Learn about the basics for creating a professional profile and utilizing the tremendous amount of information on LinkedIn. Topics include an overview of LinkedIn and its general usage, building your network of connections, identifying LinkedIn Groups to join, and searching for individuals, companies, and jobs. Learn about creating a job search agent and the options for job applications using LinkedIn. Additionally, discover the best practices or activities for getting the most out of LinkedIn.

1. LinkedIn
Basics and Best Practices
Bruce A. Bennett
Career Coach Corner
October 27, 2023

2. 2
Introduction
Introduction
LinkedIn user since 2006
Harper College Career Stimulus Program in 2010
MCWN Volunteer since 2010
Internet Job Seeker Series & NTS Job Club from 2018
Career Coach Corner Blogger & Presenter
B² Discuss LinkedIn Podcaster

3. 3
Outline for session
Outline
Why LinkedIn?
Getting started with LinkedIn
Navigating through the LinkedIn website
Your Profile Introduction card and additional elements
Key areas to develop for being found by recruiters
Building your LinkedIn connections/network/Groups
Job Search Agent with filters & other search options
Important activities
Q & A session

4. 4
LinkedIn - What is it & Why use it?
Over 950 million professionals use LinkedIn to
network, exchange information, develop ideas,
explore opportunities and connect!
More than 90% of recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn
45 million people use LinkedIn to job search weekly
6 people are hired on LinkedIn every minute
77 job applications submitted every second
Source: https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-statistics-business

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Getting Started with LinkedIn
The basic account is free
https://www.linkedin.com/signup
Provide email & create password
Agree and Join
A detailed 30-minute video for
creating your account
http://tiny.cc/opb3vz
There are several options for an
upgraded account

6. 6
LinkedIn Account Options
This offer popped
up when I created
a test profile
Other options are
available to an
upgraded Account

7. 7
LinkedIn Account Options
You do not need
an upgraded
account but it
does provide
additional features
and benefits

8. 8
LinkedIn Account Options
An upgraded
account does
provide extra bells
and whistles
Access to LinkedIn
Learning is
included with an
upgraded account

9. 9
LinkedIn Navigation Tab - Home

10. 10
LinkedIn Navigation Tab – My Network

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LinkedIn Navigation Tab - Jobs

12. 12
LinkedIn Navigation Tab - Notifications

13. 13
LinkedIn Navigation Tab - Me

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LinkedIn Navigation - For Business

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Your View of My Introduction Card
Your LinkedIn
Profile offers
more than a 2
page resume
The red arrows
focus on the
important
elements

16. 16
Use the More
button to
reveal
additional
options
including the
Connect
option
Your View of My Introduction Card

17. 17
My Views of the Introduction Card

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LinkedIn Profile - Add Profile Sections

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LinkedIn Profile - Add Profile Sections

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LinkedIn Profile - Add Profile Sections

21. 21
LinkedIn Profile - Add Profile Sections

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Editing Your LinkedIn Profile URL

23. 23
Editing Your LinkedIn Profile URL
Click on
the blue
pencil to
delete the
computer
generated
digits &
Save

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Editing Your LinkedIn Profile URL
Use on
resume,
cover letter,
business
card, job
applications,
email
signature

25. 25
Adding a Custom Banner
Providing a custom banner enhances a profile

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Adding a Custom Banner
LinkedIn offers a
few new “custom”
banners
Use relevant image
of your profession
or brand
1600 x 400 pixels is
suggested banner
size

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Adding a Custom Banner
This is the Upload
a Photo option
that allows you
to adjust the
image to size

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Adding a Custom Banner
Use Google images to search for alternate options

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Key Areas a Recruiter Reviews
The Skills section with Endorsements
Photo - Passport format
Headline - Skills or a Unique Value Proposition
About section - Tell Me About Yourself
Work Experience (bonus points for metrics)
Your network of connections
Recommendations
20 steps to a better LinkedIn profile in 2023
Optimizing your LinkedIn Profile to Increase your
Chances of Being Sourced

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Skills & Endorsements
Two skills are displayed but you can have 50 skills
You can add a new skill by clicking the + hyperlink symbol
The skills can edited by clicking on the pencil
Add a new skill

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Strategic Guideline - Skills
Two skills are featured but you can have 50 skills
You can add a new skill by clicking the + hyperlink symbol
The skills can edited by clicking on the pencil
Add a new skill Edit your skills

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Skills & Endorsements
LinkedIn suggests
key skills based on
your profile
Click on the skill and
Save to add it to
your profile
Or type in a skill to
add it to your profile

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Skills & Endorsements
You can select the
role in which you
gained the
experience
Multiple positions
can be selected for
the skill

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Skills & Endorsements

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Skills & Endorsements
Click on the
editing pencil to
arrive at this
screen.
Two options when
clicking on the 3
dots symbol.

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Skills & Endorsements
Click on the symbol
and drag the skill to
the new position.

