Make the Most of LinkedIn New Tips for 2014 Presented by Jason A. Hicks

LinkedIn: What Is It, Anyway? It’s an online community used to network with fellow professionals. It’s primarily geared toward job seekers/recruiters and those looking for online discussions among colleagues.

How Do I Make the Most of It? Develop a full, robust profile Create a valuable network Engage with the right groups

Develop a Profile More than a resume—it’s an online persona Fill out your profile completely—include a photo Think very carefully about what you put in your headline—it appears everywhere Reorder your profile so the most important details show first

Develop a Profile Consider omitting jobs that don’t serve your current career goals Take your recommendations and endorsements seriously Think like a search engine—use terms that people might be searching for Set up a unique URL and go public

Develop a Profile You can also add association memberships, honors and awards, certifications, and more Make sure to manage your settings, especially broadcasts and privacy controls Update your profile regularly to make sure it’s still meeting your needs Keep it simple—most new tools don’t provide lasting value or aren’t worth it

Create a Valuable Network The number of connections is not as important as the value of those connections Adding connections is not like trading business cards—it publicly connects you Start with current and former colleagues, and develop those relationships

Create a Valuable Network Networking through LinkedIn is helpful, but it does not replace in-person networking Everyone has their own approach to LinkedIn, and some people are more professional there than others If you aren’t networking, you’re missing the point of LinkedIn

Engage With the Right Groups Associations and industry groups are great places to start Alumni groups, especially if they’re specific to your field, can help you meet like-minded people Check out companies and other organizations you might be interested in

Engage With the Right Groups When looking for official group pages, look for ones with plenty of members Moderated groups where members are screened have more relevant conversation

Q&A ??

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