Use LinkedIn for Relationships + Knowledge + Opportunities

While there is increase in the awareness about LinkedIn amongst higher education students, not everyone is clear as to how they can use LinkedIn.

Tips regarding LinkedIn profile creation and update

• Try to add and update all the sections in LinkedIn profile. The major sections include Summary, Education, Experience, Skills, Licenses & Certifications, Projects, Courses, Volunteering Experience, and Honors & Awards.
• Add a good profile photograph that clearly shows your face. The attire and background should be relevant to your profession. See profile photos of a few senior professionals in your field for reference.
• Change your LinkedIn Profile URL to eliminate those random alphabets/numbers displayed at the end, by default. For example my edited profile URL is https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/amol-randive/
• Your Headline needs to be informative yet interesting. Spend some time to figure out what suits your current state and short-term goals. Many professionals use this space to mention their designation or affiliation.
• Use Featured section to have your Resume, Portfolio, Certifications, or impactful posts at the top of your profile. You need to first post that content on LinkedIn and then mark it as Featured.
• You can update your LinkedIn profile any number of times and it is beneficial to revisit your profile periodically. Profiles that are updated, have relevant skills, and are active are made visible to more people.

LinkedIn features that many people are not aware of

• There is an option disable updates to your network while adding previous experiences or education details.
• You can share your LinkedIn profile with others either as URL of your profile or in PDF.
• There is a facility to reorder displayed skills to showcase your top three skills. By default, LinkedIn shows top skills that are endorsed by your network.
• Once you cross 500+ connections on LinkedIn, LinkedIn stops showing exact count of connections and only displays '500+ connections'.
• There is a limit on number of connection requests you can send in a day and also within a week/short span of time. It is recommended to send around 30 requests a day.
• You can write a custom message while sending a request as it increases chances of early acceptance.
• LinkedIn monitors engagement on your post within first hour to decide if that post will be shown to more people or sidelined.
• One can check the count of followers for each of the hashtags used in LinkedIn. This can help you identify right hashtags for your next post.
• Profile Summary and Recommendations possibly have the maximum impact when it comes to reputation building. It's often ignored.
• There are Groups, Events, and Newsletters on LinkedIn.

Suggestions on building relationships

1. Stay connected: Keeping in touch with your network does not mean you need to have conversation with them from time to time. Use other ways to engage with your network such as frequent posting on LinkedIn regarding happenings; personalized greetings on birthday, work anniversary, new role, achievement, etc.; and share, comment, and like their posts.
2. Position yourself: It is necessary to have a professional tone and overall presentation even if you don't have any full-time job or internship. Present yourself as a promising budding professional with who people would want to interact.
3. Be confident and optimistic: You can and should connect with senior industry professionals in your field from various geographies to get better insights, ideas, and perspectives. Don't work about age, location, skillset, experiences differences.
4. Long-term approach: Build your network for long-term and use those for short-term goals such as finding a job, getting a recommendation, discuss your concerns, etc. as and when needed. You never know who could be of help and at the same time who could benefit.
5. Personal Touch: Use other communication channels as well to strengthen your relationship with LinkedIn connects such as calls, messages, events, meetings, greetings, emails, social media, etc.

Alternate ways to gain knowledge on LinkedIn

1. Professional Network: LinkedIn allows you to connect with professionals in your industry and related fields. These connections can provide you with access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise. You can follow thought leaders, industry experts, and peers to stay updated on the latest trends and insights in your field.
2. Content Sharing: Many professionals and organizations on LinkedIn regularly share informative articles, research papers, and blog posts. By following these individuals and organizations, you can access a curated feed of relevant content that can help you acquire knowledge in your area of interest.
3. Groups and Communities: LinkedIn groups and communities are excellent places to engage in discussions, ask questions, and share knowledge with like-minded individuals. Joining relevant groups allows you to tap into the collective expertise of the group members.
4. LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn offers a learning platform called LinkedIn Learning (formerly known as Lynda.com ), which provides a wide range of online courses on topics spanning business, technology, creativity, and more. These courses are often taught by industry experts and can help you acquire new skills and knowledge.
5. Company Pages: Many companies maintain LinkedIn pages where they share updates, news, and insights related to their industry and expertise. Following these pages can keep you informed about the latest developments in your field.
6. Job Postings: Even if you're not actively job hunting, reviewing job postings on LinkedIn can help you understand the skills and qualifications that are in demand in your industry. This can guide your efforts to acquire relevant knowledge and skills.

What different growth opportunities could be there?

1. Thought Leadership: Sharing industry insights, articles, and engaging in discussions on LinkedIn can establish you as a thought leader in your field. This can attract attention from peers, potential employers, and clients, creating opportunities for speaking engagements, consulting, and collaborations.
2. Networking with mentors and peers: LinkedIn is a vast network of professionals across various industries. Building a strong network can open doors to job opportunities, mentorship, and collaboration with like-minded individuals. It's a valuable platform for connecting with people who can help advance your career.
3. Job Opportunities: LinkedIn is a primary platform for job searching and recruitment. Professionals can create detailed profiles showcasing their skills and experience, making it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to discover and reach out to them with job opportunities.
4. Company Research: Professionals can use LinkedIn to research companies they're interested in working for. This research can help you make informed decisions about job opportunities and identify organizations aligned with your career goals.
5. Lead Generation: LinkedIn is an effective platform for B2B lead generation. Entrepreneurs can use it to identify and connect with potential clients, partners, and investors. The platform's advanced search and filtering capabilities allow for precise targeting.
6. Professional Development: LinkedIn offers courses and resources that can help entrepreneurs improve their business acumen, leadership skills, and strategic thinking.

LinkedIn creates growth opportunities for professionals and entrepreneurs through networking, job opportunities, learning and development, and brand building. By leveraging the platform effectively, individuals can advance their careers and businesses can expand their reach and influence within their respective industries.