LinkedIn presentation delivered at Illinois College Personnel Association drive-in, Normal, IL

1. Getting ‘LinkedIn®’
Online Networking Workshop
ICPA

2. About LinkedIn®
“The world’s largest professional network, helping people find and share opportunities every day”
• Launched in 2003 – professional social media
• Members from over 200 countries
– LinkedIn® is currently available in 9 languages
• Executives from every Fortune 500 company
– More than 2 million companies have profiles
• Over 1 million groups
• Network of over 135 million professionals
• 77% of LinkedIn® users are age 25 or older
• Two new members join every second and ½ are
from outside of the United States

3. Why Should You Join LinkedIn®?
• Managing your career is just one reason
• According to a recent Performics study, nearly
60% of people say LinkedIn® is most important
social network
• Establish yourself as an authoritative resource
• Allow people to find you when they search the
Internet
• Give yourself more control over what others see
• Reconnect with your address book even as
people change jobs, etc.
• Be a part of nearly 2 billion people searches

4. Your Profile
• LinkedIn® profiles are often one of the first
results in a Google search
• Allows you to maintain a separate „work life‟ &
„personal life‟ and control your online identity
• A complete profile is 40X more likely to be seen
• Never include anything you wouldn‟t want
printed on the cover of the New York Times
• Tell your story – 1st impressions are critical
– Have a strong „title‟ and summary
– Include keywords/specialties
– Ensure you have a professional photo (& update it!)

5. Your Profile
• Include volunteer and other activities too
• Keep your profile current!
• Obtain recommendations (1/position held)
– And give recommendations when requested
• Claim your LinkedIn® url – add a „public profile‟

7. Your Profile
• Include volunteer and other activities too
• Keep your profile current!
• Obtain recommendations (1/position held)
– And give recommendations when requested
• Claim your LinkedIn® url – add a „public profile‟
• Create your profile in additional languages if
applicable
• Include website links to research or professional
blogs
• Optimize your profile by including
Skills, Volunteer Experience & Causes, etc.
• Update your „Opportunity Preferences‟

8. Your Summary*
• Summaries are like „bait‟…
• Think of this like your „elevator pitch‟
– Three highlights
– Memorable, catchy, descriptive
– Make the reader want more
• Translate your accomplishments into personal
results…what does this mean to your reader?
• Write in 1st person or 1st person implied
• Focus on keywords and keep it brief
• Remember your profile is always evolving
* Thanks to Matt Sherer of Sherer Communications

9. Groups
• Groups have sections for Discussions, Job
Postings, Event Announcements, News, etc.

12. Groups
• Groups have sections for Discussions, Job
Postings, Event Announcements, News, etc.
• Allows you to connect with others who have
related interests, to solve problems, and to share
information (look to future not just the past)
– Join the ICPA group
– Over 1700 groups on keyword search „Higher Education‟
• Anyone can join groups…even better to create a
group and post events, facilitate discussions, etc.
– The more active you are, the more you‟ll get from it
• Update settings to receive digests, etc.

13. Applications, Blogs, Articles…
• Applications allow you to post blog posts you‟ve
written to your page and connect with Twitter

15. Applications, Blogs, Articles…
• Applications allow you to post blog posts you‟ve
written to your page and connect with Twitter
• Amazon reading lists allow visitors to review
your current interests
• Create Polls to collect data from your
connections
• My Travel and Events help you stay in touch
with connections
• Add presentations via SlideShare or Google
Presentation

16. Making Connections
• Join groups related to your field, involvements, etc.
• Connect with people you already know
• Watch the connections your links make…chances
are, you know them as well (but don‟t spam!!)

