MOCA Careers Network

Guide to LinkedIn

Individuals*and*companies*use*LinkedIn*for*networking,*job*searching,*hiring,*company*research,*and*connecting*with*affiliates.*It*is*fast*becoming*the*premiere*tool*for*all*job*seekers*and*professionals*who*are*serious*about*their*professional*image*so*if*you’re*not*on*it*you*should*read*this*guide*and*catch*up!*

LinkedIn at a glance

238 million LinkedIn*has*more*than*238*million*members*around*the*world

2 per second LI*adds*2*new*members*per*second

30 million There*are*over*30*million*students*and*recent*university*graduates*on*LinkedIn*today...all*using*it*to*find*their,*and*maybe*your,*dream*job*

2.1 million There*are*more*than*2.1*million*LinkedIn*Groups*where*likeFminded*folks*from*particular*industries*get*together*to*discuss*news*and*developments.**

“Not%only%can%having%a%FREE%profile%help%you%present%your%professional,%work%and%life%experiences%to%the%world,%it%will%generally%be%the%first%place%potential%employers%

look%when%they%research%you….and%yes,%they%will%research%you!”

Like*most*social*networks,*LinkedIn*hosts*your*personal*profile*on*its*own*unique*page.*However,*unlike*your*other*social*networks,*LI*can*dramatically*improve*your*chances*of*getting*the*job*you*want.*Not*only*can*having*a*FREE*profile*help*you*present*your*professional,*work*and*life*experiences*to*the*world,*it*will*generally*be*the*first*place*potential*employers*look*when*they*research*you….and*yes,*they*will*research*you!*If*your*competition*has*a*fullyFloaded*LinkedIn*profile*that*shows*up*on*page*one*of*their*Google*search,*and*you*have*nothing,*guess*who*gets*the*interview…*

Not*only*will*LinkedIn*help*you*get*found,*it*will*also*give*you*the*critical*information*about*the*companies*and*people*you’re*interested*in:*

• Get*the*inside*scoop*on*companies*you’re*applying*for*jobs*at*by*following*them.*Company*profiles*can*display*lists*of*present*and*former*employees*(hint:*someone*who*used*to*work*at*a*company*might*have*some*valuable*information*for*you),*jobs*that*are*up*for*grabs*and*even*the*ratio*of*male*to*female*employees.*You*can*learn*about*their*products*and*services,*too,*which*you*can*mention*in*your*application*or*interview.*

• See*what*your*colleagues*or*competition*are*up*to.*How*well*are*they*preparing*for*their*future?*Are*they*taking*courses*and*receiving*certifications*that*you*aren’t?*You*can*also*research*people*in*positions*you*would*like*to*one*day*reach*and*see*what*they’ve*done*to*get*to*that*next*level.*

The*guide*below*has*links*to*specific*articles*and*manuals*that*will*help*make*your*profile*the*best*it*can*be.*If*you*want*to*find*out*more*(and*there*is*plenty*more*to*know!)*feel*free*to*peruse*the*LinkedIn*help*section*where*you’ll*find*information*on*everything*LinkedIn,*or*review*LI*profiles*of*people*you*know*to*get*an*idea*of*how*it’s*all*done.*

*

30 times Communicating*through*LinkedIn*makes*you*30*times*more*likely*to*get*a*response*than*through*a*direct*email.*

MOCA Careers Network: Guide to LinkedIn

LinkedIn(Profile(Checklist(!

Task( More(information( Done?(1. Join!LinkedIn!and!complete!the!

overview!information!!

Joining!LinkedIn! !

2. Update!or!create!profile!using!your!

full!name!

!! !!

3. Create!headline! This!field!is!weighted!heavily!in!both!the!LinkedIn!Search!and!Google!Search,!so!use!

keywords!that!your!industry!values.!Almost!every!action!you!take!on!LinkedIn!is!

accompanied!by!your!headline!section!and!picture!–!so!make!sure!they!are!engaging.!

Consider!what!differentiates!you,!what!makes!you!special!and!what!!you!want!to!be!known!

for.!

!!

4. Set!location! !! !!

5. Set!industry! !! !!

6. Use!a!professional!profile!photo!

(no!party!pics!)!

http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1615! !!

7. List!contact!information!(make!

sure!this!remains!up!to!date)!

http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/34986! !!

