Submitted by Jordan on
It seems odd that I have to post instructions on social networking. If you're reading this, odds are you're a web developer with a fair amount of experience. And yet, people don't seem to understand what to do with LinkedIn.
What It Is
Maybe we should start by talking about what LinkedIn is and what it isn't. It's important to realize that LinkedIn is not Facebook. So, what is it?
LinkedIn is a professional network. That is, it's a social network of professional contacts. If you fill out your profile, it gives an outline of your skills, job history, and education. Businesses can have an online presence that lists their employees.
LinkedIn is a tool, and tools need a purpose. LinkedIn has several purposes:
Finding a Job
When I apply for a job, I always use LinkedIn. There are a few different things I can do:
- Figure out if I know someone who works at that company, or if I know someone who knows someone. If you know someone who knows someone, you can request an introduction. I've gotten several in-person interviews that way.
- Check to see if anyone went to the same school as you, then use the alumni connection.
- If you get an interview, read up on the person who will be interviewing you. What's their work history? Is their focus technical or managerial? If other people have endorsed their work, what have other people said about them? These are probably character traits that this person values. In the interview you can let them know that you share the same qualities.
You can also get endorsements for current and past work. The best way to do this is to give endorsements of others; your coworkers are likely to reciprocate. In certain industries, you can even upload samples of your own work, like an article in a trade journal that you wrote. Also be sure to link to relevant websites, especially if you have an online portfolio of your own work. When a prospective employer checks out your LinkedIn profile, they'll see these things.
Also, you can put the "social" back in "social network" and join a LinkedIn Group. A lot of groups have job listings. At the very least, you can ask for job advice.
Don't overlook the power of your existing networks. For example, I've been part of a large non-profit for the past 20+ years. I've invited other volunteers to connect with me on LinkedIn, because I'm happy to share my professional network with them. Same goes for former coworkers. If Bob has been hired by a better company, he might help you get a job there too. LinkedIn is the place to start.
Finally, from the "it should be obvious" department: LinkedIn has job listings. It'll even email you. Since I switch careers 18 months ago, LinkedIn has been somewhat confused, and now sends me job listings for both attorneys and web developers. But most of the job applications I've submitted in the last year have been through LinkedIn. As an added bonus, it already has all of your contact info and employment history, so filling out job apps is actually fast and easy. You can even save cover letters. (Although you shouldn't - every cover letter should be tailored to the specific job, and ideally you should do some name dropping thanks to your LinkedIn research.)
Finding an Employee
I just mentioned that LinkedIn does job listings. If I were hiring, I'd start with LinkedIn. Not only does it simplify the application workflow, but you're going to get much better information on each applicant. In addition, there doesn't seem to be a lot of spammers on LinkedIn, so you're more likely to get high quality inquiries. The last time I posted a job-related ad on Craigslist, I got a lot of nonsense. Craigslist is still a great resource, but LinkedIn is better.
Professional Networking
Networking isn't just about getting a job. I've used LinkedIn to get quality referrals to legal specialists. Several groups share industry news. I have a friend who posts news articles relevant to his legal practice.
So, LinkedIn is a fantastic tool and I use it on a regular basis. That said, there are some things it's not good at.
What It Isn't
LinkedIn isn't for your personal life. It's not the place to share bachelor party pictures or your favorite music. There's an expectation that everyone there will act professionally. If you wouldn't do it at an office function, don't do it on LinkedIn.
Most importantly: Don't befriend strangers. LinkedIn is not for meeting people. I said above that you can introduced to people through mutual contacts, but that is for the purpose of job hunting or professional referrals. It's not for "hey I see we have shared interests" or "I'd like to meet you to discuss a business proposal." It's worth noting that if you get introduced to someone through LinkedIn, you're not added to their contact list. (Frankly, the same advice goes for Facebook. Why would you add a "friend" who's not really a friend?)
This isn't just my opinion; it's in the LinkedIn User Agreement:
B. Don’t undertake the following:
[...]
Invite people you do not know to join your network
I will only befriend someone if I'd be willing to recommend them professionally. I have over 100 contacts in my LinkedIn list and I know every single one of them well enough to say how good they are in their respective professions.
You'd be surprised how many people don't get that. I've rejected a lot of connect requests because they came from strangers. People seem to think that a larger network is somehow better. I had a LinkedIn employee tell me that once I got 100 contacts, "something good would happen" professionally. I responded to that information by removing people from my contact list. 100 crappy contacts are useless. 100 quality contacts could be very powerful.
I recommend you do the same. Pare down your contact list to people you actually know well enough to recommend them professionally. Refuse new invitations unless you know them well, and don't send out invitations to others unless you know them well. Fill in your profile and work history. Join some Groups. If you use it poorly, LinkedIn is a waste of time, and honestly, how many professionals have time to waste? But used correctly, LinkedIn is a phenomenal tool - and can actually be fun.
(If you've made it this far, you may as well check out my LinkedIn profile.)