Recruiters agree: LinkedIn is the place to be if you are serious about advancing your career. Yet, I still meet other professionals who don’t use LinkedIn. Most of them fall into one of three categories:
- Indifferent and inattentive (“I have a profile, but I haven’t updated it in years.”)
- Computer illiterate (“What’s LinkedIn, and how do I sign on?”)
- A little late to the party (“I’m actually looking for a job, maybe I should try it.”)
In my opinion, even these types of people could benefit from using LinkedIn actively.
A means for insights
For me, LinkedIn is a means for cooperation, exposure, visibility and finding leads. I ask connections for input when preparing presentations. I use connections to engage potential keynote speakers for seminars and events and I approach connections when I see some benefit of working together.
On LinkedIn, I can share insights with my network to transform connections into relations. Future employers can see and find me. Equally importantly, I can see and find them; I can see their posts and updates and be inspired to cooperate or even apply for an opening.
Four pointers to improve your profile
- Use a professional photo with a background that compliments your profile
- Write a headline that inspires connections to visit your profile
- Focus your introduction on who you are and what you do
- Get your key skills endorsed by your connections
Why opt out?
LinkedIn isn’t for everybody. Personally, I would opt out of LinkedIn if:
- My merits and results spoke for themselves without LinkedIn
- I was a born networker and didn’t need LinkedIn to present myself or link up with people who could help me or who might need my help
- I lacked the enthusiasm to update a LinkedIn profile. A badly maintained profile is, at best, irrelevant
I find all these reasons legitimate, but, since none of them apply to me, I’m on the bandwagon. What’s your reason for being on LinkedIn or for opting out?