LinkedIn is one of the most useful platforms for experienced and amateur professionals. One who is venturing out into the professional space for the first time might find the use of job sites and applications a bit difficult, but LinkedIn is popular because of its easy-to-use features and “social media-like” layout that makes it much more attractive and interactive.
Launched in 2003, LinkedIn now provides opportunities for everyone in every field. But some users of LinkedIn tend to underuse the features that the application has. There are several sections that, if filled out, will give users a better chance of being noticed. Now for beginners, how do you make the best use of LinkedIn? Read along
Create A Complete Profile
Making a complete profile on LinkedIn is one of the most important tasks for any user. People should be able to tell who you are with a single glance. Add a suitable summary of yourself in which you tell your story in 2000 characters. Apart from that, mention which industry you work in, and you may probably add your location as well (that is optional).
Give information about your work experience, the current position you hold, your education, your interests, and other things like awards and honors or club activities.
Remember that a complete profile on LinkedIn has 20 times more visibility than an incomplete profile. Also, you can keep your profile public instead of private, as this will allow you to get discovered by any searches made over the search engines, and people beyond your network can also view your profile.
Make Connections
Do not shy away from making unknown connections on LinkedIn. In the professional world, connections and referrals are very, very important. They have an edge over the others. Start with your known ones first. Send them a connection request, and then go on to connect with their mutuals. In this way, you will get the latest updates from everywhere.
You can also chat personally on LinkedIn. As a result, you may proceed to ask someone, formally, of course, about their work and other specifics about their work-life balance. Ask if there is any opportunity in their respective organizations. When it comes to networking, always be proactive.
Engage
Engage with your LinkedIn connections. Share your thoughts and opinions on any posts they make, and also create engaging content for your profile. Try to make your posts creative, relevant, and useful so that people can use them and engage with them.
You can also record a video and post it over the platform with the option of “audio off,” where there will be no sound added to the video if you don’t want it. You may use the filters and stickers in the application to make your videos more catchy and attractive.
LinkedIn also has a feature called “Publishing Platform,” which additionally enables you to publish whole articles. These articles are displayed on your profile. These articles are shareable by other users and might get displayed in search engine results, but any unique content you submit remains your own. This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your industry knowledge.
Another platform for presenting quality content is SlideShare. It’s integrated with LinkedIn and lets you share slideshows and visuals.
Join Different Groups
Joining different groups on LinkedIn will enrich you in a variety of ways. By joining them, you can take part in different discussions, activities, and ideas. This is a great way to build your professional network.
At the search bar in LinkedIn, you may search for your choice of groups by using different filters. If some group interests you, join them. After the admin’s approval, when you join the group, you can ask questions, join group conversations, and contact other members.
LinkedIn groups may be a great place to get knowledge, thoughts, and support. Communicate your expertise with those in your organization, and they will most likely reciprocate. However, do not over-promote yourself. There is always a set of etiquette in groups; therefore, if something of yours is found objectionable in the group interactions.
Endorse And Recommend
You can provide recommendations and endorsements for people in their profiles on LinkedIn, and people can do the same. Recommendations and endorsements are nothing but an acknowledgment of your professional abilities. They are personal testimonials that can help you get noticed better.
You can ask a handful of people, maybe five to eight, with whom you have shared work experience, to write for you.
Instead of making generalized remarks, ask them to emphasize specific characteristics or accomplishments that have intrigued them.
Endorsements are simple messages that indicate you have specific expertise. They may not have the same impact as tailored recommendations, but if a connection promotes you for your managerial skills, for instance, it can assist you in standing out.
Find Jobs And Opportunities
LinkedIn is a great place to find jobs, regardless of where you are located. You can find new career prospects by browsing for roles by job title, keyword, or location using the “Jobs” icon in the top menu of your site. In the “location” option, you can also select remote locations.
Furthermore, LinkedIn’s capabilities allow you to search for jobs based on level of expertise, pay needs, and region. You may also do a customized LinkedIn search and set up notifications for new jobs to help you apply more quickly.
