leveraging linkedin for the job search

FOR THE JOB SEARCH

Leveraging LinkedIn

WNO

Westchester Networking Organization23 February 2009

LinkedInTopic LinkedIn Resident Expert

I have all these business cards. Now what?

Navigating through the minefield

I don’t know what I don’t know

Kevin Muller on Basics

Maurene Caplan Grey on how to use

John Bobay on best practices

Tonight we’ll address…

WNO

LinkedInTopic LinkedIn Resident Expert

I have all these business cards. Now what?

Navigating through the minefield

I don’t know what I don’t know

Kevin Muller on Basics

Maurene Caplan Grey on how to use

John Bobay on best practices

Tonight we’ll address…

WNO

What is LinkedIn?

On-line business networking portal

Based upon the premise of Six Degrees of Separation However, LinkedIn uses only three degrees in its model

Can also be used as: Business e-mail address book Substitute on-line resume Professional marketing brochure Job research tool (bi-directional)… and more.

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Human-to-human networking

Sample objective To secure a job at XYZ Company

Approach Speak with friends, colleagues, WNO members, etc. Communicate your objective Discover someone with a connection to XYZ Company Connect with that person and seek information Use the information to better promote your objective

Issues May need to speak with many, many people You don’t know who they know

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Networking using LinkedIn

Sample objective To secure a job at XYZ Company

Approach Search for connections in XYZ Company Reach out to direct connections –or– Request an introduction through a connection

Advantages More efficient research You can “see” one degree further

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The power of three degrees

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Your Network Power of Three Degrees

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How do I leverage this power?

Invite colleagues to join your network Reach out to new contacts and invite them to LinkedIn network

Join the Westchester Networking Organization LinkedIn Group

WNO

LinkedInTopic LinkedIn Resident Expert

I have all these business cards. Now what?

Navigating through the minefield

I don’t know what I don’t know

Kevin Muller on Basics

Maurene Caplan Grey on how to use

John Bobay on best practices

Tonight we’ll address…

WNO

How Maurene uses LinkedIn

2004 – Employed: Gartner Contacts change jobs, new title… breath life into network

2005 – Goodbye: Gartner Built out network… add contacts Recommendation… must be honest

Who is Maurene? LinkedIn to LinkedIn jobs I’m great!

2005 – Hello: Grey Consulting Continue to add contacts… out of sight, out of mind Q&A … build mindshare

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Basic navigation

All on your home page

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Adding connections (Contacts)

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Finding connections (Contacts) #1

Akhu Cat

Akhu Cat

Akhu Cat

Akhu Cat

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Finding connections (Contacts) #2

Akhu

Akhu Cat

Allegro Cat

I send Introduction through Allegro to forward to Akhu

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Finding connections (Contacts) #3

Akhu Cat

Akhu:Allegro Akhu

Akhu

Akhu

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Account & Settings

Ask a contact for an

introduction .. Can be multiple

degrees deep

Introduction to LinkedIn

member … No shared

contacts

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Finding others with similar network is tricky

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Introductions to a targeted employer

Type company name

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The implicit “who”

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The explicit “where”

Use your LinkedIn profile URL in your email signature file, resume, business card, other network profiles …

Facebook (social feel; affinity groups)Ning (strong focus on affinity groups)Xing (business feel; LinkedIn-like stronger

presence in Europe)

LinkedInTopic LinkedIn Resident Expert

I have all these business cards. Now what?

Navigating through the minefield

I don’t know what I don’t know

Kevin Muller on Basics

Maurene Caplan Grey on how to use

John Bobay on best practices

Tonight we’ll address…

WNO

What’s the difference?

LinkedIn to keep in touchLinkedIn for sales generationLinkedIn to find people/businessesLinkedIn to expand your universeLinkedIn for recruitersLinkedIn for those in transition

Using LinkedIn for passive targets

Find a job posting online via websites, agents, etc.

If it’s a good match – apply onlineNow NETWORK the posting!

Networking goals

Learn more about the company.

Get your marketing materials (resume, cover letter, etc.) into the company another way!

Search Tips

The generic search bar on the home page doesn’t return consistent or complete results.

If you don’t find those whom you are looking for, search their names in Google. You may find that they have a LinkedIn profile.

Find company connections using Google to search LinkedIn.

LinkedIn search for CUCS

Google search for CUCS #1

Google search for CUCS #2

LinkedIn freebie

When you find a connection, leverage it to find other connections.

How to expand your LinkedIn network

Join groups

Invite friends, family, colleagues, vendors…

Use all the varieties of LinkedIn search

Use Google search – It searches all of LinkedIn

Personal notes and contact management

What makes a good network?

Quality of 1st degree connections versusQuantity of connections

You or someone in your network needs toFind target companiesFind people in target companiesGet marketing materials into targeted companies

Without a large, quality network, you are limited in achieving these goals.

Questions

How do I manage building links so as not to damage my creditability? Don’t link promiscuously.

Is there an easy way to correct past errors? Memory is a selective thing.

Can recruiters be targeted or connected via LinkedIn? Yes, but be sensitive.

Does being on LinkedIn label one as unemployed? No, not unless you tell folk.

How much time should I expect to spend on maintaining my professional presence, especially as my network grows? It depends.

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Homework

Use the WNO LinkedIn group to invite WNO members to your LinkedIn network.

Find people who have worked at your prior employer.Determine who can provide you with the best source of

information about one of your target employers and ask that person a question through LinkedIn (not through your personal email account).

Ask a question to, or answer a question from, the WNO LinkedIn group.

Ask a question to, or answer a question from, a different LinkedIn group.

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Resources

LinkedIn: Extreme Makeover (Guy Kawasaki’s before and after LinkedIn profiles)

100+ Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn (see sections on career management and job search)

LinkedIn and Job Search Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn LinkedIn Social Network Review Social Engineering Social Networking Services: A LinkedIn Example I’m on LinkedIn. Now What? At Social Site, Only the Businesslike Need Apply Unlocking LinkedIn’s Hidden Back Door Utility: Outlook LinkedIn Toolbar LinkedIn has Diluted Its Branding (shameless self-promotion) Why I Use LinkedIn (and more shameless self-promotion)

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Mega resources: linkedin.alltop.com

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Thank you

WNO

Kevin Muller

Maurene Caplan Greyaka http://www.linkedin.com/in/maurenegrey

John Bobayaka http://www.linkedin.com/in/jbobay