HOW TO UTILIZE LINKEDIN FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. Launched in 2003, LinkedIn is ideal for building career and business connections.
It is important to establish a social network as a professional or job seeker. Social networking is about building relationships and LinkedIn connects millions of people representing a vast range of backgrounds, talents, connections, and experiences. Here are tips on how to utilize LinkedIn for career development.
Create a Compelling LinkedIn Profile
To develop a powerful LinkedIn profile, you need to target the audience that you are hoping to reach with your profile. Add a good-quality photo of yourself, preferably one taken by a professional photographer. When employers do a search, they only see your photo and headline, it’s critical that these two elements project your professional image to your best advantage.
Write a Good Profile Summary
Write a concise summary of who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer. Your LinkedIn profile summary is a chance to put your best foot forward, especially if you are interested in new job opportunities. It is important to make the most of this section. Include expertise, experience, achievements, awards, interests, and some personality to make others want to reach out to you. View other profiles in your industry and see what style of writing, either formal or casual, is more prevalent.
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Contact and Connect With Other LinkedIn Users
LinkedIn enables you to network with people and professional organizations in your industry. This is a great way to stay up to date with the latest developments and to share information with others in your field. When you make a new connection, you gain access not only to that person’s profile but to their publicly available connections too. These become your “second-degree connections” and opens up even more networking opportunities.
Outline your Experience
The experience section is a mini resume which should not be too long. This section should include the name of the company, company description (if it is not a well-known company), job title, a brief overview of responsibilities, and any quantifiable achievements. Include any honors, awards, or promotions.
Recommendations
Recommendations are a great way to make your LinkedIn profile stand out. Positive recommendations written by previous employers, clients, or colleagues can show a hiring manager what kind of employee you are and what your strengths are. If you are changing careers, find someone who has seen you perform some of the skills required in your new profession.
Observe Professional Etiquette on LinkedIn
Create Engaging Content Especially for LinkedIn
LinkedIn allows people to publish full articles, via its publishing platform. The articles appear on your profile. They can be shared by other users, and may also appear in search engine results, but you retain the rights to any original content that you publish. This is a great way to showcase your industry expertise.
Network
All LinkedIn members can set up or join groups to discuss ideas and share industry news. This is a great way to develop your professional network. You can use the search bar at the top of your profile page to look for interesting groups to join, or you can find new groups via the ones you’ve already joined. LinkedIn groups can be a valuable source of information, ideas, and support.
