1 Tech Tuesday: LinkedIn: Part 2 Set Up & Practice September 2015

Writing an effective LinkedIn Profile Guidelines Be honest. Your LinkedIn profile could be read by thousands of people. If you lie, or exaggerate, there is a good chance you will be found out. Take care with spelling and grammar. It will not look very professional if you have a profile full of spelling mistakes. Keep the content professional - you want people to take you seriously. Keep your profile updated. All the work you put in to create your profile will be wasted if you don't take the time to keep it current.

Developing your profile Go to and open an account. Click on the title ‘Profile’, then on ‘Edit Profile’ Look for edit box beside each section. Look at profile tracker which will show how complete your profile is. Goal is 100%. Remember to click ‘Save changes’ as you go along.

Profile Section The Professional headline box Create a concise, one-line description that appears directly below your name. Your headline will appear beside your name in search results, and also when you contribute to the 'Answers' section of LinkedIn. Do not use your actual job title. Use words that effectively promote who you are and what you have to offer. Have a look at other profiles to get an idea of what stands out in other people's headline descriptions.

Profile Section Photograph Move your cursor over the silhouette on the upper right side of the screen. Click on Privacy Settings and then click on Change your Photo Upload photo. Should be head shot, wear interview clothes. Consider a white or light background. Wear a genuine smile so people will have a sense of connection with you.

Profile Section Summary Purpose: To help recruiters, employers and influential contacts feel a sense of connection to you. Write in the first person and make sure you appear confident and impressive but not boastful. Show your personality. Use key words. Think like a search engine. Set out the high points of your career and explain how you have made a difference.  Make the content interesting to draw viewers in, but keep it short and concise.  Ask someone to review your summary before you make your profile public – it is often easier for others to judge the tone of your summary.

Profile Section Employment Details Fill in your employment details for your employers over the last 15 to 20 years. This will directly increase your number of possible connections, as LinkedIn will provide you with a list of other members who worked for the same employer at around the same time. Ensure your job title is understandable to people out and within your organization or sector. If it contains uncommon acronyms, spell them out. Include 1 to 2 sentences summarizing the scope of your responsibilities and 1 to 2 key accomplishments. Use action words. Use key words that employers you would like to impress are looking for in their ideal candidate.

Profile Sections Education List all elements of your education, including degrees and certifications. If a fairly new graduate, definitely include dates. Do not list routine continuing education.

Profile Section Skills LinkedIn allows you to list up to 50 skills. THINK LIKE A SEARCH ENGINE. Comb through job postings to find what skills employers you want to impress are looking for in their ideal candidate. Identify the top 10 to 15 industry-specific words your profile should be showcasing. Use different ways to say same thing Example in noting your communication skills: Interpersonal communications Customer relations Customer Service Interpersonal Leadership Customer-facing communications

Profile Section Volunteer Experience & Causes List volunteer work and organizations that you are a member of presently or in the past 5 years. Do not include a laundry list of causes. Show focus.

REFERENCES Try to get at least 2 references from individuals that have worked with you. Ask these individuals to focus on select skills/attributes that you have that are important to the employers that you are trying to impress.

Connections Invite Existing Contacts to Connect LinkedIn allows you to import your existing contacts from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook and others into the platform, so start by connecting with people you already trust. Use Discretion Accepting Invitations Leverage Your Unique Network Look at the connections of those you are connected with and selectively invite.

Removing a Connection Move your cursor over Connections at the top of your homepage and select Keep in Touch. Move your cursor over the contact you'd like to remove. Click More and select Remove from Contacts.. Click Remove to confirm. NOTE: When you remove a connection, they won't be notified. After removing a connection, any recommendations or endorsements between you and that person will be withdrawn. They will not be restored if the connection is re-established. Only the member who breaks the connection can reinitiate that connection.

Questions & Help Hover over silhouette/photo. Click on Help Center. LinkedIn support can answer most questions. OR Google your question. Lots of folks online offer good advise/solutions.