If you’ve already joined the online professional network LinkedIn, then kudos to you; you can stop reading right now! A number of successful job seekers at are-able have told us great things about the program, so for everyone who hasn’t yet dipped their toes into these digital waters, read on, and we’ll discuss how and why you’ll want to get onboard this fast-sailing ship.
What is it?
In a nutshell, LinkedIn is a professional version of Facebook, and it’s all about networking. You have a profile picture, a list of your previous workplaces and education, and instead of Facebook friends, you have LinkedIn contacts who relate to your career. You receive regular industry updates, job vacancy notifications and news snippets based on the details you provide.
Where is it?
LinkedIn has over 500 million members in 200 countries, so chances are, if you’re applying for a job, one of the people involved in the hiring process will have a LinkedIn profile, and they’ll check to see if you have one too.
Why should I join?
Networking is one of the most underrated tools to employment. If you’re not into cocktail parties, networking events or cold calling all of your personal contacts about possible jobs, then this may prove a valuable opportunity to make connections from the comfort of your home office.
Is it easy?
Setting up a basic profile is pretty straightforward. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials and online information to help you set up an account. Because this platform is all about work, it’s important to choose your profile picture with future employers in mind. Save the family shots and poolside pictures for Facebook and put your best foot forward! You can upload your email contacts and the program will connect you with the LinkedIn profiles of people you already know.
What level of detail do I need to give?
Use your resume to guide your LinkedIn profile, but don’t cut and paste all the information word for word. You’ll want to write a brief summary of your different employment experiences, several sentences at the most, as well as a short, sharp and shiny summary about you.
Any things to avoid?
One little tip is turning off the function that lets everyone in your network know when you update your profile. This feature is always on by default, but you can deactivate it in the settings/privacy/sharing profile edits part of your account.
Righto; you’ve convinced me! Where do I start?
Head to www.linkedin.com and you’ll soon be on your way to creating a page.
are-able is committed to helping job seekers find their best professional path. If you’re interested in more tips and advice on the employment industry, call us on 1800 566 066.