I presented LinkedIn Job Search Basics to the Network to Success Job Club sponsored by the McHenry County Workforce Network.

1. Job Search Basics
brought to you by
Bruce A. Bennett
Career Coach Corner
September 27, 2017 1

2. Your LinkedIn Profile
2

3. Your LinkedIn Profile
3

4. LinkedIn Profile Settings
4

5. LinkedIn Profile Settings
Add a second email address to insure
continued access
A phone number adds another layer of
protection and security
5

6. LinkedIn Profile Settings
Many privacy settings change what you
show and what can be seen by others
6

7. LinkedIn Profile Settings
Customize your URL
All your profile settings should be
viewable
7

8. YOUR LinkedIn Profile URL
www.linkedin.com/in/bruceabennett
Change the default URL for your profile
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brucebennett/16/171/493
Change the URL to your name for LinkedIn &
Google SEO
8

9. LinkedIn Profile Settings
Simple settings can impact your profile
9

10. LinkedIn Profile Photo
Use a professional photo
Passport format with headshot
Plain background
Rename photo for SEO
e.g. BruceBennettLinkedInTraining.jpg
10

11. LinkedIn Profile Photo
Name your profile picture for SEO
Locate photo on your device and rename it
11

12. LinkedIn Profile UVP
UVP - Most people have a headline that simply
states their position. But that doesn’t tell people
why they should connect with you. It doesn't tell
them how you add value, and it doesn't tell them
how you can solve their company's problem.
You need to learn how to set YOURSELF apart.
You need to prove that YOU are a thought leader.
You need to show that YOU are the expert. 12

13. LinkedIn Profile UVP
Optimize Your Important SKILLS
The first word in your LinkedIn headline gets
the SEO results from LinkedIn’s search
algorithm.
Thus, it’s critical that you start your headline
with your most important SKILL.
Many members don’t understand this, so if you
do it, you will get powerful SEO results.
It matters because if you don’t come up high in
search results, then you won’t get the chance
to convince someone to click through to your
profile. 13

14. LinkedIn Profile Nuances
Include Skills in your positions and headline
 Never use the word “Searching” Or “Opportunity”
in your headline. Searching is your problem, you
want to be their solution.
 You must focus your skills on a certain company,
industry, geographic region, or on a particular
level of professional. Zeroing in on an audience
helps them say yes to you when the fit is there!
 Avoid ALL of the 2017 top ten overused buzzwords
that LinkedIn has identified.
Specialized, Leadership, Passionate,
Strategic, Experienced, Focused, Expert,
Certified, Creative, Excellent
14

15. LinkedIn Profile Summary
Summary Section Composition
• Your summary should start with email address
and contact information on the very first line
• Paragraph one should be about what you do,
your job title, and description and use skills
• Paragraph two should show how you have added
value to a previous employer tell a story (STAR)
skills
• Paragraph three tell how you will solve a
companies problems use a story (STAR) skills
Add skills to your LinkedIn Summary Section15

16. Important Activities / Elements
All Star profile with photo and experience
Headline – descriptive and accurate, not title
Summary section
Utilize Skills section
Group – discussions & participation
Companies – follow targets for changes
Jobs – create search agent
Recommendations
Activity updates
Who Viewed Your Profile?
16

17. Building Your LinkedIn Network
LinkedIn will suggest connections
17

18. Building Your LinkedIn Network
Click on blue Connect button
18

19. Building Your LinkedIn Network
Dialogue box pops up with two options
Add a customized note to person
Send a generic spam like message
19

20. Building Your LinkedIn Network
Make it personal and engaging
There is a limit of 300 characters
20

21. LinkedIn Skills
Skills are an integral element & can moved
A total of 50 can be utilized in your profile
21

22. LinkedIn Skills
LinkedIn auto populates & defines key skills
22

23. LinkedIn Skills
Endorsements add value
23

24. LinkedIn Following
Follow Influencers, Companies & Groups
24

25. LinkedIn Searching
Searching has numerous filters
25

26. LinkedIn Searching
Searching has numerous filters
26

27. LinkedIn Searching
Follow Companies to stay informed
27

28. Searching LinkedIn Groups
Use key words for searching
28

29. LinkedIn Groups
Not all Groups are created equal
Vary with members #s and activity
29

30. My LinkedIn Groups
You can join up to 100 Groups
30

31. Discovering LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn recommends Groups to you
31

32. LinkedIn Groups
Become a "SME” through group participation
Post new topic or respond to existing posts
32

33. Jobs on LinkedIn
LinkedIn will suggest jobs based on your
profile data, e.g. job titles, skills,
companies you worked, etc.
33

34. Jobs on LinkedIn
Update career interests to inform recruiters
your areas of interest & expertise
34

35. Jobs on LinkedIn
Update career interests to inform recruiters
your areas of interest & expertise.
35

36. Jobs on LinkedIn
Add industry to your career interest
Company size is another area to specify
36

37. Jobs on LinkedIn
Search for relevant jobs posted on LinkedIn
37

38. Jobs on LinkedIn
Searches can be defined for an area
Save the search for regular updates
38

39. Jobs on LinkedIn
Opt in for Daily or Weekly updates
39

40. Jobs on LinkedIn
Apply for job on company website
40

41. Jobs on LinkedIn
Apply for job on LinkedIn
41

42. Jobs on LinkedIn
Apply for job on LinkedIn
42

43. LinkedIn Recommendations
 Give and get recommendations
 Optimum 5 -10 recommendations
 Give and get endorsements
 The larger your network the more
endorsements you will have
43

44. LinkedIn Recommendations
44

45. Suggested Resource
https://www.youtube.com/user/BruceBix49
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUCfFcchw1w
45

46. Questions?
Feel free to connect on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/bruceabennett
Bruce A. Bennett
Phone: 815-302-9552
BruceABennett@comcast.net
Career Coach Corner
http://bruce73.wordpress.com/
46