A few weeks ago I had a conversation with Kevin O’Connell about how to network online. When it comes to logging on and getting yourself out there, it can be difficult to come up with the perfect message to kick off communication. This week we talk about how to up your LinkedIn game so you can showcase your skills and professional capabilities. If you’re wondering what your LinkedIn profile might be missing or what exactly you should include in your connection note, keep reading!
Be Proactive
How should you be using LinkedIn? LinkedIn has so many features you can–and should–take advantage of, like job researching, sharing an achievement, or posting a professional update. Let’s start with some common mistakes students and professionals make when using LinkedIn and how you can avoid making the same ones.
“Young people have a glamourous headshot, their profile may resemble their resume in terms of bullet points, but it’s a reactive way to use LinkedIn and you need to be proactive. It's like owning a Lamborghini and never driving it. So yes you can have your LinkedIn set up and a great headshot and your resume copy and pasted but if you aren’t proactively using LinkedIn, it’s pointless,” Kevin states.
In order to really take advantage of LinkedIn and networking, you need to use LinkedIn as a resource and not just something you update every couple of months.
“Students always post the proverbial ‘I’m excited to announce I will be interning with Deloitte or Booz Allen or JP Morgan… ’ and then they don’t post anything until the next recruitment season.”
These posts end up being superficial and don’t mean anything. Instead you should follow up your announcement post with a “trail of breadcrumbs,” like achievements, events you attended, people you met, and projects you worked on. Focus on using LinkedIn as a highlight reel of your professional achievements, not just a social media tool to humble brag.
Use LinkedIn Search
LinkedIn has so many features that sometimes it can be hard to know what tool is right for what you're trying to accomplish. The LinkedIn search feature (it’s free!) can help you narrow down people who you may want to connect with.
You can search a target company and the city you currently (or want to) reside in and sift through the people who work there or have worked there. Make sure you find out who will be the best person for you to contact. You don’t want to try to connect with someone who won’t have time to speak with you. You can do the same thing with your desired industry and city if you don’t have a specific company in mind.
And for those of you who have access to a large alumni base, you can use LinkedIn search based on school. You can sort by company, location, and school to find students, faculty, and alumni who you can connect with. Using the LinkedIn search feature can be a great networking tool, just make sure you’re being thoughtful and genuine with your connections.
Twitter is another way to follow people and companies you're interested in. Twitter Lists is a tool that allows you to search for people and companies and then add them to a private list that only you can see. You can then check the list and receive updates on those key people and companies. You can also apply this to other social medias, by searching hashtags (i.e. #GWalum) and inserting your school name.
How to Write a LinkedIn Note
So, you’ve found a professional who you want to network with? Now it’s time to write the perfect message and start the conversation. Figuring out how to write that first LinkedIn message can be tricky--you don’t want to be too abrasive but you also don’t want to waste their time. It doesn’t bode well to send a LinkedIn request and then immediately bombard the person with a message asking them for a favor. Instead of sending a “copy-paste” generic message, take the time to research who you’re connecting with and send a short personal note. Kevin suggests:
“Provide one line of context of who you are, why you’re reaching out, and pose a question. And the question shouldn't be a request to grab coffee, it should be a question that tries to get them to reply back to you.”
If you start your LinkedIn connection note with an ask, it’s probably too much. Keep it short and simple, just try to get a response and start a conversation. Here are some examples of LinkedIn messages that worked:
These are both great examples for a few reasons. Both people started their message with a warm greeting and then followed up with some context about themselves and their industry. The example on the right reminds Kevin of their relationship, which is always a good idea if the person who you are connecting with may not remember meeting you. Then both messages have a distinct ending and they aren’t trying to force a favor.
Step Up Your Profile
When it comes to your profile as a whole, here are some tips that can make all the difference:
Profile picture: Even if you can’t get one taken by a pro, use your phone and a blank wall. All you really need is a neutral background, good lighting, and make sure you’re wearing work-appropriate clothing.
Custom URL: Make sure that your URL is customized to your name and doesn’t have a bunch of random letters and numbers attached. That way, when you’re adding your LinkedIn URL to your resume or business-card it looks nice and clean.
Header: Everyone has something along the lines of “Student at …” or “Intern at …” as their header. Consider changing your header to really encompass who you are and the skills you possess i.e. “Creative Problem Solver in the Marketing Industry.”
About Section: Your “About” section should play off of your header. Depending on what device your profile is being viewed on, your “About” section may cut-off, and whoever is looking will have to choose to “read more.” Make sure what you want people to know about you can be seen in the first few sentences.
Featured Work: Showcase your accomplishments in the featured work section. If you have an article, slide-deck, or project you’re proud of, link to it in this section.
For more tips, Science of People posted an article about the 15 top LinkedIn profile tips. Reworking your LinkedIn profile might not be the most exciting thing, but once your profile is complete it can give you the confidence to start networking and get out there!
Here’s a quick recap of what you should do to keep your LinkedIn polished and effective:
Be proactive, not reactive.
Use the LinkedIn search feature.
Keep your messages short, authentic, and clear.
Make sure your profile is up-to-date and genuine.
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