Memorandum
To: Michael Ly, Amy McCoan and Angie Zhou, ENGL 301 Amy’s team
From: Jade Duan, ENGL301 Student
Date: March 5, 2023
Subject: Summary of Jade’s Research Concerning Best Practices for Professional Networking on LinkedIn
Introduction
According to the requirements of the lesson 2.2 assignment, I have researched networking methods on the social platform LinkedIn. Below is a list of 10 Best Practices, summarized based on my research result.
List of Best Practices
- Optimizing your profile is important. Including an appropriate profile picture, a headline that reflects your current role, a summary that presents both your skills and personality, and a full list of your education or work experiences will make a great profile.
- Connecting with offline acquaintances such as classmates or colleagues in the target industry, who are easier to approach, is a good starting point.
- Utilizing the search tool and including accurate keywords is an efficient method in searching for industry professionals.
- Being proactive in reaching out and bringing recognizable values will motivate other people’s response.
- Specifying the purpose of connecting with someone in the very first message will increase the chance of being accepted.
- Following up by sending another message if there is no response is a good way to show commitment.
- Engaging with your connections by sharing the latest insights and trends, and making meaningful comments on other people’s posts to present yourself as a thought leader in the field.
- Designing your messages and articles according to the needs of your audience is an appropriate etiquette on a semi-professional social platform like LinkedIn.
- Assuming your readers are always busy, and keeping messages short and informative can show your professionalism.
- Joining groups and attending events are beneficial for expanding networks. Groups are virtual places that gather like-minded professionals, and events are opportunities to meet new connections.
Conclusion
Networking through social platforms like LinkedIn can be overwhelming. However, by following the Best Practices listed above, anyone can become proficient in using LinkedIn to achieve career advancements.
Works Cited
aonatalks. “Networking Tips: How to Build an Effective Professional Network (on Linkedin).” YouTube, Video, 30 Apr. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WJMvL9VetM. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.
“Find Events on LinkedIn.” LinkedIn Help, https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a549571/find-events-on-linkedin?lang=en. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.
Gisler, Fritz. Clear, Concise, Consistent — The Three Fundamentals of Good Writing (and Communication). https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/clear-concise-consistent-three-fundamentals-good-writing-gisler/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.
Lannon, John M., and Laura J. Gurak. Technical Communication, Global Edition. Pearson Higher Ed, 2021.
Lua, Alfred. “LinkedIn Groups: Why They’re Great and How to Build One.” Buffer Library, 21 Feb. 2023, https://buffer.com/library/linkedin-groups/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.
Paterson, Erika. Tips for Lesson 1:3: Definitions, Peer Reviews, and Reflections – English 301 99C Technical Writing. https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl30199c2022w2/2023/02/03/tips-for-lesson-13-definitions-peer-reviews-and-reflections/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.
Schinkten, Oliver. “Find the Right Keywords – Learning LinkedIn.” LinkedIn, 28 Feb. 2022, https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-linkedin-2022/find-the-right-keywords. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.
I irresponsibly neglected the reading on the Instructor’s Blog about removing imperative words. So I have rewritten the list part, where imperative words appear the most.
Here is the revised list:
1. Optimizing your profile is important. Including an appropriate profile picture, a headline that reflects your current role, a summary that presents both your skills and personality, and a full list of your education or work experiences will make a great profile.
2. Connecting with offline acquaintances such as classmates or colleagues in the target industry, who are easier to approach, is a good starting point.
3. Utilizing the search tool and including accurate keywords is an efficient method in searching for industry professionals.
4. Being proactive in reaching out and bringing recognizable values will motivate other people’s response.
5. Specifying the purpose of connecting with someone in the very first message will increase the chance of being accepted.
6. Following up by sending another message if there is no response is a good way to show commitment.
7. Engaging with your connections by sharing the latest insights and trends, and making meaningful comments on other people’s posts to present yourself as a thought leader in the field.
8. Designing your messages and articles according to the needs of your audience is an appropriate etiquette on a semi-professional social platform like LinkedIn.
9. Assuming your readers are always busy, and keeping messages short and informative can show your professionalism.
10. Joining groups and attending events are beneficial for expanding networks. Groups are virtual places that gather like-minded professionals, and events are opportunities to meet new connections.
Hopefully this revision has improved compared to the original version.
Revision moved into the main memo above.