How to use Linkedin and make it work for you

by Donna SweidanFive O’Clock Club Coach & Job Search Strategist

Careerfolk, LLC

What is Linkedin• Staying informed about your

contacts and industry• Finding the people & knowledge you

need to achieve your goals? • Creating and controlling your online

professional identity, presence and build your brand

The Five O’Clock Club Key Tenets

“Networking and direct contact are the two most effective ways to generate interviews”

Linkedin: The antidote to networking

and the answer to makingdirect contact!

The Buzz• MySpace, Facebook… now it’s Linkedin. What

is all the fuss?

• Social networking vs. Professional / Business networking

• Making friends & building your social network vs. Building your professional network for business and career development

• If you cannot be googled, “You do not exist”

• Keyword = Building your Social Capital

The Facts• There are over 38 million people on Linkedin

• People with more than 20 connections are 34 times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five

• All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in Linkedin; 499 are represented by director-level and above

• Used by over 900,000 recruiters, and over 45% use it exclusively to source candidates

The StatsAccording to Execunet 2009 Market Intelligence report:

• Nearly 86% of recruiters say their firms use Internet search engines to uncover information about potential candidates.

• Approximately 44% of executive recruiters claim: Dropped candidate from consideration due to information they learned about the candidate after Googling them. — Up nearly 10 percentage points from 2 years ago.

• Negative information about you that is on the web can be detrimental to your career health.

• Using Linkedin effectively is part of your damage control strategy.

Building your network: Through Direct Contact

Research:People/ companies/ interview

preparation

Business DevelopmentCollaborators/ Venture Capital

Personal BrandingManaging your online

presence

Promotion: Enhancing your online

visibility

Job-hunting: Active & Passive

Consultant:Always be seen as an expert in your field

6 Degrees of Separation

• Networking and making direct contact with other professionals is fundamental to the growth of your career

• Linkedin is founded upon the notion that we are all connected by a finite degree of separation

• Six degrees of separation: Kevin Bacon

• Using a system like Linkedin to measure the breadth and depth of your network, and to grow it can be very valuable

Linkedin Checklist 1.Make the most of your profile: Control

your brand

2.Making connections3. Increase your visibility online4.Be seen as an expert: This is not a time to

be modest!

5.Search Companies, not jobs

6. Join Groups: The Five O’clock club and others

7. Privacy Settings and other issues

8. Get Active, Beyond your Computer

1. Building your profile• It’s not just an online resume• Opportunity to present & market your

skills and expertise to the world

• Just like a resume, keywords are critical

• A successful profile should include: • A professional headline

• Your value proposition

• Key skills and expertise

• Recommendations

• A customized profile URL

A fully public profile

2. Building your Network• What is your connection strategy (“Promiscuous”

vs Conservative)

• Numbers count: Look at the statistics (from 557 gives me accessibility to over 4 Million professionals)

• But Quality outweighs Quantity for networking purposes

• Warm connections (Friends, family, business associates, colleagues, people you meet in your daily life)

• Networking: Getting introduced, asking to connect to the “right” people

• Essential LI Etiquette: Make it personal, be specific, and be professional!

3. Increase your online visibility strategy

• Go Global: Connect with people in your industry or profession

• Connect with a few “Super-Connectors”

• Take time to seek out knowledge experts and decision-makers in companies of interest. Ask questions, engage in ‘Knowledge-Powered Networking’

• Upgraded Accounts: Basic vs Pro

• Updating your status regularly

• Pay-it-forward: Give recommendations

Your Network

Your Online Presence

4. Be Seen as an Expert

• Share your knowledge & expertise

• Ask for recommendations (Recruiters want to see at least 3, and not only reciprocal; be strategic)

• ACTIVELY Participate in the

• Answers Section

• Groups discussion boards

5. Search Companies, Not Jobs

• Linkedin is HUGE database of information

• Use Advanced Search Mechanism always

• Experiment with diverse keywords, skill sets, job titles, industries, location, company size

6. Join 50 Groups • Professional Affiliations (Local, National Chapter, of

Project Managers Institute)

• Affinity groups (Indian Ex-pats, GLBT, Working Moms)

• General Networking Groups (Five O’Clock Club )

• Alumni Groups (High School - Graduate School)

• Local Community Groups (Metro Writers Community)

• General Interest Groups (I’d rather be swimming)

Benefits of being in groups

• You can contact ANYBODY for free!

• Great way to learn about a new career

• Expand your network where you have no connections

• Learn about important events

• Receive insider job information & other news!

7. Privacy Issues

• All controllable via ACCOUNTS & SETTINGS

• You can control who views your information?

• Only your network vs anyone

• No one has access to your email or any other contact information, unless you make it available on your profile

• Linkedin is Your “Lever”• Since Linkedin is all about being

“connected” – you CAN find almost anyone you want to connect with.... and ANYONE can FIND YOU!

“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” –Archimedes

Leverage the World

Still have questions about using

Linkedin? You’re on Linkedin, been to the introductory class, set up your profile, but still have questions. Join our weekly Linkedin Q & A Session. In this small group session, I provide a general review of your profile as well as address your questions, fears or confusion. You will also learn from the feedback presented to others, or see what other professionals are doing to enhance their online presence.

Discussion will include how to further incorporate Linkedin in your job search. Claim your spot now! http://www.careerfolk.com/

KNOW A GROUP THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM LEARNING MORE ABOUT USING LINKEDIN AND BUILDING ONLINE

PRESENCE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

For follow up Interactive Q & A Session, 1-1 Linkedin Consultation or general Career Coaching, call Donna or go to

www.careerfolk.com

Donna Sweidan, MCC LMHCCareerfolk, LLC

Donna@careerfolk.com203. 613 1049/ 203. 276 9604

Connect with me on linkedin, but please tell me who you are, and why I should connect with you. Thank you!

Networking is a process not an outcome!