tips for students, and the significance of creating strong connections and utilizing the platform effectively. Additionally, it discusses profile content strategies, such as incorporating keywords and crafting engaging summaries to enhance visibility and attract employers.
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Mastering Networking and LinkedIn: Your Guide to Building Professional Connections
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- 2. Overview Networking LinkedIn Features and Benefits of LinkedIn Steps in Profile Development Tips LinkedIn Usage
- 3. What is Networking? Talking with people who will learn about you and your interests, and then help you gain insight into your career options and goals It is a two-way process that involves developing and maintaining connections with individuals, and mutually benefitting from the relationship Is an ongoing process that takes time and attention; it is not something you do only when you are looking for a job
- 4. What is Networking? Successful networking requires preparation and practice Networking can be done in-person and online. A valuable tool for online networking is LinkedIn Remember, when you network, you are asking for information and advice—not a job. It’s not just what you know; it’s also whom you know… or can connect to
- 5. Why is Networkingimportant? Will be the single most effective method of advancing your career While networking may not “get you a job,” it does play a role in the majority of hiring decisions Many job vacancies are never advertised, but instead filled through some form of personal or professional referrals Employers prefer to hire candidates they have met, or those referred by a trusted source
- 6. Build Your Network Networking opportunities occur on a daily basis and can include a brief conversation with someone on an elevator to an arranged meeting with a professional Identify all the people whom you come in contact with through your activities. These can include: – Your friends, classmates, their parents and family members, neighbors. – Your relatives and extended family. – Former and current employers and co-workers. – Members and alumni of professional associations, clubs, and organizations. – Coaches, staff, faculty, or academic advisors. – Alumni of any schools you’ve attended.
- 7. Expand Your Network Attend campus career events and fairs, alumni presentations, and workshops Introduce yourself to any guest speakers you encounter on campus Obtain an internship and maintain contact with colleagues and supervisors Take advantage of job-shadowing programs Identify contacts by researching LexisNexis, industry/trade publications, employer websites, alumni magazines, and library resources Create a LinkedIn profile; connect to your contacts and join groups as appropriate
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- 9. What is LinkedIn? The world’s largest online professional networking platform Hosts the profiles of more than 500 million people in over 200 countries Serves as a recruiting tool for employers Serves as a job search tool for users
- 10. Features and Benefitsof LinkedIn Establish your professional profile and control one of the top search results for your name. Build and maintain your professional network. Find and reconnect with colleagues and classmates. Learn about other companies, and gain industry insights. Find other professionals in the same industry using groups. Share your thoughts and insights through LinkedIn's long-form publishing platform. Tap into the knowledge of your network. Discover new career opportunities by searching for jobs.
- 11. Steps in ProfileDevelopment Sign-up: Name, email address, password Add location information Add profile photo (background image optional) Create a headline Write a summary statement Other key sections to complete: Showcase your unique professional story through your experience, skills, and education LinkedIn tips for students: https://students.linkedin.com/
- 12. Getting Started Goto the sign-up page at https ://www.linkedin.com/start/join You can sign-up via your Facebook or Email account
- 13. Location Information Recruiterslook for job seekers by location Adding your location makes you 23 times more likely to be found in LinkedIn searches Use a zip code that is close to the area where you want to work
- 14. Profile Photo Havingno LinkedIn profile photo means your profile is not 100% complete According to LinkedIn, profiles with photos receive 21 times more views and 9x more connection requests LinkedIn Profile Photo Help: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/topics/6042/6059
- 15. Profile Photo Samples &Tips Professional head shot (is recommended) Plain background No distractions in view If taken outside, natural light works well Make sure you portray yourself as you want to be seen by your intended audience
- 16. Background Image LinkedInhas a standard option available to use or as a premium user you have access to LinkedIn stock images Another option is to create a custom background image using one of the following online tools: www.canva.com www.fotor.com www.picmonkey.com Background Image Help: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/49960?query=background%20image
- 17. Ideas For Background Images 1.LinkedIn stock image 2. Your product or service in the making 3. Your product or service in action 4. The skyline of your current city 5. Design your own 6. A personal image Article: Seven ideas for an effective LinkedIn background image: https:// www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/49960?query=background%20image
- 18. Profile Content Tips “The first hurdle is to get found (to make sure you come up in the right kind of searches by recruiters).” Use industry-relevant job titles and keywords Once you identify your top keywords, add as many of them to the following sections: Headline (most important), Current Job Title, Summary, Interests The LinkedIn search tool searches entire profiles, so insert your keywords throughout!
