Link Up with LinkedIn

By Kristin Rabas, Account Executive, Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Inc.

This past week, I gave a presentation for a Green Bay Chamber of Commerce event about LinkedIn and how to use it for networking, a job hunt, recruiting and to grow your business. There were a number of great questions and it got me to thinking that a little refresher on the basics of LinkedIn might be helpful. 

• Networking. Search for people you’ve recently met at business or networking events, former and current co-workers, professional friends and industry leaders.
• Adding connections. When adding connections, mention how you know the person in your invitation. For instance, “It was great meeting you at the Chamber breakfast yesterday and chatting about social media. I’d like to connect with you on LinkedIn.”
• Groups. Search for and join groups that will benefit you professionally. Look for groups that are specific to your industry, alumni associations or groups that interest you. Groups offer forums for discussions on a variety of topics.
• Job Search. There are a number of ways to search for jobs on LinkedIn. Job opportunities can be posted in any group, on a company’s home page or you can search for positions right from your profile page.
• Profile. Make sure your profile looks professional. LinkedIn is not as casual as Facebook. Start by making sure you have a nice headshot as your profile picture, not one of you on the beach during your last vacation. In addition, keep your work experience, education and specialties up-to-date. You never know when the right person might be looking at your page.
• Complete your profile. Make sure your profile is 100 percent complete. LinkedIn will make automatic recommendations on people you should connect with and jobs you may be interested in based on your profile. The more complete your profile is, the more accurate your recommendations will be.
• Accepting connections. Remember that one of the main purposes of LinkedIn is to network and connect with others. If you don’t know a person that asks to connect with you, don’t be afraid to reach out to them and say you would like to know more about them before you connect.

LinkedIn can be an extremely useful tool when it comes to networking, looking for a job and growing your business.

 

What aspects of LinkedIn do you utilize the most?