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Getting started with LinkedIn

The first step is determining whether you want to use a social or professional networking site. Professional networking sites like LinkedIn enable networks to stay in touch with individuals, and view their professional experiences, regardless of employer. This is particularly useful if there is high job turnover within a network.

LinkedIn:
  1. Set up an account on LinkedIn.com. Be sure to complete the ‘Experience and Industry’ and ‘Education’ profiles. As LinkedIn is a professional networking site, these details are important ways to find and meet colleagues. You can continue to edit your profile through the ‘My Profile’ tab once you’re signed in. You can maintain public and private (accessible to contacts) profiles.
  2. Determine your privacy settings. You can allow only connections to see information about you, or you can make your profile available to the general public.
  3. Search for friends and colleagues using the ‘search’ field or ‘expand your network’ tabs (uploads your email address book). Invite them to join your network.

LinkedIn tips and tricks:
  • Actively invite new contacts to connect. Mention where you’ve met in your invitation.
  • Use ‘advanced search’ feature to search by industry, keyword, job title and more. See who’s doing what in your field.
  • Import your Yahoo, Gmail or Outlook contacts to see who’s on LinkedIn (under ‘my contacts’).
  • Claim your name as your URL (go to “edit my public profile”). This is a great way to boost your Google rating.
  • Get information about potential employees or employers through the “one-click reference” feature. Build bridges.
  • Promote causes through LinkedIn for Good.