Promoting Your Future with LinkedIn

Promoting Your Future

with

Carl B. Forkner, Ph.D.

CDR, USN(Ret)

www.linkedin.com/in/carlforkner/

Thank You!

Agenda

• LinkedIn Fundamentals

• Creating Your Public Profile

• Becoming an All Star on

• Growing Your Network

• Searching for People, Companies, & Jobs - Advanced Search

• Joining Groups & Associations

• Tapping into ”Hidden Job Market”

Fundamentals

• Why you should be on

2

345 Musers

4

300 Musers

3

300 Musers

5

70 Musers

1st

1.35 Busers

2015 Data

Number of ACTIVE Users

on the most popular sites

2015 Data

2

135 M (40%)

users

1st

864 M (64%)users

4

66 M (22%)users

5

36 M (51%)users

Number of DAILY Individual Users

on the most popular sites

3

110 M (35%)users

Fundamentals

Do I need to be on ?

That depends…

• Are you interested in quality recruiters and HR professionals finding you and seeing what an

asset you could be to their company or organization?

Over 90% of HIRING MANAGERSand job recruiters reviewonline information aboutjob applicants beforemaking a hiring decision.

Of those, over 70% saidthat they rejected candidatesbased on information that theyfound—or didn’t find—online.

Employers Preferred Sites?

54% of companies

use Twitter to find

talent

66% of companies use

Facebook to find talent

80% of companies use LinkedIn to find talent

93% of recruiters actively use LinkedIn to source new

employees for client companies

Recruiters vs. Job Seekers

93%

38%

66%

52% 54%

34%

Recruiters

Career-Seekers

55%

Promotes Your Personal Brand!

Your Brand begins with your image

- A professional-looking photograph.

Next, professional-looking profile layout

- Consistency = readability = likely to be read.

Branding is an integration of everything

from image

to appearances/presentation

to values and your business sense

– Creating Your Profile

• Six Critical Profile Components

– Name, Headline, Industry, & Location

– Professional Photograph

– Summary

– Current & Previous Work Experience

– Education & Skills

– Connections (50+)

When you accomplish all 6, you reach All Star status!

- The Six Essentials

Headline, Industry, & Location

• This section will appear as a default even if you turn all the other options off for public viewing. As simple as it

seems, you need to put some time and thought into it. The headline should be 10-12 words comprised of

keywords describing your most important traits preceded by strong adjectives.

– TIP: On searches, keywords in the headline are weighted three times heavier than in the rest of the profile.

– Example: Managing your Supply Chain • Supporting your Customer • Profiting your Business


A Professional Photograph

• Having a professional photograph provides insight to recruiters and hiring managers before they meet you.

A professional photograph does not have to be expensive—organizations such as Career Connectors in

the Phoenix metro area provide it as a free service to career seekers at their events. • TIP: Wear attire appropriate to the industry and position in which you plan on working.

YES NO


A Well-Written Summary

• This is the most important part of your LinkedIn profile! The Summary section provide you with 30-45 seconds

to convince the reader to continue reading your profile—that’s it. It should include 4 distinct components: a

secondary headline, your 30-second “elevator pitch,” a listing of your primary specialties, and your e-mail

address.

– TIP: Having the e-mail address at the end of the Summary makes it easy to contact you.

– NOTE: Putting your phone number in the Summary may invite marketers.

If you currently are not working

If you currently are working


Current Experience + at least Two Prior Experience Entries

• This is experience that comes right off your resume or CV. Use standard conventions for position labels and

descriptions, 1-2 lines about what your company does/did (if it is not on LinkedIn), 1-2 lines describing your

responsibilities, and 2-4 results/performance-based bullets highlighting your accomplishments in that position.

• TIP: If your company has a LinkedIn page, you don’t have to describe it—a link to their profile page appears.

• TIP: For your current experience, be sure to click “I currently work here” as the end date.

TIP: Not currently working? Remember, the heading does not say “paid” experience…

TIP: A similar format works for the “Volunteer Experience” section of your profile.


Education and Skills

• Often neglected, but simple to complete. Simply

add your education here. Do not include dates for

education that was over 20 years ago (10 years for

IT professionals). If you have been to any post-

secondary education, do not include high school.

