Linkedin.com – present, active, now and forever, amen.

Russ KnightOJTjobs@gmail.co

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Overview

• The basics – Starting here• Two goals with Linkedin:

– Catching– Pitching

• Status Updates• Connecting• Groups• Answers

The Basics of LinkedIn

• LinkedIn is THE place everyone goes to find people – recruiters, hiring managers or anyone else with a problem or a question.

• Build your profile intentionally so people can find you (catching.)

• Connect with lots of people and use interactively so you can find people (pitching.)

Russ’ view of Linkedin. Notice the top nav, status update, update feed and people you may know.

Same page, just a little further down. Notice more slightly older updates and who’s viewed my profile and your Linkedin network.

Who has viewed my profile? This is who. It may say “LinkedIn member” or “Anonymous” or “Someone from the X industry from New York, NY”. I check this to see where my message is being heard.

Same place, just clicked appearances. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking; the better your profile is, the more likely you will appear. Avg = 417 over last 6 weeks.

Your First Profile Objective

• 100% Complete – LinkedIn will help you chart your progress as you move towards 100%.

• This is only the beginning, but a good first goal.

• Once you get 100%, keep updating, improving and use this tool socially.

• Never stop networking!

Profile Parts & Pieces

• Picture – Smiling, professional (that means suit-and-tied, fellas), facing the camera, well lit.

• Headline – Say what you do or can do, use keywords, 120 characters, use ‘em!– Accountant II may have been your title, but

you need to describe what you did and sell it– Accountant │Joint-interest billing │JIB │Oil &

Gas │AP Supervisor │Revenue accounting │Data analyst │Independent worker

– See? That’s 119 characters and more clear!

Profile Parts & Pieces

• Current title? Consider deleting it.– Alternatives: Actively seeking next

opportunity, immediate availability, open to new challenges, or list a key volunteer role you are filling

– Avoid: Unemployed, Retired, etc.; look forward!

• Public profile: customize it!– http://www.linkedin.com/in/knightruss– http://www.linkedin.com/pub/hans-helmerich/9/992/a44

– See the difference? Here’s how to customize:

Customize your public profile. If yours has nonsensical numbers/letters, you haven’t done it right yet. See how mine finishes with in/knightruss?

You can customize a lot here. Please “make profile visible to anyone” for name recognition, then scroll down…

Profile Parts & Pieces

• References: Two is what you need; Don’t worry about many more.– Suggest a time when…to help someone

tell a good story about you.– Write one for them first, they will be

prompted to reciprocate, which is AOK!– Don’t accept a mediocre rec; ask them

to revise.– If you don’t like the rec, don’t publish it.

I’m very thankful for the recommendations that have been written for me. My plan is to reciprocate, but not immediately.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

Overview

• The basics• Two goals with Linkedin: Now here

– Catching– Pitching

• Status Updates• Connecting• Groups• Answers

Goal #1: Catching

• Catching = building your profile to be found.• People are looking for you; help them!• Use keywords a lot: Headline, summary,

under every job, repeat important things in different ways.

• Speak to results: $, #, % throughout. • Adding a list of keywords – just to be found

on LinkedIn is a good method.• Connect with lots of people, especially

connectors: recruiters, thought-leaders well known in your industry and people with lots of connections!

A word about keywords

• Do a search for “Google keywords” and a tool will come up that may help you

• You want to differentiate!• Avoid common descriptors.• Comb through your message for “white-

noise” and cut the things that don’t really describe the value you bring.

• Would someone else say it?

10 keywords to avoid

1. Extensive experience2. Innovative3. Motivated4. Results-oriented5. Dynamic6. Proven track record7. Team player8. Fast-paced9. Problem solver10. Entrepreneurial

source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-41541186/linkedin-top-10-resume-words-to-avoid/

SAR: Speaking to results

• Tell the good things you have delivered to your employers in $, # and %.

• S + A = R– Situation – what was happening before

you got there?– Action – what did you specifically do

differently that someone else might not?– Result – what was the good result for your

employer in $, # or %, if possible?

What can we learn?

