AM i Linked-In?

Social media has taken the world by storm. In today's world, it is very hard to exist without social media. Some have even argued that social media has changed the way we interact with each other. That statement has even gone as far as stating that we cannot even do the basics. I used to always try and justify why I did not need social media, but unfortunately I failed every time. Before I rumble on, maybe I should try and explain what social media is. According to Google, Social Media is defined as "websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking."

The definition of social media unfortunately does not factor in one on one interaction between two humans where emotions and tone are expressed by the use of emoticons. It is therefore very important that we are very careful about the message we send to the world through the use of social media. Anyway, the social media post will be another post for another day. I should be talking about whether I am Linked-In enough.

What is LinkedIn?

According to Wikipedia, LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site mainly used for PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING. As much as it’s convenient to merge our Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram accounts into one large social networking experience, LinkedIn has a special designation: PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING. It is an opportunity for people to see a summarised version of your CV. Many graduates seem to not see the point in having a LinkedIn, but have all other social networks.

Why should I be Linked-In?

Recruiters spend a lot of money and time on LinkedIn. This is simply because it is easier than knowing on everyone's door trying to see if they have the right skills. It is even easier than posting jobs on newspapers with the hope that someone will spend some money and buy the Wednesday paper to look for that job. Recruiters these days, regardless of where they work, Agency/ corporate or even small businesses, are now able to search for candidates online anywhere in the world. We can even do that when we are on holiday, for those who have not yet learnt the art of switching off.

It is therefore very important that even as a job seeker, your presence is felt online and there are basic things one can do to ensure that. 

• Use your preferred/ known as name. Most people tend to use what I call "government names." Unfortunately if at your current company, you are known by a certain name, when someone decides to refer you to a recruiter or someone who might be looking for your skill, they might likely only know the superstar by the name of "Nkulu" and not "Nonkululekonkosi." (This is just an example.) However, abbreviated names are always debatable.
• Role: What is your role at your current employer, not what is your desired role? If you are a student, please state what you are studying. This makes is a lot easier for us recruiters to browse over profiles that have the skills we need. Please do not leave that blank. See below.
  
• Profile Picture. Just like twitter/ Facebook, no one wants to deal with a picture-less profile. In most cases, the assumption is that the profile is no longer in use or that someone started working on the profile and left it incomplete. Also, avoid using superheroes as your profile pictures on LinkedIn. We love superheroes, but this doesn't mean we should use them to represent our professional image online.
• Add content. We always say, LinkedIn is a summary of your CV. Just a name and picture, is not enough to be a hot commodity in the market. Make sure that people can easily see what your skills are, including your experience. For graduates, a simple summary of your skills will always be enough. LinkedIn has also given people the opportunity to share research articles they have worked on, rich media (videos/ pictures) that are relevant to your line of work.
• Avoid sharing useless content. More and more people use LinkedIn the same way they use Facebook or Twitter. For you to be taken seriously, avoid sharing content that adds no value to your professional network. Treat LinkedIn as your global office.
• Add connections. The rule of thumb is, always add connections in line with your career aspirations/ people that might employ you one day. 

  Facebook is challenging the commonly accepted idea that everyone in the world is connected by six degrees of separation. According to a study published by the company, the members of its user base — made up of roughly 1.4 billion people — are separated by around 3.57 connections. This is almost true for LinkedIn if your connections are aligned to your career aspirations.

• Join groups that serve your interest. There is no need to join a group that will never benefit you in the future. Most recruiters search specific groups for specific skills.
• Lastly, ensure that the email address you use on your LinkedIn account is the one you use on a daily basis. Most people use email addresses they only check once every few months. This could be the difference between getting your dream job and missing that opportunity.

With that said, the question is, are you Linked-In enough?