Building a LinkedIn Profile & Leveraging it to Network · •Describe the importance of using...

Career & Employment Hub

Building a LinkedIn Profile & Leveraging it to Network

USM Career & Employment Hub


Learning Objectives

• Describe the importance of using LinkedIn (LI) as a social media tool and how it can be leveraged

• State elements of how to build a profile • Identify important privacy settings• Define methods of how to build your network• Build or enhance your LI page


What is LinkedIn (LI)?

LI Vision:Create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.

LI Mission:The mission of LinkedIn is simple: connect the world’s professionals to

make them more productive and successful.


LinkedIn

• Founded in 2003; acquired by Microsoft in 2016• A social network for professionals• High-tech equivalent of attending a traditional networking

event• Add “connections” similar to Facebook “friends”• 562 million users in 200 countries; 260M active; 146M from US;

40% active daily; 40M active students and recent college graduates (9.18.18 – Omnicore)

• Over 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly (SHRM)• Target audience is college students and professionals


Uses of LinkedIn

• Seek career opportunities with a “virtual” resume• Create and receive notifications for job postings• Share professional experience and achievements• Connect with other professionals…and/or former

colleagues, classmates and acquaintances• Converse via private message• Follow companies, groups, and influencers• Save industry and other interesting articles• Keep professional “life” separate from private one


LI by the Numbers85% of jobs are secured via networking

Employers:• >80% of companies used LI to find talent• 96% searching; 94% contacting; 93% keeping tabs on

candidates; 92% vetting

Job Seekers: • 40% contacts referred me for a job• 34% contacts shared a job opportunity• 32% contacts provided an employee’s perspective on a

company

http://theundercoverrecruiter.com, 2014

http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/


Creating a LinkedIn Profile• Be authentic and include strengths • Use key words in your profile that are relevant in

your desired field; conversely, do not be too specific if seeking more broadly

• Check spelling and grammar – have a trusted partner review

• Explore other profiles!


Creating a LinkedIn Profile

• Go to www.linkedin.com

Use “Agree & Join”, not “Continue with Facebook”

Remember to clean up your Facebook…employers look at all of you social media!

http://www.linkedin.com/


Profile Sections

• Introduction – Name, Headline, Demographics, About

• Experience• Education• Volunteer Experience• Skills & Endorsements• Recommendations• Accomplishments• Interests


Intro: Photo, Demographics, Contact Information

• Use a good, professional photo (headshot)• Use your full name, no nicknames or abbreviations • Current position can be student in xx major or

current job if related to field of interest• Include your preferred contact information:

• Email – use a professional one• Telephone – only if comfortable – it will be public!• Address – discourage including• LinkedIn url (how to personalize shown later)


Intro: Headline• Your personal brand• Be creative – grab attention; can use a quote or

catchy words• Recommend not using your job title

PMP-certified leader – known for successfully leading multi-million global projects.

Dedicated, caring Registered Nurse with passion for helping cancer patients and their families.

Current marketing student looking for opportunity to leverage…


Intro: About• Who are you?• Keep it short and sweet to grab attention• Write in 1st person• Describe your professional and personal brand• Share what you are looking for and be mindful of

not having too narrow a scope• Add multi-media to your profile, if appropriate –

photos, video, slides, etc.


Experience• Explain company, if needed (brief description)

• Consider this similar to a master resume; use resume techniques

• List title, role(s) and duties of jobs and internships• Use bullet format and begin with action verbs• Use clear, succinct phrases• Share key contributions, as appropriate• Include dates, numbers


Education• Include all educational institutions – the LI alumni

network is powerful• Expand on your education

• Degree(s) earned, or earning• Field of study• Include Grade, if 3.0 or higher• Activities and societies• Description – add flavor, such as relevant coursework and

study abroad experience


Volunteer Experience & Causes• List all organizations; include description of

organization• Identify role(s) you held and activities• Share highlights of experience


Skills & Expertise• List 5-15 core skills• Provides a snapshot of your professional brand• Endorse others and hope they return the favor!• Can change over time


Recommendations• Enhance your profile• Ask for recommendations, as appropriate

• Ask people who have offered you praise in other formats• Be aware of who offers a recommendation!

• Recommend your colleagues, and they may recommend you


Accomplishments• List your accomplishments:

• Publications• Certifications• Patents• Courses• Projects• Honors and Awards• Test Scores• Languages• Organizations


Interests• Follow others:

• Influencers – follow leaders and innovators in your industry and that are of interest to you

• Companies – follow companies that interest you and/or represent your career goals

• Groups – join groups to build your network; seek advice and showcase your expertise; participating increases your visibility

Remember…who you choose to follow is part of your brand and what you represent


Settings & Privacy


Privacy


How others see your LI activity

Photo here

Name here


How others see your LI activity


Job seeking preferences


Job notifications


Building Your Network• The more 1st degree connections you have increases # of

second degree connections• Consider quality vs. quantity• Start with who you already know and trust• Contact alumni – search by major, employer name, career

keywords, interests, etc.• Connect with people in industries that interest you and with

companies that you want to learn more about


Building Your Network• Use a custom message, not the built-in: “I’d like to add you to

my professional network on LinkedIn”

• State your intentions up front:

Hello Cameron,

I obtained your name through the University of Southern Maine Marketing Alumni Group. I will be graduating from the School of Business in May, when I will be looking for employment.

I appreciate you adding me to your LinkedIn network, and perhaps I can contact you in the future to ask you questions about your experiences as a Marketing Manager at XYZ Corporation.

Thank you in advance,Jo


Tips• Customize your public profile url and make it easy to

remember – include on your resume


Tips• As you would update your resume, you should also keep your

LinkedIn account updated with your updated resume, contact information or profile informationNote: you can turn off notifications to your network as you update –recommend doing this unless a major change that you want broadcasted to your network

• Use LI as a research tool, look for job postings, seek announcements for opportunities

• Participate and interact often, the more you interact the more contacts you make, growing your network

Building a LinkedIn Profile & Leveraging it to Network · •Describe the importance of using...

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