Garrett Ira | Community ManagerWeb: bonfiresocialmedia.comEmail: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/garrettira
• Determine the REAL value of LinkedIn as a job seeker
• Learn the steps and best practices for completing your profile
• Discover how to leverage LinkedIn after profile completion
Goals For Today
What is the value of LinkedIn as a Job Seeker?
“If you don’t like change, you’re going to like
irrelevancy even less”- General Eric Shinseki
• Take control of your personal brand
• Up to 86% of recruiters use LinkedIn
• Most valuable social media tool for job seekers
Have you Googled Yourself?
LinkedIn ranks very well
How Do I Learn to Use LinkedIn?
1. PRACTICE
2. Attend events and workshops
3. Get help from your mentor
4. Keep up with changes:
1. Read your weekly LinkedIn Network Update email
2. Follow Viveka von Rosen: http://linkedintobusiness.com/
3. Use often
LinkedIn Steps to Success
1. Customize your LinkedIn URL
• Edit Profile > Edit Public Profile > Edit URL
2. Complete your profile
A. Summary
B. Specialties
C. Experience
D. Education
E. Recommendations
F. Additional Information
3. Join at least 3 groups
4. Get Recommended
5. Add all RELEVANT, PROFESSIONAL connections
6. Be Proactive
Use the LGJS Resume Format
1. Summary = Use “Career Profile” from resume
2. Specialties = Use “Areas of Excellence” from resume
3. Experience
1. Use “Professional Experience” descriptions from resume
2. Add relevant points from “Professional Accomplishments”
3. Do not exceed 6 lines underneath each past position
4. Seek assistance from your mentor
4. Education = “Education” from resume
[Grab the employer’s attention quickly. Don’t “dump” data.
Complete Your Profile
• Complete 100% of Your Profile
• Put yourself in the position of a recruiter
• Complete profile vs. incomplete
• Complete profile = complete employee
• Don’t be overly detailed. Must be complete, but scanable. Link to your resume if necessary.
• Don’t skip the profile picture
• Why?
Keep 100% Professionally Relevant
Join at Least Three Groups
• Keyword search will find groups with the name in the title AND other relevant groups
• Some groups are very beneficial and meet in person periodically
• Some are simply to share information, and show interest and association on your profile
Get Recommended
• Most powerful tool for building credibility
• Shoot for 1+ recommendations for each position
• Give the person you’re asking 3 points to highlight
• Increases the likelihood that they will follow through
• Prevents an unusable recommendation and wasted time
Additional & Personal Information
• Use your best judgment
• Leaving this section blank is OK
• “Professional & Relevant” still apply to this section
• LinkedIn is NOT Facebook
New Feature: “Add a Section”
• These will be displayed much lower on your profile
• They are redundant to your summary and specialties
• Don’t spend much time on these at this point
Add All Relevant, Professional Connections
• The QUALITY of your network is more important than the QUANTITY
• Add anyone who you have connected with in a professional setting
• Do not accept requests from people you don’t know
• Don’t worry about having the most connections
Be Proactive
• Follow your target organizations
• Find secondary connections from your target companies
• Get introductions
• Be bold and reach out to people
• Worst case scenario = no
Don’t Freak Out.
• Start slow & take one step at a time
• Have a mentor review your profile
• Find this presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/rlewis1686
One Last Thing
Questions?
Sources
• http://bradwhitt.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/My-Name-Is-Irrelevant.png
•http://hd-wallpaper.org/70__Baby_with_Laptop.htm
•http://www.personaltrainingbusinessschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/bigstock_Business_Introduction_1987735.jpg
•http://nmips.com/images/Rejected%20Image.png
•http://www.mikefraidenburg.com/images/Biting%20computer.jpg
• www.linkedin.com
• www.facebook.com
•http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/41700/41725/FC_NotEqual_41725_lg.gif
•http://easy-cashforever.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/steps1.jpg
•http://under30ceo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/networking.jpg