1. Making the Most of
LinkedIn
Samara Reynolds, M.Ed.
Director of Government & Alternative Careers, UNC School of Law
Past President, NC Career Development Association
Associate Editor, Career Convergence, National Career Development Assoc.
2014 NCCPA Conference – NCSU – Raleigh, NC
2. Introduction
• What is LinkedIn?
• Ways to use LinkedIn:
• Virtual Rolodex
• Career Exploration
• Professional Communication (new and sustained)
• Online Resume, References, Portfolio
• Building Your Brand
• My experience with LinkedIn (2009-2014)
3. Boosting Your LinkedIn ROI
Besides adding new contacts, checking your inbox and newsfeed,
and updating your status regularly…
1. Upgrade Your Headline
2. Write a Stand-Out Summary
3. Be Easy to Endorse
4. Seek and Provide Recommendations
5. Share Contact Info and Be Searchable
4. Boosting Your LinkedIn ROI
Besides adding new contacts, checking your inbox and newsfeed,
and updating your status regularly…
6. Join Relevant Groups
7. Check Out Who Viewed + People Also Viewed
8. Conduct an Advanced People Search + Personalize Outreach
9. Follow Schools and Companies
10. Search for Jobs
5. Upgrade Your Headline
• Good:
Sharon Smith
Assistant Director, NC State University
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina · Higher Education
• Better:
James Jones
Career Coach & Relationship Builder
Atlanta, Georgia · Higher Education
• Best:
Dara Dean
Student Success & Retention Leader | Consultant | Life-Long Learner
Chicago, Illinois · Higher Education
Current Title
Transferable Role
Expertise + Personality
6. Write a Stand-Out Summary
• First thing anyone sees
• Direct, confident, detailed
• Who you are + who/where you want to be
• Use bullets, small paragraphs, etc. to keep it readable
7. Be Easy to Endorse
• List a lot of skills! And keep them general
• Use job descriptions as your guide
• Endorse other people (and they will reciprocate)
8. Seek and Provide Recommendations
• Praise that stays/free publicity
• Connected to specific roles
10. Share Contact Info & Be Searchable
• Always include your [personal] email
• Customize your Public Profile URL
11. Share Contact Info & Be Searchable
• Make public profile visible to everyone,
including what you are
“interested in,”
e.g., job opportunities
12. Join Relevant Groups
• Groups confirm your interests
• Connect you to ideas, resources, and opportunities
• Make more people/connections available to you
• Receive email alerts (or not -- customizable)
• Alumni +
13. Check Out Who Viewed + Also Viewed
• Potential connections
• What you are likely standing out for
(and is it what you want?)
• Networking and job search clues
• Sneaky candidate strategy
14. Conduct an Advanced People
Search + Personalize Outreach
• Find people and ideas for positions + organizations
• Search by Company (current or past), School
(undergrad and grad), Location, and more
15. Conduct an Advanced People
Search + Personalize Outreach
• Personalize your
Connect messages!!!!
• Open their profile FIRST,
in order to edit
• Write like a mini email
• Tell them why you are
reaching out
• Make a specific request
if you have one
17. Search for Jobs
• Search for openings
• Save interesting postings and create “saved searches”
• Receive email alerts
• Apply through
LinkedIn
• Post jobs
18. Moving Forward
• LinkedIn should INSPIRE, ENHANCE, and/or BUILD
OFF OF in-person connections
• Connect to past and present coworkers, personal
contacts, organization members – YOU NEVER
KNOW WHO THEY KNOW!
• Connect with individuals you meet at NCCPA or
other conferences/events, and those you’d like to
meet (to set up a conversation)
19. Moving Forward
• Connect after an informational interview or job
interview
• It’s never too early or late to use LinkedIn more,
better, or differently to help you move towards
your goals!
