Email Memorandum: LinkedIn Best Practices

MEMORANDUM

To: CARE Team Members
From: Erica Friedman, CARE Team member
Date: February 8^th, 2019
Subject: LinkedIn Best Practices

LinkedIn offers incalculable opportunities for growing your professional network. I researched how to maximize LinkedIn’s potential, and want to share my findings with you.

LinkedIn’s 10 best practices are:

1. GOALS: define them (career opportunities, expand professional network, etc.).

2. STRATEGY: should align with your goals. Consider profile design, content, and connections.

3. PRESENTATION:

• LinkedIn is not Facebook/Instagram/Twitter. Don’t get personal; be respectful and professional in comments and group discussions.
• use a photo that can be used in a professional environment.

4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

• highlight work experience, skills, etc. that are relevant to your goals. Read job descriptions in your field, or look at the profiles of industry leaders; use keywords in your profile to increase the likelihood of appearing in searches.
• be cautious with personal interests; discrimination and stigma exist on LinkedIn.

5. SKILLS: choose at least five. Add them according to strategic importance. Invite connections to endorse them.

6. BE POSITIVE: highlight achievements, especially publications and projects.

7. CONNECTIONS: build a wide network of people who can help you achieve your goals. Look for people in your field, or those that have mutual connections.

8. CONNECTION REQUESTS: personalize requests; if you don’t know them personally, add why you want to connect. When people you don’t know want to connect, look at their profile; it’s OK to decline.

9. QUALITY VS. QUANTITY: grow your network with people who are diverse in experience and backgrounds. Connections impact the content in your feed.

10. BE ACTIVE: complete your profile; add new connections, and update your profile with new achievements, skills, etc. Engage in group discussions and share updates.

I hope that these 10 best LinkedIn practices will be helpful. Good luck building your profile and please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.

References:

• “Build Your Online Presence on LinkedIn”. UBC Student Services. The University of British Columbia, https://students.ubc.ca/career/career-resources/build-online-presence-linkedin. Accessed 8 Jan. 2019.
• Matt. “4 Simple LinkedIn Tip to Polish Your Profile”. CIO. IDG Communications, 8 June 2015, https://www.cio.com/article/2932430/linkedin/4-simple-linkedin-tips-to-polish-your-profile.html.
• Matt. “7 Common Mistakes Job Seekers Make on LinkedIn”. CIO. IDG Communications, 26 Feb. 2015, https://www.cio.com/article/2889296/social-media/7-common-mistakes-job-seekers-make-on-linkedin.html.
• Matt. “Why You Shouldn’t Accept Every LinkedIn Connection Invite”. CIO. IDG Communications, 10 Aug. 2015, https://www.cio.com/article/2967196/social-networking/why-you-shouldnt-accept-every-linkedin-connection-invite.html.
• Theresa. “Five Factors to Help You be Found on LinkedIn”. LinkedIn, 9 Apr. 2014, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140409122131-43645946-five-factors-to-help-you-be-found-on-linkedin/.
• Merrill, Theresa. “Got Skills? Get Endorsements.” Theresa Merrill, 26 Nov. 2012, https://theresamerrill.com/2012/11/26/got-skills-get-endorsements/.
• Theresa. “Why You Should Connect with People You Don’t Know on LinkedIn”. LinkedIn, 6 May 2014, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140506113910-43645946-why-you-should-connect-with-people-you-don-t-know-on-linkedin/.