LinkedIn Best Practices Memo

To: The Scribblers Writing Team, ENGL  301 Team Members

From: Cathy Liu, ENGL 301 Student

Date: June 28, 2020

Subject: LinkedIn Best Practices

LinkedIn is a networking website that allows individuals to form connections with other business professionals through an online sharing of experiences. Ranging from work to volunteer experiences, it is an easy way to allow others to view your skills and knowledge. As requested by Assignment 2-2, below I have researched helpful tips for using LinkedIn. 

Here are the ten best findings from my research:

1. Use an appropriate, professional looking photo for your profile. “A photo can go a long way to convey passion, energy, charisma, empathy, and other soft skills that are hard to write about.” (The Muse)
2. Make your summary short and concise. The summary should be around 3-5 short paragraphs; it should focus on key points and it is critical to avoid unnecessary information.
3. Avoid buzzwords like creative, driven, and analytical. “They’re some of the most overused buzzwords on all of LinkedIn” (The Muse). Use descriptive words that set you apart from the rest.
4. Even if currently unemployed, include a current job entry. Most recruiters search through the current title section so it is easy to be missed without a current job entry title. You can use “dummy titles” such as “Full time student.” 
5. Make yourself accessible. Do not forget to include your email address, blogs, or any form of communication that you frequently use. Recruiters need an easy way to contact you. 
6. Always proofread your content. Typos or simple grammar mistakes can be enough to keep potential recruiters away. Your content should be polished by the time it appears on your LinkedIn profile.
7. When connecting with others, always send a personalized message request. The default message is incredibly impersonal, so writing a personal request leaves a good first impression and shows thought put in. 
8. Do not just add people you know. The whole point of LinkedIn is to connect and network with others outside your bubble.
9. Update your status, but do not go overboard with it. Changing your status is a good way to keep others informed of your current work or accomplishments. It is best to update during business hours. However, be careful not to abuse status updating; keep to about one to three status updates a day. 
10. “Visual content is only growing in importance” (Kim). Make your profile unique by adding photos, videos, and presentations. 

Reading these tips will help create the most ideal experience for LinkedIn. Using these ideas will make networking and building connections a lot more effective. Thank you. 

Citations:

Editor, The Muse. “The Best LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers.” The Muse, The Muse, 19 June 2020, https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-31-best-linkedin-profile-tips-for-job-seekers.

Kim, Larry. “22 Great Tips for Enhancing Your LinkedIn Profile.” Medium, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 24 Apr. 2018, https://medium.com/marketing-and-entrepreneurship/22-great-tips-for-enhancing-your-linkedin-profile-c72e5b2a8cbc.