So What's the deal with LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a fantastic networking tool!  You can stay in touch with your current contacts, find people you have lost touch with, join groups with common interests and backgrounds, and also use it to make contact with people you do not have a direct one-to-one relationship with.  Let's take a look at using the full power of LinkedIn. 


Getting Started with LinkedIn

1. Go to LinkedIn and set up an account.  It's free and easy to do.   
2. Start entering your work history, education, summary (bio), etc.  Some people are lazy about this and only enter their current information, but here's the problem with this; 1) LinkedIn uses your past companies and schools to match you up with possible contacts to expand your network and 2) when people look at your profile your experience looks weak - both ways you are cheating yourself and hindering your networking.  So give this the time it deserves.
3. You don't have to finish setting up your profile all at once, you can come back and finish it and continue to improve it.  So just get started and stop procrastinating!
4. Now that your profile is set up, go ahead and import your contacts from your email address books.  LinkedIn will import your contacts from Outlook, AOL, Yahoo, and Gmail and send them an invitation to connect with you.  Don't worry, you get to select which ones to invite and you can edit the invitation too. 
5. Join some groups that are of interest to you or are in industries you are interested in.  Participating groups is a great way build contacts, expand your network and learn about new industries. 
6. CONTRIBUTE - if you don't contribute it is like what happens at Jr High dances where the wallflowers are stuck to the wall waiting for someone to talk to them or dance with them.  Networking only works if you are involved and actively participate.  Don't be a wallflower, be active in the community and participate.

Also see the LinkedIn New User Starter Guide for more information and details about how to do each step.

If you aren't familiar with Linkedin, take a look at my profile.  It's a good example of what a complete profile should look like. 

Bill Grunau's LinkedIn profile, use this to get an idea of what your profile should look like when it is done.

Remember, you don't have to finish it all at once, you can come back and work on it and continue to improve.  Step 1, just get started!

LinkedIn Weekly Webinars 

• LinkedIn 101 Wednesday's at 1 PM CST.
• Job Seeker Tips, Thursday's at 1 PM CST. 

LinkedIn Learning Center - go here for more information on how to use LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Etiquette

LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool and you can use it to reach far and wide.  It's easy to get carried away and start inviting anyone and everyone into your network, and one would think... more is better.  Well, not really.  It is pointless to have people in your network that you do not know and will not actively network with you.  Here are some basic guidelines for building a solid network.

Netiquette for LinkedIn

1. Only invite people to become you "connections" (contacts) that you know well and you know will actively network with you.
2. Only accept invitations from people that you are comfortable providing a positive reccomendation for and would be happy to refer someone to.
3. Networking is a give, give, give, give, give, and then get something back relationship.  Recognize that you must participate actively and help your network if you expect to get the same in return.