LinkedIn is the premier site for professional networking. It allows professionals to network in a way that sets it apart from facebook, friendster, myspace, etc. including elements such as a resume section. Additionally it allows a certain degree of separation from your private life. It also has the feature of connecting professionals that may be several degrees apart from one another through the use of an intermediary. This can be eminently useful if you find yourself needing that key introduction to forge a business relationship.
I use LinkedIn to stay current with certain industry groups, and have built a resume and acquired recommendations from various clients or employers. I now have the ability to point future clients to this resource to ensure my credentials.
In my experience, there are several keys to using LinkedIn effectively.
The first one may be the most obvious, but based on the number of profiles that I see not heeding this advice, it needs to be stated; fill out your entire profile, including a good headshot. This is building your personal brand. It needs to be clear what people are looking at, and clear what you are selling with your page. (You are selling yourself, by the way). Include all relevant positions that you have held, along with good descriptions.
The second thing that I see that needs improvement is that if you are going to extract any use from LinkedIn, then use it. It may be a very trite saying at this point, but you get what you give. This is true of LinkedIn as well. I have had very lucrative job offers due to my involvement with certain groups on LinkedIn. Also if you are using it, then let others know that you are using it; include it on your business cards, resumes, etc.
The third tip that I have for others using LinkedIn is to ensure that you keep a clear divide from your personal persona and your business persona. I see others that don't know what is appropriate for their LinkedIn vs what is appropriate for their Facebook. Maybe that political cartoon is perfect for your Facebook, but is it really a good idea to post it on a message board on a professional networking service? Probably not. Also make your Facebook locked down as possible, you don't need a business contact Google searching you and coming up with something objectionable that forces them to give a contract or job to another person. Too often these days political correctness will determine who gets the bid, not the best person for the job. Like it or not, I have seen it happen multiple times to people in my industry. Keep clear boundaries.
A few common sense tips will go a long way towards keeping you happy and hopefully employed. ;-)
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