If you’re like me, you’re never the first to jump on social
media sites because you don’t want to be part of a fad and have another long
lost profile. A year ago, I finally created my LinkedIn profile because I was
relocating and looking for new opportunities.
And my only regret is that I did not create one sooner. So if you are
thinking, “I’m not getting on the social media bandwagon” or “I’m not looking
for a job, why do I need a profile?” I suggest you reconsider quickly. With
over 200 million users strong LinkedIn is more like a freight train than a
bandwagon and you better get on board. Whether you’re new or fell off the wagon
now is a better time than any with LinkedIn’s new profile design.
One-Click Endorsements.
You can now endorse people in your network and others can do the same for you
in just one click. This can be done by adding your skill sets to your profile
such as project management, sales, customer service and more. The easiest way to get an endorsement is by
endorsing others in your network, which in turn they will receive a
notification of your endorsement and LinkedIn will suggest that they endorse
you.
Establish and
Maintain Your Professional Identity. Does your network really know what you
do? Do you have valuable information to share? Have you recently completed any
special projects or certifications? Keep your profile fresh by updating
information as they occur, which will make updating your resume a breeze when
the time comes. However, be careful not to overdo it or turn off your activity
broadcast through your privacy settings if necessary. That way if you need to
do an overhaul on updates, people don’t get a notification for every change you
make to your profile.
Follow Global Luminaries.
Now you can do more than follow industry information, groups and companies. In
addition, you can gain professional wisdom by following any one of 150
influential global leaders, such as Tony Robbins, Richard Branson and a bunch
of other people you may have never heard of, but may want to know based on your
interests.
The new and improved LinkedIn profile is streamlined,
visually appealing, and helps you connect or reconnect with others better than
ever. But don’t take my word for it. Find out for yourself and discover
opportunities that may await you this year.
Cathy Francois
