Creating a Professional Profile on LinkedIn Lucy Hawkins, Careers Adviser

Learning objectives Increased understanding of how LinkedIn can be useful Practical knowledge of the key aspects of profiles within LinkedIn Increased confidence in analysing the success of a LinkedIn profile Knowledge of how to manage a profile Knowledge of where to go for further help and information.

What is LinkedIn? An online, dynamic CV A professional social network A place to save your contacts A messaging system A way to be found A database of career information A jobs board

Who’s using it? 30m students (fastest growing demographic) 93% of recruiters Successful professionals Job seekers

How could you use it? Exploring options Alumni searches Keyword searches Joining groups Reading discussions Browsing jobs Job hunting Searching for jobs An online CV Being found by recruiters Finding informational interviews Managing contacts Connecting with peers, tutors Connecting with professionals you know Adding contact details

JOB HUNTING ON

What jobs are on LinkedIn? Lots, but not everything! Costs c. £190 to post a job

Are other job hunters on there? From the US, but a good indication... c.14,000 Oxford students and researchers use it

Job hunting with searches Job category in search with keyword(s) Use filters for location, company, connections... Save (optional) or click through

Job hunting with groups In job/ discussion tabs Free to post a discussion

THE PROFILE Job hunting Searching for jobs An online CV Being found by recruiters Finding informational interviews Exploring options Alumni searches Keyword searches Joining groups Reading discussions Browsing jobs

LinkedIn profiles Analyse the profiles you see: Are they credible? What makes them credible?

Anatomy of a profile page Headline (free editable text) Your link (customisable) Picture (a good idea)

Anatomy of a profile page Summary: packed with search keywords Manage (show, hide, accept) endorsements List skills

Anatomy of a profile page Quick summary of what you did Consistent with your CV Ask for recommendations Add rich media if you have some

Anatomy of a profile page No recommendations, but good for volunteer experience Add languages

Anatomy of a profile page Add ‘Education’ first Use optional ‘courses’ feature to add details of papers. Also optional – test scores, projects, publications

Anatomy of a profile page ‘Advice’ useful (set vacation message here) Organisations and (not shown) groups can be visible evidence of interests too

Anatomy of a profile page Following relevant companies or organisations can help to evidence your interests

EDITING YOUR PROFILE

Making it yours Your online ‘brand’ Professional?Innovative? Academic? Commercially aware? Credible? Creative? Fun? Motivated? Choose 3 adjectives for you... What edits would help this come across?

Editing your profile Change contact info Drag and drop to reorder sections Change picture Customise URL Add links Change tone/ detail / add keywords

Public profiles Control whether you appear in search results and to non- connections

Settings Go through each area in privacy and settings to: Control s sent to you Control use of your data by others Control visibility of connections + lots more!

FINDING PEOPLE ON Job hunting Searching for jobs An online CV Being found by recruiters Finding informational interviews Managing contacts Connecting with peers, tutors Connecting with professionals you know Adding contact details

Finding people

Also, join the: Oxford alumni group Careers Service group Industry groups How can I find alumni?

Connecting with people If 2 nd or 3 rd degree connection, ‘get introduced’ is free Click ‘connect’, if you know them InMail – paid for message

Bespoke connecting message Make your connection feel valued Short, genuine and personal Say why you want to connect If not via profile, no prompt for this

LinkedIn Contacts (Advanced) Activate LinkedIn Contacts Add relationship notes Even on non- connections Get reminders of birthdays etc, store s.

MANAGING YOUR PROFILE

Reviewing (termly?) Set a date Check and update the content Add/edit connections, groups, contact details Manage endorsements Ask for recommendations Decide if it’s fruitful

Alternatives to LinkedIn Specific professional social networks include: For academic research For creative industries For alumni mentors – Oxford Careers Network (although many also on LinkedIn)

Further questions welcome...! Exploring options Alumni searches Keyword searches Joining groups Reading discussions Browsing jobs Job hunting Searching for jobs An online CV Being found by recruiters Finding informational interviews Managing contacts Connecting with peers, tutors Connecting with professionals you know Adding contact details

Further help Join groups for your industry Use our guide to Information Interviewingour guide to Information Interviewing Careers Appointment Careers Lounges

Quick Q&A: Followwww.facebook.com/OxfordCareers Questions: Videosyoutube.com/oxfordcareersservice