8. Create!a!custom!public!profile!URL!

(or!'vanity!URL')!

http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/87! !

9. Insert!education!history! !! !!

10. Add!sections!V!courses,!

honors/awards,!projects,!

volunteer!activity,!interests!(must!

be!appropriate!and!relevant)!

http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1284! !!

11. Fill!in!your!experience! http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1646! !

12. Highlight!skills!and!areas!of!

expertise!

!Only!list!those!that!are!relevant!to!your!chosen!field.! !!

13. Write!a!professional!summary! Tell!people!who!you!are,!who!you!help!and!how!you!help!them.!A!summary!that!

communicates!these!points!is!often!what!grabs!a!person's!attention.!A!viewer!should!be!

able!to!read!your!headline!and!know!exactly!what!you!offer!and!why!I!should!get!in!touch!

with!you.!Be!clear,!compelling!and!remember!to!use!industry!related!keywords.!A!summary!

that!is!too!wordy!and!uses!all!2000!characters!just!because!you!can!is!not!going!to!win!you!

admirers!or!customers.!DRAFT!IT!IN!MICROSOFT!WORD!FIRST!AND!PROOF!READ!FOR!

SPELLING/GRAMMAR!ERRORS!!

!!

14. Add!relevant!media!links!to!your!

profile!eg.!!a!recent!PowerPoint!

presentation!of!yours!related!to!

the!industry!you!are!targeting!

http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/34325! !

15. Set!your!Contact!Settings! This!is!where!you!determine!your!contact!settings!(introduction!only!or!introductions!and!

emails),!about!what!subjects!you!are!most!interested,!and!how!you!want!to!be!contacted!

(some!rules!of!engagement).!

!!

16. Edit!notification!settings! http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/67! !!

MOCA Careers Network: Guide to LinkedIn

17. Once!profile!is!complete,!seek!

connections,!endorsements!and!

recommendations!(coVworkers!

/friends!are!fine,!but!also!make(sure(you(connect(to(Mannix(friends,(alumni(and(MOCA!!

http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/31888! !

18. Engage!your!industry!via!groups,!

status!updates!and!discussions!

LinkedIn!has!many!micro!“communities”!that!operate!within!the!LinkedIn!platform.!Use!the!

search!box!in!the!top!right!hand!corner!of!your!browser!to!look!for!already!established!

groups!within!your!business!area,!and!then!connect!to!share!information!in!the!group!

forums.!If!there!are!no!groups!set!up!already!within!your!brand’s!space,!set!one!up.!That!

way!you!will!have!control!over!the!content!and!discussions.!!

!!

19. Frequently!give!and!seek!

endorsements!!

Make!sure!you!spend!a!few!minutes!every!weeks!looking!through!your!connections!you!are!

following,!and!their!connections,!and!comment!or!“like”!their!updates!to!build!camaraderie.!

This!also!gives!you!an!excellent!opportunity!to!reconnect!with!old!associates!and!build!new!

relationships.!!

!

20. Target!key!people!and!companies! Use!“Advanced!Search”!to!specifically!target!the!type!of!people!or!companies!that!you’d!like!

to!get!to!know,!or!work!for.!Use!a!Boolean!Search!(AND,!OR,!NOT!“”).!

■ Invite!the!strategic!people!you!find!to!connect!using!groups,!if!possible,!or!get!“introduced”!through!a!mutual!connection.!(Hint:!Find!experts!in!your!field!and!connect!to!

them)!

■!Search!“Companies”!to!find!key!people!you!might!want!to!connect!with.!A!wealth!of!

valuable!information!is!often!overlooked!here.!

!!

21. Research!appropriate!groups!to!

join,!or!create!your!own.!Make(sure(you(join(MOCA’s(group!!

Not!only!can!creating!and!managing!a!group!of!your!own!provide!you!with!a!level!of!

credibility,!it!can!allow!you!to!expand!your!network!to!reach!targeted!and!influential!

individuals!in!your!field.!Research!topics!of!interest!within!your!industry!and!choose!the!top!

two!or!three!as!the!basis!for!your!group.!

!!

22. Keep!in!touch!with!anyone!who!

moves!jobs!in!your!network!by!

installing!Salesloft!and!responding!

to!'moves'!

http://salesloft.com/! !

!

MOCA Careers Network

Guide to LinkedIn