1. How to use Linkedin and
make it work for you
by Donna Sweidan
Five O’Clock Club Coach & Job Search Strategist
Careerfolk, LLC

2. What is Linkedin
• Staying informed about your
contacts and industry
• Finding the people & knowledge you
need to achieve your goals?
• Creating and controlling your online
professional identity, presence and
build your brand

3. The Five O’Clock
Club Key Tenets
“Networking and direct contact
are the two most effective ways
to generate interviews”

4. Linkedin: The
antidote to
networking
and the answer to making
direct contact!

5. The Buzz
• MySpace, Facebook… now it’s Linkedin. What
is all the fuss?
• Social networking vs. Professional / Business
networking
• Making friends & building your social network
vs. Building your professional network for
business and career development
• If you cannot be googled, “You do not
exist”
• Keyword = Building your Social Capital

6. The Facts
• There are over 38 million people on Linkedin
• People with more than 20 connections are
34 times more likely to be approached with
a job opportunity than people with less than
five
• All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented
in Linkedin; 499 are represented by
director-level and above
• Used by over 900,000 recruiters, and over
45% use it exclusively to source candidates

7. The Stats
According to Execunet 2009 Market Intelligence
report:
• Nearly 86% of recruiters say their firms use
Internet search engines to uncover information
about potential candidates.
• Approximately 44% of executive recruiters
claim: Dropped candidate from consideration
due to information they learned about the
candidate after Googling them. — Up nearly 10
percentage points from 2 years ago.
• Negative information about you that is on the
web can be detrimental to your career health.
• Using Linkedin effectively is part of your
damage control strategy.

8. Research:
Building your network: People/ companies/ interview
Through Direct Contact preparation
Job-hunting:
Active & Passive
Personal Branding
Business Development Managing your online
Collaborators/ Venture Capital presence
Consultant: Promotion:
Enhancing your online
Always be seen as an visibility
expert in your field

9. 6 Degrees of
Separation
• Networking and making direct contact
with other professionals is
fundamental to the growth of your
career
• Linkedin is founded upon the notion
that we are all connected by a finite
degree of separation
• Six degrees of separation: Kevin Bacon
• Using a system like Linkedin to
measure the breadth and depth of
your network, and to grow it can be
very valuable

10. Linkedin Checklist
1. Make the most of your profile: Control
your brand
2. Making connections
3. Increase your visibility online
4. Be seen as an expert: This is not a time to
be modest!
5. Search Companies, not jobs
6. Join Groups: The Five O’clock club and others
7. Privacy Settings and other issues
8. Get Active, Beyond your Computer

11. 1. Building your profile
• It’s not just an online resume
• Opportunity to present & market your
skills and expertise to the world
• Just like a resume, keywords are critical
• A successful profile should include:
• A professional headline
• Your value proposition
• Key skills and expertise
• Recommendations
• A customized profile URL

12. A fully public profile

13. 2. Building your Network
• What is your connection strategy (“Promiscuous”
vs Conservative)
• Numbers count: Look at the statistics (from 557
gives me accessibility to over 4 Million
professionals)
• But Quality outweighs Quantity for networking
purposes
• Warm connections (people you meet in your daily life)
associates, colleagues,
Friends, family, business
• Networking: Getting introduced, asking to connect
to the “right” people
• Essential LI Etiquette: Make it personal, be specific,
and be professional!

14. 3. Increase your online
visibility strategy
• Go Global: Connect with people in your industry or
profession
• Connect with a few “Super-Connectors”
• Take time to seek out knowledge experts and
decision-makers in companies of interest. Ask
questions, engage in ‘Knowledge-Powered
Networking’
• Upgraded Accounts: Basic vs Pro
• Updating your status regularly
• Pay-it-forward: Give recommendations

15. Your Network

16. Your Online Presence

17. 4. Be Seen as an Expert
• Share your knowledge & expertise
• Ask for recommendations (Recruiters want to
see at least 3, and not only reciprocal; be
strategic)
• ACTIVELY Participate in the
• Answers Section
• Groups discussion boards

19. 5. Search Companies,
Not Jobs
• Linkedin is HUGE database of information
• Use Advanced Search Mechanism always
• Experiment with diverse keywords, skill
sets, job titles, industries, location, company
size

21. 6. Join 50 Groups
• Professional Affiliations (Local, National Chapter, of
Project Managers Institute)
• Affinity groups (Indian Ex-pats, GLBT, Working Moms)
• General Networking Groups (Five O’Clock Club )
• Alumni Groups (High School - Graduate School)
• Local Community Groups (Metro Writers Community)
• General Interest Groups (I’d rather be swimming)

22. Benefits of being in groups
• You can contact ANYBODY for free!
• Great way to learn about a new career
• Expand your network where you have no
connections
• Learn about important events
• Receive insider job information & other news!

24. 7. Privacy Issues
• All controllable via ACCOUNTS & SETTINGS
• You can control who views your information?
• Only your network vs anyone
• No one has access to your email or any other
contact information, unless you make it
available on your profile

26. e the World
Le verag
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to
place it, and I shall move the world.” –Archimedes
• Linkedin is Your “Lever”
• Since Linkedin is all about being
“connected” – you CAN find almost
anyone you want to connect with....
and ANYONE can FIND YOU!

27. Still have questions about using
Linkedin?
You’re on Linkedin, been to the
introductory class, set up your profile,
but still have questions. Join our weekly
Linkedin Q & A Session.
In this small group session, I provide a general
review of your profile as well as address your
questions, fears or confusion. You will also learn
from the feedback presented to others, or see what
other professionals are doing to enhance their
online presence.
Discussion will include how to further incorporate
Claim your spot
Linkedin in your job search.
now! http://www.careerfolk.com/

28. KNOW A GROUP THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM LEARNING
MORE ABOUT USING LINKEDIN AND BUILDING ONLINE
PRESENCE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
For follow up Interactive Q & A Session, 1-1 Linkedin Consultation
or general Career Coaching, call Donna or go to
www.careerfolk.com
Donna Sweidan, MCC LMHC
Careerfolk, LLC
Donna@careerfolk.com
203. 613 1049/ 203. 276 9604
Connect with me on linkedin, but please tell me who you are, and
why I should connect with you. Thank you!
Networking is a process not an outcome!