LinkedIn 101

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100 million professionals

Why use LinkedIn?

What is LinkedIn?

Before We Dive In:

• LinkedIn is a MEANS not an end in itself

• It’s 1 tool in your tool belt as you job search

• Goal: get offline – actually meet people

• Know your goals with using LinkedIn

Start at the Bottom

• Contact me for…be specific• Contact info – easy to get ahold of you. You

decide – phone/email – personal/work• Twitter – if appropriate• Add websites – current company, major

webpage, blog – rename the link that shows in your profile

• Interests – can show well roundedness, can be talking points in interview, help connect you to others – put in 5 now.

• Groups – later…

Include them throughout your profile.

Write down yours now.

KEYWORDS

• List at least 3• Start with bullets from

resume – copy/paste• Can make 1 job into 2 if

promoted• Infuse keywords in your

‘titles’• Room to write specific

stories

ExperiencesRefer to your resume

Your 1st interview happens without you

Recommendations• Choose 3-4 connections and write one for them. Can be just a few sentences• Then request from those people. Reciprocal

relationship• Professors, Classmates• Supervisors, Coworkers • Activity members• You get to review and decide if visible. • These help you get to 100%• Don’t forget this in the future as well. • Goal – one for each section in your profile

Your Education

• High School and College• Can include other schools attended if that

was a strong network of people• Minors; GPA if 3.0+; Honors; Awards • Activities• Honor Societies

Specialties – a.k.a. KEYWORDS!

• Include jargon from the field you want to go into.

• Read job postings to ID some of the good keywords

• Include skills that are in demand

• TOP SKILLS • 1 Teamwork• 2 Professional

Communication• 3 Problem-Solving Skills • 4 Ability to learn• 5 Organizational Skills • 6 Analyze data• 7 Technical knowledge• 8 Computer skills• 9 Writing skills• 10 Persuasion skills

• My name is…I am a…specializing in…• List names of companies you’ve

worked with (name recognition)• Include keywords and show off

skills • Show results from projects or

internships (how do you solve problems)• Show competencies from

classes • Write it in person, make it

conversational• Include a call to action – call me

today…

SUMMARYTake some notes on it now and draft it before posting

Claim your URL

Public Profile

• Make it your name or something close

• Add it to the contact info on your resume

• Put it on a business card

At the top

• Your full name• Your geographic

location *can put your desired location

• Choose industry you hope to begin in

• Your profile headline

Profile Tip

• Update your status regularly, more when you’re looking for a job.

• Stay in the know with your industry: alltop.com

• Add your interests at the bottom

• Find profile “mentors”

• Verify and decide your public profile settings

• UNCG Career Services Center • UNCG Bryan School of

Business & Economics Alumni (junior/seniors)• Associations, Interests• Things you support• Ties to a desired

geographic location – young professionals

Groups Check your settings to decide the emails you get.

Now it’s time to add connections

• Sync with email

• Connect with me

• Search connections based on keywords – former jobs, education, etc.

Next Steps

• Keep your profile updated

• Get a photo added to your profile

• Do recommendations

• Begin interaction – status updates, groups, Answers section

• Applications like box.net, reading list or events

• Check out the LinkedIn blog, LinkedIn apps, LinkedIn labs

Linda Pollock301Q Bryanl_polloc@uncg.eduDrop In Mondays/Tuesdays 12-2p