- 19. Headline Depends onyour LinkedIn profile goals Can be general and straightforward Can also tell viewers what makes you unique and includes as many keywords as possible Headline Help: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/topics/6042/6043/2901 Examples
- 20. Summary Statement Mainplace for you to stand out; adds a ‘story’ element to your experience and your aspirations Be concise about your experience, qualifications, and goals – with a compelling narrative weaved throughout (if possible) Describes what motivates you, what you’ve done and are skilled at Use keywords and phrases that recruiters might search for (i.e. product management, graphic design, data analysis) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-tips-students-new-grads-linkedin-omar-garriott
- 21. Summary Statement How towrite a stellar summary: Set the scene: What is your ideal audience? What do you want them to know, learn, or do? How do you want to make them feel? Collect content What you do, accomplishments, values and passions, your “superpowers”, interesting stats, differentiation, validation (back up what you’re saying) Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2017/07/09/how-to-write-a-stellar-linkedin-summary/2/#271686b3067a
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- 23. Education Education is thefoundation! Members who list a school get 10x more views on average Add your school, major, and degree name Include clubs you lead and honors you have earned
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- 25. Experience When listing yourexperience: Avoid listing only duties and responsibilities Use action words and accomplishments Examples: Analyzed materials…. Conducted individual…. List projects, organizations, classes, etc. Similar to resume Most related at the top 41% of hiring managers consider volunteer experience equally as valuable as paid work experience
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- 27. Skills List tangibleskills that you are comfortable using in the workplace Skills can be acquired on the job or in school Speak Mandarin? Know JAVA programming? 17% more profiles views with 5+ skills listed
- 28. Tips to getyou started Complete your profile Claim your unique URL Participate in groups Connect with people you know: Friends, family, classmates, mentors, teachers, and professors Use the alumni tool Actively update your profile
- 29. Participate in Groups https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-groups/ LinkedInGroups are hubs on LinkedIn which provide a “place for professionals in the same industry or with similar interests to share content, find answers, post and view jobs, make business contacts, and establish themselves as industry experts.” “Being an active participant in a group can help you network with other professionals in your field, especially those outside your immediate circle…”
- 30. Final Words...use LinkedInto: Browse job descriptions Set up job alerts Follow Companies Influencers Industries---trends and news
- 32. Student Job Seekers:Tips to Building the Perfect LinkedIn Profile https://blog.linkedin.com/2016/11/14/student-job-seekers-tips-to-building-the-perfect-linked in- profile LinkedIn Etiquette: 20 Do’s & Don’t’s https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140417174121-34888774-linkedin-etiquette-guide-20-d o-s-don-ts / Additional Resources
Editor's Notes
- #13 If you are able to work in Riverside but live 25 miles away in a different city, use a zip code halfway between the two locations that will capture searches looking for someone within a 10-mile radius of either Riverside or your city.
- #14 An engaging profile photo and background create a personal relationship with your viewers. You will be more likely to be contacted by many recruiters. People will see you as friendly and professional. People will be encouraged to read more about you.
- #15 Depending on your industry, you might choose to post a more or less formal photo. Privacy concern: As an alternative to posting your photo publicly, you can change your connections or only to your network. This step may deter someone from asking for a connection based on visual interests alone, if that is a concern. Concern about discrimination such as age or race: Would you want to work for a company that doesn’t contact you because of something they see in your picture? If they are going to discriminate, chances are they will do it in the interview if they don’t have a chance to make judgements based on your photo and you may be overlooked if you don’t have one at all.
- #16 Get a professional head shot with a plain background, natural light is also good, smile and look directly at camera If your photo includes a dog, cat, husband, or a lot of unnecessary objects in the background, viewers might think you’re immature or unprofessional, or simply be distracted
- #17 Get a professional head shot with a plain background, natural light is also good, smile and look directly at camera If your photo includes a dog, cat, husband, or a lot of unnecessary objects in the background, viewers might think you’re immature or unprofessional, or simply be distracted
- #31 Describe how LinkedIn is a cycle----not just a one time connection You get a business card, find them on LinkedIn, message them, search for opportunities and then plug in at different times when you need to connect for mentorship, internships, or a job