• Use keywords throughout profile.• Think about how someone would search for

someone like you?• Be sure to say the same thing lots of

different ways sales, business development, account exec, closer, cold caller, new business developer, etc.

• Tough name? Use common misspellings too Kelley, Kelly, Kellie, Kallie, etc.

• Add a string at the end of each part listing all your keywords.

• Connect with LOTS of people.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 4:12-13

Overview

• The basics• Two goals with Linkedin:

– Catching– Pitching Here now

• Status Updates• Connecting• Groups• Answers

Goal #2: Pitching

• Pitching= you are on offense, going out and finding connections & projecting.

• This is a great way to find the people you need to advance your search.

• Hiring managers, former co-workers, recruiters, influencers, connectors.

• If it’s worth filling out an application, it’s worth making a human connection so you aren’t just another resume in a stack.

• Example from Indeed to find a job, Jigsaw to find the contact, along with LinkedIn

0..

Follow the company; then look to see who you know there. I know 5 people!

Now I know who to reach out to help me get past HR to someone in the marketing department.

This is the Advanced search feature, just to the right of the search box in the upper right. See I selected company name, current and the keyword “marketing”.

Charlie C. looks like someone I would reach out to about this marketing role. Could also try Tracey.

What if we missed on LI?

• We found a couple of possibilities on LI, but what if we didn’t?

• Google.• Data.com / Jigsaw.com.• Confirm it on LinkedIn – information

is updated 1st person, not crowd sourced, so likely more accurate.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

-Joshua 1:9

Overview

• The basics• Two goals with Linkedin:

– Catching– Pitching

• Status Updates Here now• Connecting• Groups• Answers

Status updates

• Always good news; never negative!• Article about your industry, vocation,

job search or general interest.• Community or industry event.• Interact with other people’s content –

it’s SOCIAL media.• Make a point to regularly post something.

• Quote or verse that inspires you.

• Status update screen shot

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Chris, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

-2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Overview

• The basics• Two goals with Linkedin:

– Catching– Pitching

• Status Updates• Connecting Here now• Groups• Answers

Connecting

• Always customize the invite; sell them on the value in connecting with you.

• Remind them how they know you, even if you met earlier in the day.

• Offer value – give them a reason.• “Russ here from the job search ministry! I’m

searching for a position to help apply my passion for people and solve sales challenges. Might you know someone looking for that? Could we connect in case I might help you or someone you know?”

Connecting

• Example of connecting, should take several screenshots

“Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

-James 5:10-11

Overview

• The basics• Two goals with Linkedin:

– Catching– Pitching

• Status Updates• Connecting• Groups Here now• Answers

Groups

• Groups allow you to connect with lots of people quickly

• Participate and be relevant (remember, you are pitching/projecting!)

• Group categories: Industry, discipline, geography, interest, and…

• You can join 50 (or so) with free account

As a jobseeker, you are in the sales business. What other disciplines are you in? Join groups to learn about sales and other disciplines too!

This is OUR group for the job search ministries. People post ideas and jobs here.

Geographic groups are good too! Where are you searching? City, state, etc? There is a group for you there!

Industries and trade associations are another group source.

1.3MM+ groups; these are the two largest! Join a few large groups.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

-1 Peter 5:6-7

Overview

• The basics• Two goals with Linkedin:

– Catching– Pitching

• Status Updates• Connecting• Groups• Answers Here now

Answers

• This is the place where you can project what you know.

• Or ask an insightful question about your industry.

• Yes, there ARE dumb questions!• Search for your question in this area

before posting it or do research another way.

• Use some industry or discipline keywords as search terms and try this!

Answers

Summary

• Two main goals– Catching – setting up your profile to be found– Pitching – projecting so you can find people

• Lifetime investment in your network – keep using this even post-hire – never stop networking again!

• Go to LinkedIn with the posture of “How can I help or offer something good to my network today?” It will return to you!

Now, go connect!

Russ Knight drives marketing for Career Development Partners and is the co-founder of OJT @ Asbury and one of the leaders of FUMC’s Employment Transition ministry in Tulsa, OK. (918) 640-6148-c or OJTjobs@gmail.comThanks to Boe Parrish for letting me use his profile as an example and for the sunrise photos!