LINKEDIN AND YOUR JOB SEARCH

WHY USE LINKEDIN?

Joshua Waldman. [Infographic]

• 94% OF RECRUITERS USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEARCH FOR CANDIDATES

• IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PROFILE, THEY CANNOT FIND YOU!

• AN APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE PROFILE CAN HELP YOU LAND A JOB

Joshua Waldman. [Infographic]

SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE ACCOUNT AT HTTPS://WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/REG/JOIN FOLLOW A FEW SIMPLE STEPS TO CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT THEN, CLICK TO COMPLETE EACH SECTION OF YOUR PROFILE

GETTING STARTED

ADD A PHOTOSTUDIES SHOW RECRUITERS ARE 7X MORE LIKELY TO CLICK ON A

CANDIDATE'S PROFILE WHEN THEY HAVE A PICTURE!

YOUR PHOTO SHOULD: BE FROM ABOUT THE SHOULDERS UP

INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE FEATURE AN ENGAGING SMILE

BE RECENTLY TAKEN BE TAKEN IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT OR NEUTRAL BACKGROUND

YOUR PHOTO SHOULD NOT: INCLUDE ANYONE BUT YOURSELF (NO CHILDREN, PETS, FRIENDS, ETC.)

HAVE A DISTRACTING OR INAPPROPRIATE BACKGROUND (A BAR, PARTY, ETC.)

YOUR PHOTO SHOULD GIVE THE IMPRESSION YOU ARE HAPPY, CONFIDENT AND PLEASANT TO WORK

WITH!

NAME: USE FULL NAME. IF YOU HAVE A VERY COMMON NAME, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO INCLUDE YOUR MIDDLE INITIAL.

HEADLINE: YOUR HEADLINE CAN BE YOUR CURRENT TITLE. HOWEVER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE MAKING A CAREER CHANGE, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO INSTEAD USE A PHRASE DESCRIBING YOUR SKILLS RELATED TO THE FIELD OR POSITION YOU ARE LOOKING TO ENTER.

EXAMPLE, LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A LEGAL SECRETARY:Paralegal Studies Graduate | Experienced in Legal Research| Detailed Record Keeper | 5+ Years Customer Service

LOCATION: SHOULD DESCRIBE THE AREA YOU ARE LOOKING TO FIND WORK. IF YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN OR REMOTE AREA, CONSIDER USING THE NEAREST LARGER CITY.

SUMMARYTHERE ARE MANY WAYS TO APPROACH THIS SECTION. HERE ARE A FEW GENERAL TIPS:

KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL. ADDRESS YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INTERESTS, PLANS. NO REFERENCES TO CHILDREN, PETS, OTHER UNRELATED TOPICS.

KEEP IT POSITIVE. SPEAK POSITIVELY. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT, HOW MUCH YOU DISLIKED YOUR LAST JOB, OR SKILLS YOU LACK!

KEEP IT RELATIVELY SHORT. THINK OF IT AS AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR YOURSELF, NOT THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE. A FEW SHORT PARAGRAPHS SHOULD SUFFICE.

READ IT OUT LOUD. WOULD YOU SAY THIS IN FRONT OF A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER?

TIPS ON GETTING STARTED: HTTP://WWW.CAREEREALISM.COM/WRITE-LINKEDIN-SUMMARY/

EXPERIENCEYOU CAN COMPLETE THIS SECTION BY SIMPLY COPYING AND PASTING FROM YOUR

RESUME; BE SURE THAT YOUR RESUME HAS BEEN PROOF READ AND IS FREE OF ANY SPELLING AND/OR GRAMMAR ERRORS!

COURSES: ADD COURSES YOU HAVE TAKEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE RELATED TO YOUR DESIRED CAREER PATH. THESE MAY BE COURSES THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN

WITH B&S, A PREVIOUS COLLEGE, OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES & CAUSES: ADD VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS RELATED TO YOUR CAREER FIELD.

IF YOU LIKE, COMPLETE THE REMAINING FIELDS. JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUR POTENTIAL EMPLOYER MAY SEE THIS. SO, INCLUDE INFORMATION THAT YOU FEEL CREATES A POSITIVE,

PROFESSIONAL PICTURE OF YOURSELF.

SKILLS & EXPERTISE: ADD YOUR SKILLS AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE. IF YOU ARE CHANGING CAREER FIELDS, CONCENTRATE ON THE SKILLS YOU HAVE THAT WILL

ALSO BE IMPORTANT IN YOUR NEW CAREER FIELD.

YOUR “CONNECTIONS” CAN THEN “ENDORSE” YOU FOR THOSE SKILLS; MEANING THEY ARE VOUCHING FOR YOU HAVING THAT SKILL.

RECRUITERS AND HIRING MANAGERS CAN SEE THIS!

ONCE YOUR PROFILE IS COMPELTE, GET INVOLVED!

JOIN RELEVANT GROUPS: CLICK INTERESTS THEN GROUPS TO SEARCH GROUPS

GET INVOLVED!• CHOOSE GROUPS RELATED TO YOUR CAREER FIELD OR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION• PARTICIPATE: MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO GROUP DISCUSSIONS -

NETWORK!

FOLLOW COMPANIES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR : CLICK INTERESTS THEN COMPANIES TO SEARCH

• FOLLOWING COMPANIES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WILL ALLOW YOU TO SEE THE COMPANIES UPDATES, THIS OFTEN INCLUDES JOB OPENINGS!

GET INVOLVED!