What is LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a huge database of professional profiles. Recruiters use it a lot - a lot - so it makes sense to have your profile there.
The recruiter uses the Linkedin search function to hunt for people who match her target profile. That means you have to complete your profile. You know why? Because if there's no content, the search engine won't have anything to work with.
And if the recruiter makes it to your page and it doesn't tell him much, he's going to pass you by.
Attach Your ResumeLinkedIn now allows you to upload your resume as an attachment to your profile. You should upload yours. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't complete your profile.
Use Generic Terms.
LinkedIn has a field under your name that you can use as a quick identifier. Use a job title that makes sense to everyone.
I met a guy who had the title Global Process Owner Inventory and Demand. Anybody else would call him a Director of Logistics and that's the title he should use on Linkedin no matter what they call him in Company XYZ.
You know why? Because no one's going to search a freaky name.
Connect To A Lot of People
LinkedIn is not an ordinary database. It's a database defined by your personal Linkedin network. Here's what I mean.
On Linkedin, you can send invitations to people within the system asking them to become part of your personal network. This is very important because on Linkedin you can only search people who are linked to you -- by a relationship of 1, 2 or 3 degrees.
So if you become part of my personal network, I can find you when I do a search on the LinkedIn search engine - because you're 1 degree (meaning 1 person) away from me. And if you're linked to Tammy, I can find her - because she's 2 degrees away from me. And if she's linked to Douglas, I can find him - because he's 3 degrees away from me.
But if Douglas is linked to Fred, I can't find him on a search because he is 4 degrees away. Me > 1-You > 2-Tammy > 3-Doug > 4-Fred.
So in order to be really findable I have to be within 3 degrees of people who are searching for someone like me. That means that I have to have a lot of LinkedIn connections.
Open Networkers
Now the best way to get these are by linking to people who already have a huge number of connections. Let's say I have 5,000 1st degree connections. If you link to me, they immediately become your 2nd degree connections. And their 1st level contacts become your 3rd degree connections. (So do my 2nd level connections).
Now, you have to be cautious before you ask someone for a connection because if you start getting a lot of outright rejections LinkedIn identifies you as a pest and will suspend your account. So, when you ask someone to link with you it's wise to ask them to simply Archive your request if they have no interest.
But the best thing to do is to send your invitations to open networkers. These are people who automatically accept almost all invitations they receive.
How do you find these open-networkers? Many are listed on TopLinked.com. MNHeadhunter maintains a good list of open networkers on Recruitingblogs.com.
And my own fave is Dave Mendoza. He's been an incredibly generous networker who has helped a lot of people increase their reach on LinkedIn. His email address is ldavemendoza at gmail.com
If you write to Dave or any of the other recruiters you can tell them Recruiting Animal sent you because they are known to be open networkers.
How To Invite People
You need an email address to invite someone to connect with you on Linkedin. Most people don't provide them on their LinkedIn pages but you can often find it by searching the person's name on Google.
LinkedIn also asks you to state the nature of your relationship to this person. Click on Friend. Otherwise, it will ask you for particulars.
Here are a couple How-To's on inviting people to LinkedIn: Video, Article
More Linkedin Info
Linkedin Errors - Meg Guiseppe
Job Hunting on Linkedin - Guy Kawasaki
Linkedin Tips - Guy Kawasaki
