THE BEST LINKEDIN ADVICE. JUST A RESUME DOESN’T CUT IT

Since this is a time where many are looking for a job and are trying to harness the power of LinkedIn or are just discovering LinkedIn all together…I combed the web looking for great advice, things perhaps I may not have noticed or thought of and it produced some great tidbits.

For those that are still on the fence or skeptical…consider you phone, is it handy, necessary, convienant? Would you consider it a strategy? NO! It is a tool, social media/social networking/web 2.0 whatever you want to call it…is a tool, your strategy is how you approach it.

LinkedIn is more than a resume…

1. Complete your profile!
2. Get recommendations (is your ebay feedback important for doing business?)
3. Use keywords in your profile to be found.
4. Use a good photo
5. Make your contact information easy to find! It isn’t always obvious.
6. Join groups, but not for joining sake…get involved.
7. Ask for introductions.
8. Research companies you are interested in…do they have a high turnover or employees?
9. Make your profile public.
10. Make a custom URL. So it looks like this http://www.linkedin.com/in/leahmcchesney unless you utulize that option, it doesn’t come that way.
11. Make it a priority to meet new people=grow your contact list.
12. Q and A.
13. Bring your network offline. Take or make opportunities to meet with people in the real world.
14. Use the status updates.
15. Use the applications, such as importing your blog, presentations or reading list. Show what you know and how you think.
16. Send messages that are relevant or helpful to your contacts, keep YOU in the front of their head.
17. Upload your contacts from your email, periodically.
18. Highlight your skills, not the tasks you preformed (although tasks are important).
19. Help others with leads and introductions. They will remember that.
20. Market your expertise/passion. What do you posses that most do not.
21. Use your custom URL on your email signature.

Posting a resume is passive-get involved!

I am keeping a journal of all the oppotunities that come my way via social media, opportunities that I don’t even ask for. Don’t pass up opportunities, fish where the fish are.

If you have any linkedin advice or experiences that may benefit others, please feel free to add.