The document provides guidance on using LinkedIn as a professional networking and career management tool. It explains that LinkedIn is not just an online resume or "Facebook for professionals," but rather a tool to help manage one's career by creating an online professional profile and connecting with others. The document outlines four steps for using LinkedIn: 1) create an in-depth professional profile, 2) add relevant connections, 3) share expertise through posts and groups, and 4) find career opportunities and research companies. It emphasizes managing one's professional network and online presence as 90% of employers review candidates' online profiles.

1. LinkedIn 101
Kevin Dumcum
Employment and Community Outreach Specialist
Central Arizona Shelter Services
Revised April 2015

2. LinkedIn is not…
•Your online resume
•“Facebook for professionals”
•A race to make the most
connections
•Used only when job searching

3. LinkedIn is…
•A tool to help you manage your
career
•Your online professional profile

4. Why use LinkedIn?
• To help you manage your career
• To control your own professional profile
• To demonstrate subject-matter knowledge
• To connect with others who can help you do
your job better / advance your career
• Manage your professional network
• To give and receive recommendations and
endorsements
• To research companies and organizations

5. But really, why?
•Over 347 Million users world-wide
• Over 107 Million in the US
As of February 2015
•90% of employers review a
candidate’s online profile(s)
• 70% have based a hiring decision on what
they find, or don’t find, online

6. The power of weak connections
• LinkedIn no longer reports the
Size of Network.
• Estimated Average # of
Connections from 140 to 360
If your total
connections equal
140
And each of your
connections is
connected to
140
Then the total size
of your network is
19,600
If your total
connections equal
360
And each of your
connections is
connected to
360
Then the total size
of your network is
129,600

7. How to use LinkedIn

8. STEP 1: CREATE AN ALL-STAR PROFILE

9. Sign up for free
• Create a profile at www.linkedin.com
• Manage your Privacy Settings:

10. Create an All-Star Profile:
Header
Overwrite the title:
120 characters max
Customize
URL
Headshot

11. Create an All-Star Profile:
Summary
2,000 character limit
(approximately
450-500 words).
Tip: find “top-view”
summaries and use
a Word Cloud for
key words.

12. Create an All-Star Profile:
Experience
Include all experience
(minimum 3 previous).
Maximize the
descriptions
(1,000 character limits)

13. Create an All-Star Profile:
Skills
Select up to 50 Skills.
Default order is the
number of endorsements,
but can re-order manually.

14. Create an All-Star Profile:
Recommendations
Request
recommendations.
Give recommendations to
get recommendations.

15. Other Fields
Can also:
•Add media
•Attach publications
•Specify foreign languages
•New options added frequently

16. STEP 2: ADD CONNECTIONS

17. Who do you know:
Search your address book(s)
Tip: Always connect from the
Profile of the person with whom
you want to connect

18. Who do you know:
Search for current / former
colleagues / classmates
Tip: Always connect from the
Profile of the person with whom
you want to connect

19. Connect with people you meet
Tip: Always connect from the Profile of the
person with whom you want to connect

20. Connect with people you meet
Always personalize
the invitation to
connect.

21. Do you know any of these?
Tip: Always
connect from the
Profile of the
person with
whom you want
to connect
Shows how many common
connections

22. Four Connection Strategies
1. Don’t connect with anyone
(Non-users)
2. Connect with only those whom you
know (Rule Followers)
3. Connect with everyone (LIONs)
4. Selectively connect

23. STEP 3: SHOW YOUR EXPERTISE

24. Concentrate on driving people
to view your profile

25. Status Updates

26. Post a blog

27. Join and Participate in Groups

28. Follow, to Participate
Follow Influencers,
News, Companies…
…to get updates
on your Pulse

29. STEP 4: FIND WHAT YOU NEED

30. Search for jobs
Filter by Location,
Company Size, Industry

31. Search for connections within
companies that are hiring

32. Follow companies where you
want to work

33. How to reach out and connect
with someone you don’t know
• Search by
company
• Are you
connected
at all?

34. How to reach out and connect
with someone you don’t know
• With whom do I want to connect?
• How am I connected with them?
• What can I know about them? Mr. Wenzel worked at Liberty
Mutual Insurance from 2005
to present, with a break in
2009-2011.
Member of the Local First AZ
LinkedIn Group.
Graduated from Ohio State
University.
We have one mutual
connection.

35. How to reach out and connect
with someone you don’t know
• Options:
1. Join LinkedIn Groups to create a
commonality.
2. Send LinkedIn “Get Introduced” request to
our mutual connection.
3. Craft a carefully worded LinkedIn Connection
request, pointing out some commonalities
from their profile.
4. Go Old School – pick up the phone and call a
mutual connection and ask to be
introduced.

36. Kevin R. Dumcum
kdumcum@cassaz.org
linkedin.com/in/kevindumcum
@kevin_dumcum