News

Are you LinkedIn?

25/09/2010
Are you LinkedIn?

In order to give you another edge in finding work, we've compiled some useful information for you from an article on using LinkedIn for professional networking and business development produced by Andrew Loyd Gordon.

Despite all our technology, the best way to land a job is still by having someone who already works somewhere mention your name. LinkedIn, and other professional networking sites, can help by providing a 'people road-map' to where you want to go in your career.

You can use a wide range of social networking sites these days, and there's nothing wrong with networking your way into a job using Facebook or Twitter. However, sites like LinkedIn are specifically designed to be used for job related tasks, so you can focus on keeping your social life on another social network.

LinkedIn itself is probably the most popular of this type of site, and it can be used for:

Connecting with current and former colleagues
Researching companies and individuals
Searching for jobs
Market and business research

If you're thinking about making a LinkedIn profile, its very straightforward, but will probably take you a few hours to create a 'complete' profile that will really get peoples attention. A good way to get yourself started is using your CV to help you create your profile and get it off the ground.

Remember to say what you like, use the areas to tell a strong story. Try and promote and sell yourself, make potentential employers want you. Its also a good idea to include a good, clear and professional photo of you on your profile.

Have several people proofread your profile for typos, poor grammar and spelling mistakes, be sure to ask your proofreaders to be honest.

As you use LinkedIn, you'll notice that its important to get as many 'recommendations' as possible. Make sure you're getting recommendations from the right people, people relevant to what you want to sell yourself as. Don't forget; the best way to get a recommendation is to give a recommendation.

People are searching LinkedIn every second of every day. This means that they could be searching for you or someone like you so make sure that your LinkedIn profile is a living, breathing and continually evolving entity and not a static document (like a CV).

Improve your chances of being found by including your important keywords in your profile, completing your profile to 100% and being an active member of the LinkedIn community by adding Applications, regularly updating your Status and taking part in Answers, Groups, Discussions and Polls.

If you'd like to join LinkedIn, and try taking your career further you can visit www.linkedin.com and sign-up for a free account.

Permalink: http://www.lambethfirst.org.uk/lambeth-linkedin

Go back to News listings