COMM202T34 & T38 – LinkedIn Profiles

1. Networking Event Reflection!

2. LinkedIn Profiles

3. Action Items

Agenda

• What went well?

• What was difficult?

• What could you improve on?

Networking Event

COVER LETTER

Linkedin Profiles

LinkedIn vs. Resume

• LinkedIn is social!

• Be personable, speak in first person, show your personality

• Follow influencers, share articles, engage with the community through

posts and updates – the more you engage the more likely people will find

your profile.

• LinkedIn is all about you!

• Your profile is tailored to your professional brand more so than to a

company

• Include broader experiences, projects, skills, and interests in a variety of

formats

Personal Branding

Do a creative brief for your page!

• What is your overall goal? (get a job? network?)

• How do you want viewers to perceive you? Your language

determines this!

• Use and REPEAT key words!

• Don’t be afraid to post!

Before we start…

• Turn off “Notify your network” when making many small changes

• Don’t mark a connection request as “I Don’t Know” unless they are negatively impacting you

• After too many IDK’s, LinkedIn will ban them from the network

Found on the right side of your profile under “Who’s

Viewed your Profile?”

2. Attention Grabbing Headline

1. Professional Headshot

3. Complete Experiences

4. Connections, Contact Info, Customized URL

5. Interesting summary showcasing personality!

Key Elements

Key Elements

Professional-looking Photo

• Reasonably close-up (from the shoulders up)

• High quality, good lighting, looks like you!

Key Elements

Headline• It is your 120 character hook!

• Should be about what you do

• Be memorable and enticing people to look at your profile

ACTIVITY!Write your new headline.

Key Elements

Summary• 2000 characters to

summarize your background and future goals

Key Elements

Great Summary Tips!

• Speak in the first person

• Keep it visually organized (bullet points)

• What you can write about:

• Education (your current job): What you do, your specialization, why

you chose it

• Other involvements: What you do outside of class, why you like it

• What makes you, you: Personal work style / important character

traits

• Your aspirations: Your goals and intended professional path

• Finish off with your contact information, invite them to connect or

Key Elements

Experiences• Try not to copy-paste from your resume• Talk about the challenges you faced and a couple key wins• Prove your accomplishments by showing examples of your work

(i.e. video projects, presentations, photography…)

From Resume to LinkedIn

Key Elements

Education• Join UBC and Sauder (AND the alumni

communities!)

Honours/Awards

Key Elements

Projects• List academic or extra-curricular

projects as you see fit

Skills • Searchable, so aim for brand-

specific not generic

Influencers• Follow your idols! Helps others

to see who inspires you.

Groups!

• Having a profile is step 1, using LinkedIn is what will get you noticed. The more active you are on the site the more likely your profile will be seen by potential employers

• Join groups in your interest areas…for now myBCom Careers to stay up to date on job postings and career relevant info from the BCC and CUS.

Recommendations!

• Stronger than Endorsements “Likes”

• Adds credibility to accomplishments and experiences

• Ask for one!

Recommendations vs. Endorsements

Recommendations:

• written by other LinkedIn members as a way to recognize or applaud a business partner or colleague

Endorsements:

• Less specific. Vague, virtual thumbs-ups.

Requesting Recommendations

1. Identify the best witnesses of your work.

2. Ask personally first. Email if not possible.

3. If they say yes to your email/personal request, send a

request through LinkedIn.

4. Send thank-you email.

Requesting Recommendations

Sample Email Request:

“Hello Matt,

I hope all is well with you. As a follow up to our chat earlier this morning, I would like to reach out to you via email to request a recommendation on LinkedIn. As you know, I have had an invaluable experience working at Microsoft. The lead project that you assigned to me taught me a lot about how to manage people and how to lead a project from start to finish. I am very appreciative of your support throughout my time at Microsoft.

I know you are really busy, so I’d be happy to send you a draft recommendation you can edit.

Thanks in advance for your support.”

Etiquette – Adding Connections

Best practices:

• Request to connect once you have met them in person

(where possible)

• Personalize your connection request

• Keep it friendly and professional

Too Casual

Too Generic

Personal & Professional

General tips for success

• Share something

memorable from your

conversation

• Be brief

• Include a call to action

if you’d like to meet

again

• Gauge the audience –

your message to the

Dean will look different

than your message to

your COMM202

classmate!

Etiquette – Adding Connections

Generally split your requests into three categories:

1. People you know well:• More casual, can be how you would talk to the person

2. People you know a little:• Professional requests, bring up where you’ve met, etc.

3. People you don’t know but want to know• Brief intro and why you want to talk to them, shared

commonalities (university, degree, interests, etc.)

Lecture NEXT WEEK!

Networking Reflection due Monday, March 14th @ 11:59PM

- Week 9 -

ACTION ITEMS