2. Overview
• The basics – Starting here
• Two goals with Linkedin:
– Catching
– Pitching
• Status Updates
• Connecting
• Groups
• Answers
3. The Basics of LinkedIn
• LinkedIn is THE place everyone goes to find
people – recruiters, hiring managers or
anyone else with a problem or a question.
• Build your profile intentionally so people can
find you (catching.)
• Connect with lots of people and use
interactively so you can find people
(pitching.)
4. Russ’ view of Linkedin.
Notice the top nav, status
update, update feed and
people you may know.
5. Same page, just a little
further down. Notice more
slightly older updates and
who’s viewed my profile and
your Linkedin network.
6. Who has viewed my profile?
This is who. It may say
“LinkedIn member” or
“Anonymous” or “Someone
from the X industry from
New York, NY”. I check this
to see where my message is
being heard.
7. Same place, just clicked
appearances. Recruiters
and hiring managers are
looking; the better your
profile is, the more likely you
will appear. Avg = 417 over
last 6 weeks.
8. Your First Profile Objective
• 100% Complete – LinkedIn will help you
chart your progress as you move towards
100%.
• This is only the beginning, but a good first
goal.
• Once you get 100%, keep updating,
improving and use this tool socially.
• Never stop networking!
9. Profile Parts & Pieces
• Picture – Smiling, professional (that means
suit-and-tied, fellas), facing the camera, well
lit.
• Headline – Say what you do or can do, use
keywords, 120 characters, use ‘em!
– Accountant II may have been your title, but you
need to describe what you did and sell it
– Accountant │Joint-interest billing │JIB │Oil &
Gas │AP Supervisor │Revenue accounting
│Data analyst │Independent worker
– See? That’s 119 characters and more clear!
10. Profile Parts & Pieces
• Current title? Consider deleting it.
– Alternatives: Actively seeking next opportunity,
immediate availability, open to new challenges,
or list a key volunteer role you are filling
– Avoid: Unemployed, Retired, etc.; look forward!
• Public profile: customize it!
– http://www.linkedin.com/in/knightruss
– http://www.linkedin.com/pub/hans-helmerich/9/992/a44
– See the difference? Here’s how to customize:
12. Customize your public
profile. If yours has
nonsensical
numbers/letters, you
haven’t done it right yet.
See how mine finishes with
in/knightruss?
13. You can customize a lot
here. Please “make profile
visible to anyone” for name
recognition, then scroll
down…
17. Profile Parts & Pieces
• References: Two is what you need; Don’t
worry about many more.
– Suggest a time when…to help someone tell a
good story about you.
– Write one for them first, they will be prompted to
reciprocate, which is AOK!
– Don’t accept a mediocre rec; ask them to revise.
– If you don’t like the rec, don’t publish it.
18. I’m very thankful for the
recommendations that have
been written for me. My
plan is to reciprocate, but
not immediately.
19. “Forget the former
things; do not dwell on
the past. See, I am doing
a new thing! Now it
springs up; do you not
perceive it? I am making
a way in the wilderness
and streams in the
wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19
20. Overview
• The basics
• Two goals with Linkedin: Now here
– Catching
– Pitching
• Status Updates
• Connecting
• Groups
• Answers
21. Goal #1: Catching
• Catching = building your profile to be found.
• People are looking for you; help them!
• Use keywords a lot: Headline, summary, under
every job, repeat important things in different ways.
• Speak to results: $, #, % throughout.
• Adding a list of keywords – just to be found on
LinkedIn is a good method.
• Connect with lots of people, especially connectors:
recruiters, thought-leaders well known in your
industry and people with lots of connections!
22. A word about keywords
• Do a search for “Google keywords” and a
tool will come up that may help you
• You want to differentiate!
• Avoid common descriptors.
• Comb through your message for “white-
noise” and cut the things that don’t really
describe the value you bring.
• Would someone else say it?
23. 10 keywords to avoid
1. Extensive experience
2. Innovative
3. Motivated
4. Results-oriented
5. Dynamic
6. Proven track record
7. Team player
8. Fast-paced
9. Problem solver
10. Entrepreneurial
source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-41541186/linkedin-top-10-resume-words-to-avoid/
24. SAR: Speaking to results
• Tell the good things you have delivered to
your employers in $, # and %.
•S + A = R
– Situation – what was happening before you
got there?
– Action – what did you specifically do
differently that someone else might not?
– Result – what was the good result for your
employer in $, # or %, if possible?
28. What can we learn?
• Use keywords throughout profile.
• Think about how someone would search for
someone like you?
• Be sure to say the same thing lots of different
ways sales, business development, account
exec, closer, cold caller, new business
developer, etc.
• Tough name? Use common misspellings too
Kelley, Kelly, Kellie, Kallie, etc.
• Add a string at the end of each part listing all
your keywords.
• Connect with LOTS of people.
