This document provides an overview of the professional social media site LinkedIn and how to create and optimize a LinkedIn profile. It discusses setting up a complete profile with a professional photo and recommendations, engaging with groups, connecting with contacts, maintaining those connections, using LinkedIn for job searching, answering and asking questions, and researching companies. The document concludes by providing Career Services contact information for employers, students, and any questions about the presentation.

1. Getting ‘LinkedIn’Online Networking Workshop

2. About LinkedIn “Throughout 2008, social networking sites and blogs saw more time spent by users than personal e-mail.” - Nielsen Online Founded in 2003 – professional social mediaMembers from over 200 countriesExecutives from every Fortune 500 company have profilesOver 400,000 groups LinkedIn has a network of over 52 MILLION professionalsLinkedIn profiles are often one of the first searches in a Google search

3. Your ProfileAllows you to maintain and separate ‘work life’ & ‘personal life’A complete profile is 40X more likely to be seenNever include anything you wouldn’t want printed on the cover of the New York TimesTell your story – 1st impressions are criticalHave a strong ‘title’ and summaryInclude keywords/specialtiesEnsure you have a professional photo

4. Your ProfileInclude volunteer and other activitiesKeep your profile current!Obtain recommendations (1/position held)Claim your LinkedIn url – add a ‘public profile’Create your profile in additional languages if applicableInclude website links to research or professional blogsUpdate your ‘Opportunity Preferences’

5. Groups, Applications, Blogs, Articles…Applications allow you to post portions of blog posts you’ve written to your pageAmazon reading lists allow visitors to review your current interestsAdd presentations via slide shareSole purpose of these items is to connect with and assist one anotherGroups provide more connections & discussion; campus alumni groups are especially popular!

6. More about GroupsGroups have sections for Discussions, Job Postings, Event Announcements, News Dissemination, and moreProvide additional communication vehicle to membersEnable further research on group members and help build brandUpdate settings to receive digests, etc.

7. Making ConnectionsJoin groups that are related to your field, your university, etc. Connect with people you already know – family, friends, family friends, professors, former classmates, colleagues, alumni/aeWatch the connections your links make…chances are, you know them as well (but don’t spam!!)Do be careful about who you add as connectionsIntroductions can be difficult if you don’t actually know someone or have a ‘relationship’ with them

8. Creating ConnectionsDetermine what information you are seekingPrepare list of questions and introductory emailInclude Illinois connection!Find out more about your potential connection and review his/her profileIf someone ‘introduces’ you, copy them on emailsRequest advice/guidance-not jobs/donations/etc.Trends in their industryGeneral feedback or informationRecommendations of others with whom to connect

9. Maintaining ConnectionsRequest (& give) recommendationsIllustrate achievementsProject credibilityNever share others’ personal information with colleagues unless you have permission to do soAsk for telephone connection: 15-20 minutesAlways follow-up with thank you emails/notes!Keep your contacts/connections informed

10. Job Search FeatureUtilize the ‘Find a Job’ feature to search for actual positionsJoin groups and check out their ‘Jobs’ tabsWhen you join groups, sign up to receive the ‘feed’Students graduating this year can get a free premium account (http://grads.linkedin.com/)

11. Finding/Giving ‘Answers’‘Answer’ questions as applicable – if you get a ‘good answer’ mark, you are seen as an expertPost questions that you may have, but remember that millions of people have access to what you writeWrite answers/questions in Word and use spell- and grammar-check and then cut & paste into LinkedIn

12. Researching CompaniesFind information on companies in a specific geographic locationLook for related companies and ‘popular’ profilesReview ‘before’ and ‘after’ career pathsRead ‘News’ about the companyCheck out a company’s ‘new hires’

13. Career Services CouncilFor Employers:http://www.hireillini.illinois.edu/For Students:http://www.careerservices.illinois.edu/For questions about this presentation, please contact Patricia Simpson: plblum@illinois.eduorKatie Flint: kflint2@illinois.edu