LinkedIn networking presentation

1. Getting ‘LinkedIn’
Online Networking Workshop
School of Chemical Sciences Career Services

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 120 million professionals
• Two new members join every second and ½ are
from outside of the United States

3. Your Profile
• LinkedIn profiles are often one of the first
searches in a Google search
• Allows you to maintain and separate „work life‟ &
„personal life‟
• 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

4. Your Profile
• Include volunteer and other activities
• Keep your profile current!
• Obtain recommendations (1/position held)
• Claim your LinkedIn url – add a „public profile‟
• Create your profile in additional languages if
applicable
• Include website links to research or professional
blogs
• Update your „Opportunity Preferences‟

5. 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

6. Groups…
• Groups have sections for Discussions, Job
Postings, Event Announcements, News, and
more for connections & discussion
• Allow you to connect with others who have
related interests, to solve problems, and to share
information
• Anyone can join groups or you can create one
– The more active you are, the more you‟ll get from it
• Update settings to receive digests, etc.

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

8. Making Connections
• Join groups related to your field, school, 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
• 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)

9. Creating Connections
• Determine what information you are seeking
• Prepare list of questions and introductory email
– Brief introduction (incl. Illinois connection)
– Why you‟re writing
– Elevator pitch/summary
• Find out more about your potential connection
and review his/her profile
• If someone „introduces‟ you, copy them on emails
• Request advice/guidance…NOT jobs
– Trends in their industry/Companies they respect
– How they prepared themselves to succeed

10. 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
• Always follow-up with thank you emails/notes!
• Keep your contacts/connections informed

11. 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 new to the system:
http://grads.linkedin.com/

12. Researching Companies
• 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‟

13. Finding/Giving „Answers‟
• Help you 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

14. LinkedIn „Truths‟
• Will not get someone a job
• Will not replace recruiters
• 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

15. 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

16. Career Counseling & Placement
Services
School of Chemical Sciences
105 Noyes Lab
217-333-1050
http://careers.scs.illinois.edu/
plblum@illinois.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/plbsimpson
Hours:
Monday-Friday
8:00 AM-12:00PM & 1:00PM-5:00PM