Social networking is very topical at the moment and the media seems to be full of how Facebook and Twitter are changing the way we communicate with our network of friends and other contacts.
One network that has gained a similar rise in profile, but in a business environment is LinkedIn.
So what is it?
LinkedIn is a free business-networking site that links professionals together in order to share business ideas and to present themselves in a business setting.
Unlike other social network sites (e.g. Facebook or MySpace) this is only aimed at business users and you have to be invited to join a network by a trusted contact, so preserving its credibility.
The site is estimated to have over 75 million members, with approx 3 million UK based, and is said to be adding around 1.5 million users per month.
Individuals create a profile in much the same layout as a basic CV and provide information about current/previous positions, specialities and contact details. This is in part why it’s such a useful tool to recruiters and a powerful way for job seekers to make their CV visible to search companies.
When connecting with people you also gain access to their connections - and the connections of those connections. LinkedIn uses the word “degree” to explain the levels of this network:
1st degree + 2nd degree + 3rd degree connections form your network.
As a result of this a network of around 800 direct connections will give you an overall network of approximately 10 million individuals. For a recruiter, this is like having access to a continually updated CV database (of passive candidates) for free.
Profile and details
Your profile on LinkedIn is your professional representation on the site and as such should represent you in an accurate and business like way.
Regard your profile as a CV or personal brand – your profile is much like an online CV and should be treated as carefully. Ensure that you have included all details, that your spelling is correct and that you have included accurate contact details. In order to be found more frequently you should aim to have 100% profile completeness.
Groups
LinkedIn has a group facility that contains professional or corporate groups that you can join in order to exchange ideas.
There are many industry specific groups and it is worth joining these to gain access to the group members. All group members become part of your network when you join a group and often jobs that are very sector specific will be posted here.
At Spindler we had an example very recently of finding a candidate for a Managing Director assignment using this technique, where a specific set of skills and industry experience was required - so it does work!
Useful Tips & Links
Daily – check for messages, invitations and introductions. Deal with these as soon as possible. Messages should be dealt with in professional fashion as you would with emails or any other form of direct contact. Check job postings or answers to questions posted.
Weekly – invite all those people you have been in contact with during the week to join your network. Update your status to let your network know what you are working on.
Monthly – check for new relevant groups, update your profile if required and look through discussion posts for useful information.
LinkedIn is without doubt an important component in any job seekers “toolkit” and looks set to grow and improve in the future.
For more details on how to join see: www.linkedin.com