18. Making Connections
• Join groups related to your field, involvements, etc.
• Connect with people you already know
• Watch the connections your links make…chances
are, you know them as well (but don‟t spam!!)
• Quid pro quo – offer to return the favor for
someone who makes an introduction for you
– The more you give, the more you receive!
• Do be careful about whom you add as connections
– Introductions can be difficult if you don‟t know person
– “I Don‟t Know” button
– LIONs (LinkedIn® Open Networkers)

19. Creating Connections
• Determine what information you are seeking
• Prepare a strong introductory email
– Brief introduction (incl. connection) and why you‟re writing
– Elevator pitch/summary
• Find out more about your potential connection
and review his/her profile
• Don‟t be shy, but don‟t be needy, either
• Ask questions once connected with someone, just
as at any networking event
• If someone „introduces‟ you, copy them on emails
• Request advice/guidance…NOT jobs or other help
on initial connection

20. Maintaining Connections
• Request (& give) recommendations
– Illustrate achievements
– Project credibility

22. Maintaining Connections
• Request (& give) recommendations
– Illustrate achievements
– Project credibility
• Never share others‟ personal information with
colleagues unless you have permission to do so
• Do make your connections public
• Ask for telephone connection: 15-20 minutes if
you‟re seeking more than general advice
• Always follow-up with thank you emails/notes!
• Keep your contacts/connections informed

23. Job Search Feature
• Over 70% of employers have rejected a candidate
because of information found online
• Utilize the „Find a Job‟ feature to search for actual
positions

25. Job Search Feature
• Over 70% of employers have rejected a candidate
because of information found online
• Utilize the „Find a Job‟ feature to search for actual
positions
• Join groups and check out their „Jobs‟ tabs

27. Job Search Feature
• Over 70% of employers have rejected a candidate
because of information found online
• Utilize the „Find a Job‟ feature to search for actual
positions
• Join groups and check out their „Jobs‟ tabs
• When you join groups, sign up to receive the „feed‟
• Great resource for students (or other job seekers!)
new to the system: http://grads.linkedin.com/

28. Researching „Companies‟
• One of the best but most under-utilized features
• Nearly 11,700 results in higher education industry

31. Researching „Companies‟
• One of the best but most under-utilized features
• Nearly 2,500 results with „school‟ in their names
in Primary/Secondary industry
• Find information on companies in a specific
geographic location
• Look for related companies and „popular‟ profiles
• Review „before‟ and „after‟ career paths
• Read „News‟ about the company
• Check out a company‟s „new hires‟

34. Finding/Giving „Answers‟
• Locate and interact with experts
• „Answer‟ questions as applicable – if you get a
„good answer‟ mark, you are seen as an expert
• Post questions that you may have, but remember
that millions of people have access to what you
write
• Write answers/questions in Word and use spell-
and grammar-check and then cut & paste into
LinkedIn®

35. LinkedIn® „Truths‟
• Will not get someone a job or replace recruiters
• LinkedIn® Today articles can be a great source of
information…or a great time consumer!
• It is important to fully develop your profile
• Quality connections and updates are more
important than quantity
– Just because someone accepts a contact doesn‟t mean
they want to work with you/connect more deeply
– Connections don‟t always equate to credibility/success
• Not the best networking tool for all audiences

36. LinkedIn® Etiquette
• Say thank you early & often
• Customize every connection request you send
• Don‟t pester
• Know that it is okay to turn down or ignore a
connection request
• Don‟t over-promote yourself or your business

37. Fun LinkedIn® Resources
Business Insider: INFOGRAPHIC: Here‟s How to
REALLY Use LinkedIn® (boot camp version)
http://alturl.com/ufsxu
LinkedIn® for Dummies: http://alturl.com/drjq9
How to Change the World…10 Ways to Use
LinkedIn® : http://alturl.com/ktkyi
LinkedIn® Learning Center: http://learn.linkedin.com

38. Career Counseling & Placement
Services
School of Chemical Sciences
105 Noyes Lab
217-333-1050
Patricia Simpson
http://www.linkedin.com/in/plbsimpson
http://careers.scs.illinois.edu/
plblum@illinois.edu