1. Maximizing LinkedIn for the Job Search

• Presented by Robert Rhodes

• Contributions from Tom Harris, R. David Rahn and Colleen Johnson from the Community Career Center, Naperville IL

2. What is LinkedIn?

• LinkedIn is an interconnected network of professionals

• You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with professionals

• Over 60 million professionals are on LinkedIn

3. What is LinkedIn?

• Professionals from every Fortune 500 company are represented on LinkedIn

• A new member joins LinkedIn every second

• Half of the members are outside the US

• LinkedIn is in several languages, but not in Japan or China yet

4. What can LinkedIn do for me?

• Increase your visibility so that you will be found

• Find other professionals

• Network

• Research companies

• Ask for assistance from connections

5. Connections

• Networking - Everyone is connected. Six degrees of separation.

6. Connections

• Former co-workers and supervisors

• Friends/associates

• Connections of connections

• Virtual connections

7. Connecting with Connections Connections

8. Where do you start?

• Build a detailed profile

• Send invitations to fellow networkers

• Join professional and alumni groups

• Request recommendations

9. Your Profile

• Name and professional photo

• Summary statement loaded with key words for your profession

• All former positions and education

• Contact information, including phone number and e-mail

10. Maximizing Your Network

• LI was originally designed as a way to network with people you know

• Overtime, LinkedIn evolved to a network of trusted contacts and their contacts

• LinkedIn now accepts the concept of virtual contacts, in my opinion

• LinkedIn is divided into 1st level, 2nd level and 3nd level contacts

11. Maximizing Your Network

• 1st level contacts - Direct contacts

• 2nd level contacts - Your direct contacts 1st level contacts

• 3nd level contacts - Direct contacts of your 2nd level contacts

• Have 155 direct or 1st level contacts

• 42,000 - 2nd level contacts

• 3.3 million - 3nd level contacts

12. How to Maximize Your Network

• Invitations

• Customize invitations

• Examples

• • Met you at Comm. Methodist Job Club

• • Noticed we both belong to the Greater Naperville LI group and are in the same profession

• Dont send the standard invitation

• Dont send invitations to someone not currently on LinkedIn

13. How to Maximize Your Network

• Invitations (continued)

• Want to avoid receiving I Dont Knows or IDKs

• Five IDKs and invitations are restricted

• If you dont want to connect, better option is to archive the invitation

• Do not IDK someone, they will remember you in a bad way

• Absolutely do not use the spam option for invitations

14. How to Maximize Your Network

• Groups

• Groups are important for exposure

• Want to join numerous groups and participate in these groups

• Can join up to 50 different groups

• Groups allow you to send invitations to other members without their e-mail

• Good way to meet contacts

• Some groups have in-person meetings

15. How to Maximize Your Network

• LIONs

• Connect with a LION or LinkedIn Open Networker

• LIONs have over 500 contacts and are usually willing to accept invitations

• Most LIONs are great, a few are trying to sell you something

• There is an option to disconnect without their knowledge

• LIONs increase your number of 2nd level connections

16. How to Maximize Your Network

• Introductions

• Your direct contact can introduce you to a 2nd level contact

• Introductions are a way to be introduced to a contact that could help you

• Contact your connection via e-mail before ask for an introduction

• Dont ask for an introduction from a new contact

• If you want to use Introductions, you must be willing to introduce others

17. How to Maximize Your Network

• Recommendations

• Recommendations are important for your profile since they make it believable

• Need at least 3 recommendations for 100% LinkedIn rating

• Best recommendations are from former managers or co-workers

• Dont ask someone you do not know to write you a recommendation

18. LinkedIn Resources

• Understanding, Leveraging and Maximizing LinkedIn by Neal Schaffer Book (For purchase on Amazon.com)

• Windmill Networking Blog

• http://windmillnetworking.com/blog/#axzz0iudyG Bcl

• 10 Ways to use LinkedIn Blog

• http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/02/10-ways-to-use.html

• • Questions? Ask Bob About LinkedIn

• • Send me questions at rhodesone1@gmail.com