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Skills & Endorsements
Endorse connections to receive endorsements

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Skills & Endorsements
When you click on the
Demonstrate Skills button it
opens this page
You can Demonstrate
transferable skills by writing
or recording a response that
will be included with relevant
job applications
Take Skill Assessments is a
feature that is getting traction

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Skills & Endorsements
It is imperative to add all your skills to your profile
You might ask yourself why is this important?
This Is Why I Emphasize Skills

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Three levels of connections
Your LinkedIn Network - 1st, 2nd, or 3rd

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LinkedIn suggests many ways to build your network
People you may know from University of South Florida
Top emerging creators to follow
Pages to follow based on your activity
People you may know with similar roles
People in the Professional Training & Coaching industry
you may know
Online events for you
Groups you may be interested in
Research Individual or Company
Building Your LinkedIn Network

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People you may know with similar roles
Click on their name or photo to connect
Building Your LinkedIn Network

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Click on blue Connect button
Building Your LinkedIn Network

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Dialogue box pops up with two options
Add a note customized to the person
Send now produces a generic spam like message
Building Your LinkedIn Network

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A personal note
increases the
likely hood of a
successful
connection
Only 300
characters can be
used for the note
Building Your LinkedIn Network

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Building Your LinkedIn Network
2nd Level – Click Connect Button, Message Locked

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Building Your LinkedIn Network
2nd Level - Click Connect or Message group member

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The More button
or (3 dots)
reveal several
options
including
Connect
Building Your LinkedIn Network

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Building Your Network with Groups
Increase your
network by
joining industry
or position
related groups
e.g. business
development

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Building Your Network with Groups
Groups vary by
members and
activity
You can join up to
100 groups

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Building Your Network with Groups
https://www.linke
din.com/groups
/2835/
Recommended
regional group
for Chicagoland
area

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Building Your Network with Groups
Posts are
topical or
informational
Job posts can
be found
here too

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Building Your Network with Groups
Groups
allow for
you to
message
members
without
being
connected

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Building Your Network with Groups
Hi John,
I saw your post regarding #hiring. A number of people I come
in contact through my career coaching are looking for
opportunities. I would like to learn more about Harmer
Associates. Would you be open to a brief phone call? Let’s
connect!
Hi Andrea,
I have over a decade of experience as a Systems
Administrator at a Fortune 500 company. The position you
recently posted is a great fit with my background. Would you
have a few minutes to discuss the role in greater detail? My
resume is attached for your perusal.

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LinkedIn Job Search Agent
A job search
agent can be
created easily
You can save up
to 10 different
job searches
using different
job titles, and
many other
filtering criteria

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LinkedIn Job Search Agent
Many
filters
are
available
to obtain
specific
results

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LinkedIn Job Search Agent Filters

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LinkedIn Job Search Agent Filters
Utilize filters to target
your ideal position
& Company
New filters have been
recently added
Under 10 Applicants,
In Your Network &
Fair Chance
Employer

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Searching Other Categories
Many
filters can
be used
to fine
tune the
search
results

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Searching Other Categories

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Searching Other Categories
The filters at the end of
list can be used to
specify a Name, Job
Title and/or Company
e.g. Recruiter at
Brunswick

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Searching Other Categories
Recruiter OR talent
acquisition search

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Searching Other Categories
Recruiter OR talent
acquisition search
yields over 8.7 million
results
Adding a company or
two can provide
specific individuals

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Searching Other Categories
Recruiter OR talent
acquisition search
with two companies
added to search filters

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Searching Other Categories
Recruiter OR talent
acquisition search
with two companies
added to search filters
with a specific
location

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Your Activity
Creating a post is an easy process
Start on the Home page and click on Start a post

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Your Activity
Click on the Anyone drop-down menu
to select who receives the post

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Your Activity
Activity posting can be
articles, recognition,
etc.
Try to include an article
hyperlink, image or
video
Click on See all Activity
to view additional
content

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Your Activity
Information about the
individuals viewing
your posts
View analytics
provides information
and insights about
your posting activity

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Follow Company
A LinkedIn company page
features many details
Following a company makes it
easy to be informed
The company knows you are
Following them and/or
Interested working with them

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Follow Company
Like,
Comment or
Share to
engage with
a company

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Follow Company
Additional Job search
agents can be specific for
your target companies
You are more likely to be
viewed when liking,
commenting or sharing
their content
It demonstrates you are
engaged with the company

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Important Visibility Setting
There are three
profile viewing
options
You want to let
individuals and
companies know
that you are
looking at them

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Mobile App Feature - Name Pronunciation
LinkedIn mobile
allows you to add your
name pronunciation.
Click on your profile
settings to add name
or brief message.
Save 10 second
recording as last step.

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McHenry County Workforce Network
November Calendar of Events & Services
Personalized Job Search Assistance Services
To sign up, request the professional directly by email
Resume Critique
Mock Interview
LinkedIn Critique - See LinkedIn Checklist.xlsx

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Upcoming Webinar Events
Resumes, Cover Letters and Applying Online*
*Zoom and In-Person event in the Woodstock office
Thursday November 2, 2023 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Guide to a Winning Interview
Monday November 6, 2023 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
NTS Job Club Effective Networking in Your Career
Wednesday November 8, 2023 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
LinkedIn for Your Job Search
Monday November 13, 2023 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
LinkedIn Strategic Guidelines
Wednesday November 15, 2023 from 10:00am to 12:00pm

77. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn
Bruce A. Bennett
Mobile: 815-302-9552
Email: BABennett73@gmail.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bruceabennett
Career Coach Corner Blog: http://bruce73.wordpress.com/
https://bruce73.wordpress.com/upcoming-presentations/
Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/b-squared-linkedin