29. “Dear friends, do not be
surprised at the fiery
ordeal that has come on
you to test you, as
though something
strange were happening
to you. But rejoice
inasmuch as you
participate in the
sufferings of Christ, so
that you may be
overjoyed when his glory
is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:12-13
30. Overview
• The basics
• Two goals with Linkedin:
– Catching
– Pitching Here now
• Status Updates
• Connecting
• Groups
• Answers
31. Goal #2: Pitching
• Pitching= you are on offense, going out
and finding connections & projecting.
• This is a great way to find the people you
need to advance your search.
• Hiring managers, former co-workers,
recruiters, influencers, connectors.
• If it’s worth filling out an application, it’s
worth making a human connection so you
aren’t just another resume in a stack.
32. • Example from Indeed to find a job, Jigsaw
to find the contact, along with LinkedIn
37. Now I know who to reach out
to help me get past HR to
someone in the marketing
department.
38. This is the Advanced
search feature, just to the
right of the search box in
the upper right. See I
selected company name,
current and the keyword
“marketing”.
39. Charlie C. looks like someone I
would reach out to about this
marketing role. Could also try
Tracey.
40. What if we missed on LI?
• We found a couple of possibilities on LI,
but what if we didn’t?
• Google.
• Data.com / Jigsaw.com.
• Confirm it on LinkedIn – information is
updated 1st person, not crowd sourced, so
likely more accurate.
45. “Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be
afraid; do not be
discouraged, for the
Lord your God will be
with you wherever you
go.”
-Joshua 1:9
46. Overview
• The basics
• Two goals with Linkedin:
– Catching
– Pitching
• Status Updates Here now
• Connecting
• Groups
• Answers
47. Status updates
• Always good news; never negative!
• Article about your industry, vocation, job
search or general interest.
• Community or industry event.
• Interact with other people’s content – it’s
SOCIAL media.
• Make a point to regularly post something.
• Quote or verse that inspires you.
50. “Praise be to the God
and Father of our Lord
Jesus Chris, the Father
of compassion and the
God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can
comfort those in any
trouble with the comfort
we ourselves receive
from God.”
-2 Corinthians 1:3-
4
51. Overview
• The basics
• Two goals with Linkedin:
– Catching
– Pitching
• Status Updates
• Connecting Here now
• Groups
• Answers
52. Connecting
• Always customize the invite; sell them on the
value in connecting with you.
• Remind them how they know you, even if you
met earlier in the day.
• Offer value – give them a reason.
• “Russ here from the job search ministry! I’m searching for a
position to help apply my passion for people and solve sales
challenges. Might you know someone looking for that?
Could we connect in case I might help you or someone you
know?”
55. “Brothers and sisters, as
an example of patience
in the face of suffering,
take the prophets who
spoke in the name of the
Lord. As you know, we
count as blessed those
who have persevered.
You have heard of Job’s
perseverance and have
seen what the Lord
finally brought about.
The Lord is full of
compassion and mercy.”
-James 5:10-11
56. Overview
• The basics
• Two goals with Linkedin:
– Catching
– Pitching
• Status Updates
• Connecting
• Groups Here now
• Answers
57. Groups
• Groups allow you to connect with lots of
people quickly
• Participate and be relevant (remember, you
are pitching/projecting!)
• Group categories: Industry, discipline,
geography, interest, and…
• You can join 50 (or so) with free account
58. As a jobseeker, you are in the
sales business. What other
disciplines are you in? Join
groups to learn about sales and
other disciplines too!
59. This is OUR group for the job
search ministries. People post
ideas and jobs here.
60. Geographic groups are good
too! Where are you searching?
City, state, etc? There is a
group for you there!
63. “Humble yourselves,
therefore, under God’s
mighty hand, that he may
lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on
him because he cares for
you.”
-1 Peter 5:6-7
64. Overview
• The basics
• Two goals with Linkedin:
– Catching
– Pitching
• Status Updates
• Connecting
• Groups
• Answers Here now
65. Answers
• This is the place where you can project what
you know.
• Or ask an insightful question about your
industry.
• Yes, there ARE dumb questions!
• Search for your question in this area before
posting it or do research another way.
• Use some industry or discipline keywords as
search terms and try this!
70. Summary
• Two main goals
– Catching – setting up your profile to be found
– Pitching – projecting so you can find people
• Lifetime investment in your network – keep
using this even post-hire – never stop
networking again!
• Go to LinkedIn with the posture of “How can
I help or offer something good to my network
today?” It will return to you!
71. Now, go
connect!
Russ Knight drives marketing for Career
Development Partners and is the co-founder of
OJT @ Asbury and one of the leaders of FUMC’s
Employment Transition ministry in Tulsa, OK.
(918) 640-6148-c or OJTjobs@gmail.com
Thanks to Boe Parrish for letting me use his profile as an
example and for the sunrise photos!