A Beginner's Guide to LinkedIn

Envision the workplace as a well-equipped playground, a place where you can meet incredible people doing similar work as you. LinkedIn has become the ideal platform to do all these. Unlike the professional social networking site Facebook, or Instagram, LinkedIn is a platform intended primarily for professionals in the business community. The aim of the site is that the members who registered can apply to create or document professional circles which contain people they know personally.

Just imagine a lively online community with folks in various fields of expertise! LinkedIn enables you to build a network of classmates, fellow workers, instructors or even any people you may have met in the context of a professional environment. You can not only search here for people in jobs you would like to do or linked to companies you like but also for people you may be inspired by or already admire. Utilize LinkedIn's search filters to find individuals based on location, industry, job title, and even skills.

But LinkedIn goes beyond just making connections. It's also a valuable resource for professionals. You can find jobs, research companies you're interested in, and stay updated on industry news and trends through your network's connections and activity.  LinkedIn even gathers data across profiles to provide insights into career trends, skills gaps within specific industries, and even which cities professionals are most likely to stay in long-term.  This data can be helpful for individuals planning their careers and companies looking to attract top talent.

Here are some ways to create your dream team of connections on LinkedIn:

• Start with the Familiar Faces: Imagine all the great friends you've made as part of your academic or professional journey – these are your classmates, coworkers, tutors and probably industry friends you've met. Maybe you can invite them to your LinkedIn connection which in turn can benefit your network.

• Seek Out Your Career Heroes: This specific company: Do you admire a given company or have a dream job title? With this function provided by LinkedIn, you can look for mentors or like-minded professionals who have made it in the area you aspire to excel in or with companies you idolize. Utilize these filters to narrow down your search and find people located within a certain geographical area or industry, as well as people who have specific job titles or specific skills identified in their profiles. Do not be shy, send them a proposal of connection with a short explanation about yourself and why you are interested in their work!

• Join the Club!: LinkedIn Groups are internet clubs for working people who cannot be satisfied with daily routines. Search for forums that cover specific industries or topics you are interested in subscribing to. Sharing reels or posts on social media platforms affords you the chance to connect with similar people, join discussions, and, not only that but also to exhibit your expertise by sharing some expert opinions or articles. By doing that we can also build up a great network of people and learn a lot from people in related fields as well.

Remember: Indeed, there is no better way to foster a genuine connection than by sending a customized "connect" message. Your chances of getting a positive response become much higher when you start by acknowledging the person and maybe putting a sentence about a common interest in yours (if it's possible). Hence, you stand out from the common boring approaches to connection requests and become more likely to be accepted.

The gradual implementation of these tips will let you build a credible network on LinkedIn that can open the way for new opportunities, give you professional advice, and, finally, help you to find your confident feet in the business world!

While uploading your resume to LinkedIn isn't mandatory for creating a profile, it can streamline your job application process. Here's how to quickly add your resume to your profile:

1. Access the "Jobs" section on LinkedIn using the search bar or navigation menu.

2. Search for relevant positions and click on the specific job title to view details.

3. Locate the "Easy Apply" button and proceed with completing the required fields.

4. Look for the "Resume (optional)" section. Click "Upload resume" to choose your file from your device.

5. Once you've finalized the application details, click "Apply" to send your resume and application to the employer.

LinkedIn offers a resume builder tool – but is it a replacement for your existing resume? Let's break down its functionality:

• The LinkedIn resume builder can be a valuable tool to complement your existing resume. It allows you to easily import your resume content and format it for the LinkedIn platform. You can then customize the layout, add visuals, and highlight specific sections relevant to the jobs you're applying to.

Example: Consider that you have a general resume for different marketing roles as an example. When you post for a social media marketing job, you can use the LinkedIn resume builder to put into focus your social media knowledge and adjust your experiences’ descriptions to showcase only the projects that would be deemed relevant in this position.

• Unlike a regular resume, which won't be able to serve as a substitute for a comprehensive one, the LinkedIn resume builder can help you write a basic resume if you've just started your career or haven't updated something like this for a long time. This makes the process smoother and easier by giving you the instructions and prompts directly.

Here's a quick comparison to help you decide:

Keep in mind that this technical specification might not be good enough for some job applications. It is best that you craft a resume tailored to the particular position that you are applying for.

Remember: Whether you re-use the same resume or write the LinkedIn profile builder, your profile content should echo the material on the resume you use. This will make it uniform.