Things to Do With Linkedin: A List

This is how I and others I have talked to use Linkedin.com

1. Write a great profile, not the resume part below but the summary above….make it a great branding piece because people read the summary and the endorsements.

2. Get lots of endorsements (recommendations) from all your former colleagues current colleagues, etc. It’s like instant references in advance of quitting the job

3. Look up former employees of small companies and see how many people have bailed out in the past year…not a good sign

4. Contact former employees of companies you are interested in for information and leads into the company.

5. Find long lost friends, clients, colleagues, etc.

6. Ask questions that highlight your expertise in the Answers section

7. Brand every email you send with your linkedin address as you have just attached your “resume” …..what’s your boss going to say? He/she is probably on linkedin too.

8. Make sure your linkedin address like mine(linkedin.com/in/pattiwilson)  is your name and not some random assigned number.

9. Unless you are not into open networking make all the contacts you can through joining the following Yahoo groups: LIONS@yahoogroups.com, MyPowerLInkedinNetwork@yahoogroups.com

What doesn't work well with Linkedin:

1. Don’t send a request asking anyone for a job, or a referral to a job in their company. It just won’t happen…..or rarely happens.

2. If you don't make a compelling request that let’s someone know what’s in it for them to bother responding to you, they won't.

3. Don’t complain to your direct contacts because your request through them hasn’t been answered …..it’s not their problem

4. Use other social sites as well: Doostang, Viadeo, Ecademy, NIng, Konnect, Orkut, Xing, Facebook, Zoominfo, Mazur to expand your visilbity online...Linkedin isn't the end all be all.

5. Put the same profile you use on Linkedin on all sites otherwise you will confuse people

6. Linkedin is not going to get you a job but it will help

7. There is no substitute for meeting someone in real time by phone or in person to really build a relationship, but there are levels of relationships and connections….

8. I like being able to call on thousands for help in different e-groups, social networks, and virtual communities. I believe and have faith in people’s willingness to help strangers that they have a modicum of connection to and commonality with.