So You’re Finally on LinkedIn. Now What?

Community Manager — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:30:00 GMT

At 150 million members strong, the LinkedIn bandwagon is verging on standing-room only. But are you more of a bystander than a LinkedIn leader? Time to grab the baton and lead the charge to get your profile noticed and networked. Make the most of LinkedIn with these simple steps.

Get Going

The tips in 10 Things to Do Immediately on LinkedIn will get you up and running-stat. Start by posting a professional photo and then dive into industry appropriate groups, cultivating a wide network by participating in threads and chats. Other tips include making frequent updates and actively seeking recommendations.

Get Recommended

LinkedIn's recommendation features allows users to fully showcase their talents and abilities. According to a recent Forbes.com article Everything You Need to Know About LinkedIn Recommendations, hiring managers do actually read and consider recommendations when vetting candidates.

Best practices for LinkedIn recommendations are similar to offline ones: recommend only those whose work you truly know and when requesting your own recommendation, it's best to do it person by phone, rather than sending a generic LinkedIn request. For more, read 7 LinkedIn Recommendation Best Practices for Your Job Search.

Get Noticed

Savvy LinkedIn users understand that the platform is more than just a chance to list resume skills. In The Five Best Practices for LinkedIn Profiles: Network Ahead of Your Job Search, the author suggests using your profile to share your own expertise learn and from others. This type of organic networking will serve you well in future job hunts. Also, create a profile that showcases your "voice" and avoid dull resume-speak. Other tips include documenting your experience using multimedia, links and other options that just aren't possible with conventional resumes. Finally, read Get Noticed: 5 Steps to Writing a Perfect LinkedIn Profile for more ideas.

How do you make the most out of LinkedIn? What catches your eye or impresses you about LinkedIn profiles you've seen? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

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So You’re Finally on LinkedIn. Now What?