10 Amazing Ways to Grow Your Network Using LinkedIn
By Alvah Parker
LinkedIn is a social network for professionals. If you
are like me you have probably been asked a number of times to
accept an invitation to join someone's LinkedIn network. I've
accepted many of those invitations and even went so far as to
create a profile for myself but I never was quite sure what the
network could be used for. Recently I decided to investigate
it. Here are some ways to use it that can prove very helpful
to you whether you are currently looking for a job or
not.
- A complete list of your connections - LinkedIn is a tool for keeping track of all your connections past and present. This will be useful when you are ready for a job search or when you need a resource to answer a question for you. As your professional network grows, it gets more difficult to remember everyone. Having one place for everyone is very helpful.
- Find a friend or colleague - The search feature allows you to find former colleagues and reconnect with them. Now you can stay informed about what others are doing and where they are located now.
- Connect to larger groups - The group feature allows you to search for groups such as college alumnae groups. Joining a group will allow you to activate new connections. In the case of a college alumnae group you can reconnect to classmates and professors from your alma mater. There are many groups and professional associations that have networks.
- Get information on a company - Considering changing companies? You can search for people who work for that company and then ask the people that work there if it is as good as it looks!
- Evaluating a job offer - Want the real scoop on the manager who will become your new boss? Find connections to employees through your own connections. LinkedIn shows you how you are connected to a specific individual. There may be someone in your network that knows the person and will introduce you. The more connections you have the greater the likelihood that someone will know the person.
- Gain visibility by displaying your expertise. Answer a question in your field and get expert status with your network. Get selected as having the best answer and it will show this in your profile.
- Find information on a new career - Interested in a new career? Find people already doing this work and connect with them through others. This is a great way to find people for informational interviews.
- Put your LinkedIn URL in your Sig file of your email. This will allow all those who receive your email to read your profile. You probably wouldn't attach your biography to every email but this link (which you can customize with your own name) is easily placed there.
- Find information on an industry - Considering changing industries? Get the scoop on that industry from people already working in it by searching for people in that industry. Contact them to ask questions. This would also useful for sales people who call on that industry.
- Ask a question - Got a burning question? Ask for advice from others by posting a question to your own network and/or the whole LinkedIn network.
If you are on LinkedIn and would like to connect with me, just
send me an invitation. Mention this newsletter so I know you are a
reader. Check out my profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/alvahparker
