Memorandum
To: Jessica’s Team, ENGL 301 Writing Team
From: Jeemin Kim, ENGL 301 Student
Date: July 5, 2022
Subject: Summary of LinkedIn Best Practices
LinkedIn is an online service used to grow your professional network. Below is a summary of tips that will help you make better use of the platform.
- Including a profile photo that authentically represents you is crucial. Profiles with photos are 7 times more likely to be viewed (Student Services). Therefore, choosing a recent photo that looks professional and engaging to your audience is important.
- Including a headline with keywords that would resonate with your audience is helpful. Common headlines include your title/position/student status (Student Services).
- Creating a persuasive summary attracts attention. Along with the headline, your summary is weighted heavily in LinkedIn’s algorithm search. Therefore, including a compelling statement of yourself as well as your strengths (Student Services) is important.
- Listing your accomplishments can highlight your skills. The Experiences section could also be used as a portfolio where you could add relevant media, and thus more credibility to your profile (Student Services).
- Growing your network by synching your email address book is a great first step. This is one of the easiest ways to view suggestions of people you could connect with (Deehan).
- Using the UBC Alumni Search Tool (Student Services) is another way to expand your network.
- Using personalized connection requests is highly recommended. Rather than using the auto-generated connection request, craft a personal message that emphasizes why you want to connect with that person (Student Services).
- Requesting for recommendations is an important step in boosting your credibility. Recommendations are testimonials from your previous co-workers or superiors that highlight your skills and contributions. It is advised to email the individual before writing a formal request via LinkedIn (Student Services).
- Downloading the LinkedIn Students App to find jobs can be helpful. It is an app specifically made for students, so it serves as a resource for finding various career paths (Student Services).
- Sharing relevant content on your LinkedIn Feed is recommended. It is a way to take an active role in networking as what you post or share appears on your connections’ feed (Deehan).
I hope these tips give you some guidance on building a strong profile and expanding your professional network on LinkedIn.
Works Cited
“20 Steps to a Better Linkedin Profile in 2022.” LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/business/sales/blog/profile-best-practices/17-steps-to-a-better-linkedin-profile-in-2017.
“How to Make the Most of Linkedin.” Student Services, 24 Aug. 2021, https://students.ubc.ca/career/career-resources/make-most-linkedin.
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