To: The Writing Technicians
From: Brionne McWilliams
Date: February 12th, 2019
Subject: Ten Best Practices for LinkedIn as Networking Site
Below, I have outlined my ten best practices for successfully using a LinkedIn profile as a networking tool.
Make your profile easy to find and aesthetically appealing. Your profile page should reflect your personality and profession. Therefore, upload a professional-looking headshot and compose a concise and compelling headline that appears underneath your name. Your headline should state your current job and your key skill sets, while also including keywords from your industry.
Fill out the description areas, giving more detail than what appears on your paper resume to showcase your relevant skills. In the 1,000 character description areas under each job title and in your overall summary, outline the results you got from the job and how long you worked for those results.
The more you upload onto your profile the better. Upload or link samples of your work; fill out the projects and publications sections on your profile, and other sections such as courses, certificates, and volunteering.
Connect with existing professional and personal contacts in your industry. You can use the Get Introduced tool that asks your current contacts to introduce you to one of their contacts.
Look into other’s pages to gain insight about potential opportunities. You can find former employees who could give you insight into the company’s work environment or to determine which of your friends know current employees who could make a connection for you.
Use the active status feature to have real-time conversations with the connections you have made. You can also use the smart replies function that can aid in keeping your conservations concise and productive.
Giving and receiving recommendations can add credibility and emphasis to your professional abilities.
Use LinkedIn Groups to share ideas and current news in your industry. This function allows you to participate in discussions and ask questions.
Always use professional etiquette on your profile to develop and maintain a good reputation with your connections. You must demonstrate and discuss your achievements but do not oversell yourself.
Stay active by keeping your profile current to allow for others to offer you opportunities even when you are not wanting something specific.
I hope my top ten tips are useful in creating a thorough and concise LinkedIn profile. I look forward to reading through your profiles.
Best,
Brionne McWilliams
Work Cited:
“How to Use LinkedIn Effectively Getting the Best from the World’s Biggest Networking Site.” Groupthink – Decision Making Skills Training from MindTools.com, Mind Tools, 2018, www.mindtools.com/pages/article/linkedin.htm.
Shin, Laura. “How To Use LinkedIn: 5 Smart Steps To Career Success.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 26 June 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2014/06/26/how-to-use-linkedin-5-smart-steps-to-career-success/#418476fb6fe5.
Leave a Reply