LinkedIn Overview Paul Szablowski Daulton West – Michelle Mason-

AGENDA Use of LinkedIn for Company Research Leverage LinkedIn Groups to heighten visablity Q & A LinkedIn Best Practice Sharing

LinkedIn Business Research 2 1 3

LinkedIn Groups

Using LinkedIn in your Job Search LinkedIn - groups By Daulton West, Jr.

Benefits of joining Check Overview, Discussions, News, Jobs, Updates, Members Network with others with common interest Get status updates on your contacts (daily LinkedIn message) Find out events others are attending (VCN / CP events, job fairs, networking) Find out groups others are joining – this is huge! Join groups with others of similar interests to “connect” / not “collect”, a wider base of contacts Start a group – share information, generate more contacts, brand awareness, possible job interviews

Groups I have joined or created Joined –about.comabout.com –Career Change CentralCareer Change Central –Career ProspectorsCareer Prospectors –IT Careers in Richmond, VAIT Careers in Richmond, VA –Job Search OnlineJob Search Online –SpinStrategySpinStrategy –Success NetworkingSuccess Networking –Virginia Career NetworkVirginia Career Network Created –Richmond Ski Club (for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts)Richmond Ski Club (for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts)

Tips – Join groups, start a discussion, answer a question, post a job / news article Take an interest in others, find a similar hobby or something in common, get to know people (Ex: Alison Doyle and I share a passion for snow skiing ) Offer your services, volunteer, follow people in your locality or industry Interact: share your knowledge, provide a tip, share what you read on the web Don’t just build a profile and wait for jobs / others to come to you, be an “active” group member, and think “what value can I add today”? If you make yourself valuable / memorable, others will want to make you a part of their network and follow you

Tips - cont’d Become a source of cutting edge information and share it with others Attend network meetings to get face-to-face time to strengthen online contacts Make yourself easy to find, remember, differentiate yourself (include phone #, ) Be a matchmaker, share contacts / information, build your network Maintain your network: staying in touch is more important than the original connection Find a way to add value, help others - comments turn into phone calls, phone calls turn into relationships

Tips - cont’d  Occasionally mention what steps you’re taking in your job search by updating your status in LinkedIn and other social media. (*You will be more effective if you offer frequent tips to help others also in job transition. Avoid a self-promoting tone and don’t SPAM people daily with a blatant “I need a job” type message)  Link your LinkedIn profile to Facebook and Twitter (use the “Holy Grail” of LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook to promote your brand and reference your LinkedIn profile)

Name Daulton West, Jr. Location Richmond, Va Web Bio Webmaster / Social media champion / Twitter enthusiast / Music Trivia Savant - Call me when you can't remember the song / singer / lyrics - I can help 124 Following 201 Followers Facebook Twitter