This presentation outlines strategies for optimizing a LinkedIn profile to lay the foundation for a job search. It recommends including a professional photo, compelling summary, relevant experience and honors, minimum of 5 skills, and 50+ connections. It also suggests adjusting privacy settings, following companies, expanding connections within a field, asking for recommendations, engaging with groups, and setting up job alerts. The overall goal is to become an active participant on LinkedIn to facilitate networking and opportunities.

1. CAREER SERVICES FEATURE PRESENTATION
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2. Let’s review profiles for the 7
essential elements…..
1. Professional photo
 11 x more likely to be noticed
2. Headline that tells what you have to offer
3. A compelling summary
4. Relevant jobs, courses, honors and awards
5. Education
6. Effective use of the “Skills & Expertise” section
 Minimum of 5
7. Connections
 Minimum of 50
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3. Tips:
Also, adjust your privacy & settings :
Profile – Privacy controls
◦ Turn on/off your activity broadcasts
◦ Let people know when you change your profile, make recommendations, or follow companies
◦ Note: You may want to turn this option off if you're looking for a job and don't want your
present employer to see that you're updating your profile.
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4. What’s next?
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5. Networking and laying the foundation for
your job search
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6. 5 strategies for networking and laying
the foundation for your job search
1. Choose 5-10 companies to follow – learn all
you can about them!
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7. 5 strategies for networking and laying
the foundation for your job search
2. Increase your connections using
Advanced Search
◦ Saint Leo Alumni in your field – keyword, school, location
◦ Employees at your target companies – title, company,
location (Also, find HR Manager names for correspondence)
◦ Find open networkers
◦ Join groups
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8. 5 strategies for networking and laying
the foundation for your job search
3. Ask for recommendations:
Managers, co-workers, employees, instructors
To request a recommendation:
Hover over your profile photo in the top right corner of any LinkedIn
page.
Choose “Privacy and Setting” from the drop-down menu.
Under the “Settings” header on the “Profile” tab, select “Manage Your
Recommendations”.
Click the “Ask for Recommendations” tab at the top and follow the
prompts.
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9. 5 strategies for networking and laying
the foundation for your job search
4. Become active on your own profile and in
groups
Post
Like
Share
Comment
…discussions related to
your professional interests.
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10. 5 strategies for networking and laying
the foundation for your job search
5. Create job alerts
To set up email alerts for a saved job search:
Click Jobs at the top of your homepage.
Click Advanced search below the Search button
at the top.
On the advanced search screen, enter keywords,
location, postal code, etc.
Click Search.
Click the Save search link in the top right of the search results.
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11. LinkedIn Resources
More advice on LinkedIn:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2014/05/19/ten-ways-to-use-linkedin-in-your-job-search/
http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/5-reasons-you-need-to-be-on-linkedin-even-when-you-
have-a-job
Maximum Success with LinkedIn by Dan Sherman
Saint Leo LinkedIn groups to join:
Saint Leo University Center for Online Learning Career Services
Center for Online Learning Saint Leo University Student Life
Saint Leo University Alumni Association
Questions about getting started?
Contact your career advisor: Nancy Cheek at laura.cheek@saintleo.edu Connect with me on LinkedIn!
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