• TIP: GPA is only for current students. If you graduated

with honors, use that block (it will take letters, too).

• You also need to select at least 5 skills for your

profile.


Connections

• You need to build to at least 50 connections to be in the top search category--*All Star* status. Start with

people you already know, select professional contacts in your field, and connect with people who influence

your field.

• TIP: Work toward 500!

• TIP: Never request connect with someone from a mobile device—it does not allow a personalized message to the

proposed connection.

Easiest people with whom to connect

Must know their e-mail address to connect

Finding the Right Companies

Select “Companies” from the “Interests” Menu Type in a Company Name or Industry

Finding the Right Companies

Matching Company Profiles

Matching Company Options

Matching Company Groups

Current Employees

Past Employees

Job Postings

Following Companies

Company News

Who You Know

Click to Follow

Company Profile Click to See Jobs

Job Postings at Target Companies

Job Postings!

Job Postings at Target Companies

Job Posting

# Applicants so far

Job Description

Requirements

Begin a Targeted Network

• Identify and send a connection request to people

in companies you targeted for your career.

Begin a Targeted Network

• Note the potential connections and what

positions they hold in the company…

1. Select contacts based on your skill set

2. Connecting with HR & Recruiters may link you into

the company better…

Recruiter

Specific Field of Focus

Introductions

• Some people on LinkedIn do not allow people not already at least a

2nd level contact to request to connect directly.

• Introductions allow your contacts to “introduce” you to another

person.

This is also good if you want to contact with a senior HR or

Hiring Manager—it is best to go through a contact you both

already know, much like having a company employee hand

your resume to the Hiring Manager or HR…

Introductions

• Search for a contact’s name

• When you open the person’s

profile, scroll down until you

see how you are connected

in the right-hand column.

YOU are Here…

Contacts who may

Introduce You

Target Contact

Become a Member of Groups

Joining groups is a good way to:

• Be active with others in your professional field

• Find additional valuable connections

• Learn of potential positions opening in your field

• Learn about the latest developments in your field

Can be professional, personal interests, or both!

Become a Member of Groups

You can use the search window to find groups

by entering keywords, interest areas,

or possible group names.

Saving Your Profile as a PDF Document

Once you have taken the time to enter all your data, there is one very important step you should take to ensure you do

not lose all your data. This function appears in the Heading Box at the very beginning of your profile.

You can save your profile, including all your recommendations, to a PDF file on your computer. This not only provides

you the opportunity to print a paper copy (in case something happens to your profile and you have to rebuild it) but also

provides you with information for your resume or CV.

comes to Facebook…sort of…

• You can use Facebook’s “Company Page” feature to create a Professional Profile that is

similar to your profile:

How to Create the Facebook Professional Page

• From your personal profile, you select Create Page from the drop-down menu

• You will select the Artist, Band or Public Figure option to create your page

• And then follow the step-by-step directions to complete your page

What next?

Get Up, Get Out, Get Going!

• The computer can only take you so far…

• Get out and take a first-hand look at your target companies

– You may be able to get a brief tour through a connection!

• Networking opportunities abound in the Phoenix Metro area!

Search for jobs

Network for jobs

Networking Opportunities

Google Search is Your Friend…


http://www.networkingphoenix.com/

http://www.networkingphoenix.com/


http://professional-networking.meetup.com/cities/us/az/phoenix/






http://www.executivesnetwork.com/

(This group is for Director-level positions and above)

http://www.executivesnetwork.com/

Career Connectors – Local Focus, National Reach

http://careerconnectors.org

3 events each month! 1st Wednesday in Phoenix

2nd Thursday in N. Scottsdale

4th Tuesday in Gilbert

Local area career fairs

Special events (like today)

Focused on YOUR opportunities for success!

Award-winning Certification Training Opportunities at

• IT Training

• Business Skills Training

• Community Workshops

• Grant & Funding Programs:

We are one of ONLY two

Fortinet Premier ATCs in the US

Promoting Your Future

with

Carl B. Forkner, Ph.D.

CDR, USN(Ret)

Director of Training & Development

www.linkedin.com/in/carlforkner/

www.dwwtc.com

Promoting Your Future with LinkedIn

Presentations & Public Speaking