When I first set-up my LinkedIn profile I was kind of “meh” about the whole site. A virtual resume–big deal. Over the course of the past few years I’ve grown to learn more about how to use the tool professionally, especially when I was in the middle of a job search.
The other day I was having coffee with a fellow alum from my college who had just attended an on-campus event. She was baffled that many students were still completely mystified by social media, mentioning one graduating senior said she had a LinkedIn profile but didn’t really know what to do with it. If you’re in the same boat–or want to learn some new tips and tricks–here are 6 ways you can use LinkedIn today:
To connect with existing connections
The most obvious of the bunch, it’s important to connect with those people you know–classmates, colleagues, former supervisors you have a good relationship with, professors, friends, etc. Maybe you live 500 miles away and they don’t work in the same industry, but you never know when they might take a job at your dream company, switch to a different field, or become connected to someone you’d really like to meet. It’s also good to connect to those who might write you a shining recommendation.
To prepare for job interviews
I always worried that it would look creepy to check out someone’s profile, especially someone I was going to interview with for a job. However, ditch the fear and take notes. A lot of employers see this as a positive move, and it’s a good way to get a feeling for the person’s background and experiences within the company.
To investigate potential companies
Lots of companies and organizations have pages that profile what they do. In addition, it shows you a list of employee profiles. You should most certainly be checking out the pages of those businesses and organizations that interest you. Follow them to learn about any job opportunities they post or learn of any major announcements they make. Looking at the profiles of some of their employees also helps give you an idea of their backgrounds and the experiences that landed them their current positions. This can give you a better idea of what they’re looking for and how you can prepare to be a good fit.
To find job and internship opportunties
While sometimes I question LinkedIn’s choices for their “Jobs You May Be Interested In” emails (no, I don’t think I’m qualified to be the Director of Championships for the NCAA, but thanks), there are plenty of ways to get the scoop on job openings. The job search function helps you find positions in your preferred area, while groups are often a hotbed of job postings. Most universities have groups for alumni and students to connect, while Greek organizations also provide groups. You can also join groups for professional and networking organizations or interests, though I don’t recommend joining more than you’ll actively participate.
To learn more about mentors
One evening I went down a weird rabbit hole of profile viewing, which led me to check out the profiles of some women I really admire. While a lot of them aren’t going to be my personal mentor anytime soon, it’s good to learn more about their backgrounds if you wish to have a career path that looks similar. It’s also refreshing and eye-opening to see their first jobs, helping you see everyone has to start somewhere. It makes them more relatable.
To engage and share
Much like Twitter and Facebook, the homepage feed on LinkedIn has become a source of status updates, article shares, announcements, and information about your connection’s profile updates and actions. While I admit I’m bad at engaging in my LinkedIn feed (other than the occasional like or skill endorsement), it’s a great way to share interesting industry-related articles, announcements about recent professional achievements, or information about job openings with your company. Groups are also good for starting or participating in discussions and making announcements. I used them for the start of both my businesses, landing my first custom stationery order and recruiting writers for twentysomething Indy.
So go forth and start getting linked! Want to learn more about LinkedIn basics? Check out this 8 Mistakes You Should Never Make on LinkedIn article from Forbes and LearnVest.
By
Shannon Nelson
Great advice, Sarah! I’m graduating in a couple of months and have been struggling with how to best utilize LinkedIn for my job search. Your post is very helpful!
I vist PRDaily.com often because it has great advice for utilizing all types of social media – including LinkedIn. Going along with your sixth way to use LinkedIn, an article I read from PR Daily “Four Secrets to Standing Out on LinkedIn” explains that users who share content once per week are TEN times more likely to be contacted by recruiters! Like you said, simply adding the task of updating a status or sharing an article on LinkedIn to your morning routine can pay off greatly.
Another interesting fact the article shared is that profiles with a photograph are seven times more likely to be viewed than those without. I found it difficult to select a photograph that was professional enough and even debated not posting one, but the article explains that having professional photographs taken is inexpensive and worth every penny!
Here’s the article if you’re interested in reading it: http://prdaily.com/Main/Articles/12948.aspx#
On a Good Note Designs
Thanks for reading and for passing along the link, Shannon! PR Daily always has great posts. I get their emails but missed this article. Definitely some other great tips! There was also some interesting advice in the comments, like the mention of the CardMunch app.