5 Things to Remember When You Log in to LinkedIn

There’s an overused saying in the employment industry:

“It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

While this certainly isn’t always true, networking has and always will be a vital tool in the search for your next career step. Before the millennium, networking events and business cards were the fashion. Now, thanks to the internet, you can network from the comfort of your armchair, sofa, or even toilet. Although preferably not that one.

You might have begrudgingly signed up to LinkedIn, and you might even have started to put some information onto your profile. We want to point out the benefits, and furthermore, give you some tips that you may find helpful when navigating the tricky world of digital networking.

Just like almost all other social media platforms, LinkedIn allows its users to:

But while you might have connected with friends and family, it’s essential to present your LinkedIn page professionally.

Think of Facebook as a busy bar with your friends. It’s less formal and more private. There you can share funny videos and share personal photographs.

Treat LinkedIn as a networking event. Useful for making connections and building your career up, it’s also great for talking to people in positions of power.

Whether it’s Tinder or Twitter, empty social media profiles stand out for all the wrong reasons. On LinkedIn, potential employers and recruiters are going to want to see things such as:

By making sure each part of your profile is appropriately, professionally filled in, you’ll increase your chances of advancing your career drastically.

They say that in life if you don’t ask, you won’t get. When it comes to professional feedback, that’s certainly the case.

Most people overlook the recommendation feature on the platform, but it’s a vital one. Potential employers and future colleagues will want to see that you can be both a positive member of the team and a valuable person to have around the workplace.

To get the ball rolling, consider recommending to a previous work colleague whose performance stood out.

While it’s great to give recommendations, make sure that they’re entirely accurate and you’re selective with who you give them to. After all, you’re giving them your seal of approval.

LinkedIn is a fantastic way of identifying your next career step. Want to know how to ace that dream-job interview? Click here to find out.

You might want to connect with a vast number of users and cast your net wide. Furthermore, you might see them all as connections benefit connections you in the future.

There’s no harm in asking them to connect, however, how you do it is something to consider.

Below is a real message that this author received on the platform:

This connection invitation comes across as a little impersonal. A mass-template invite can suggest a lack of understanding and even laziness. While this might not be the case in the above example, that vital connection might not respond positively to a copy and pasted message.

LinkedIn’s usefulness is recognised by those both at the bottom and top of a company’s promotion ladder. It’s a great tool to talk directly those in charge, and a straightforward way of getting in touch with members of staff that are most relevant to your occupation.

Don’t be afraid to send a tailor-made connection invitation. What’s the worst that can happen?

Below are several top names that we found on the platform:

While every company has its own recruitment process and standards of fairness, it never hurts to have a connection with someone in the company, no matter how senior. So, get out there, build your profile effectively, and get connecting. You never know what opportunities you might find.

To connect with other opportunities, see our extensive course list. Some of them may surprise you: