1. Optimise your career using LinkedIn.com
How to look great, get noticed and get hired through LinkedIn.com
February 2013
Charles Hardy
Strategic Recruitment Product
Consultant
2. Five reasons why the world’s best professionals
join and visit LinkedIn…
1
2 3
5
.NET
Developers
Biotech &
Pharma
Creative
Design Pros
4 1,250,000+ groups
Personal
Branding
Sharing
knowledge Finding a
new job
Networking
with peers
Innovation
2
5. Your digital profile is a reflection of who you
are, what you’ve done and what you’d like to do…
First impressions do count – and that’s now via your profile
Prospective employers, potential business connections, new
clients – all are checking you out in advance of your first meeting
Digital profiles are making the CV / resume a formality
Your on-line profile is an opportunity to tell your story the way you
want it told
Your digital profile is an asset to building your personal and
professional brand. It shows not just who you are, but how you
interact.
5
Forbes, Dec 2012
7. Firstly, you may want to deactivate your activity
broadcasts before you got to work on your profile…
7
8. OK, let’s make a Great First Impression
Just your real name
No email address here, or qualifications
Creative Headline Works Best
Don’t mistake this for your title – you can
customize this for your target audience
Add a Photo
Professional (and friendly) headshot is ideal
Click the pencil
icon to edit
9. Optimise your personal brand…
And consider your target audience
Link Your Professional Twitter Account
Customize your Website Options
Work or projects you have delivered
Role / Skill specific site
Customize Your Public Profile settings and URL
To optimize your appearance in search engine results
9
10. Your Summary – your elevator pitch
What are the most important messages?
3 Paragraphs is Ideal
– Aspiration at the top – where do you want to go?
– Couple of key facts that support you going there
– Top level on most relevant Career Experience
10
11. Your Experience
Focus on your top selling points
Highlights from current / most recent role
What are your objectives?
How fit into overall organization
What have you achieved / delivered?
11
12. Your Skills
Add your skills and expertise – and get endorsed
Add skills
Get
endorsed
12
15. Steps to a Successful Brand – The Top 10
Let’s Build a Great Profile on LinkedIn
1) Real name – no email
2) Write a headline and craft your summary for your audience
3) Include a photo – put a face with your name
4) Be aspirational – what do you want to achieve?
5) Include links to your relevant web content
6) Create a vanity URL
7) Add your work history
8) Add skills and gain endorsements
9) Get valued recommendations
10) Personalize your profile – brand not resume
15
18. Build Your Network
– expand your reach and influence
Import from your email address books
18
19. Give! Give! Give! - Update Your Status
Regularly share knowledge to your network
Latest jobs
Relevant news
and insights
Being a
person
“Charles is so on the ball! He really knows his stuff
and is great at collaborating.” 19
20. Use LinkedIn Today
Identify relevant, valuable news and share to your network
Sign up to news relevant news sites such as BBC and Forbes.
Think of your specialisms, your aspirations – niche sites.
20
21. Follow Companies you are interested in working for
Followers receive relevant updates, news, links – and jobs
Receive latest
news, articles and
jobs = share to your
network
26. Utilize Groups
Join relevant groups to position yourself as a centre of excellence in your
sector / specialism
Join Many
(up to 50)
Participate in a 2 or 3
Be highly active in 1
Groups
.NET
Developers
Biotech &
Pharma
Design
Pros
1,250,000 +
26
28. Finding the Right Group – use Skills & Expertise
28
• Size can be important – but is not
always the best indicator of
quality.
• A healthy group has frequent
discussion topics, but remains
focused on topic.
• A lot of spam or agency vacancy
posts suggest the group is badly
maintained.
Group
recommendations in
Skills & Expertise
28
29. Research companies
Prepare for interviews
Company mission, products and services
Industry and competitors
Company culture and employees’ skills
News about the company and industry
Information about the role – search for members already
holding the role / similar roles
Information about the person interviewing you
29
30. The 5 things your should do in the next 24 hours:
1. Complete and enhance your personal profile and brand
2. Add your photo – it’s harder to forget a face
3. Connect and grow your network
4. Join a relevant networking Group
5. Be an active collaborator – share, update your
status, discuss…GIVE to your network.