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