LIMITED SPOTS
All plans are 30% OFF for the first month! with the code WELCOME303
LIMITED SPOTS
All plans are 30% OFF for the first month! with the code WELCOME303
If you have an online presence at all these days, it’s likely that you’re using one of the many social networks out there. For some people, this means Facebook or Twitter, but most people are on more than just those two sites—and they want to be sure their profiles reflect who they truly are.
That’s where LinkedIn comes into play. It was originally designed as an alternative to other professional networking websites like Monster and CareerBuilder. But now it has become its own beast of a website with thousands upon thousands of users from every industry imaginable (as well as a few oddball ones).
So if you’ve been thinking about signing up for LinkedIn but aren’t quite sure what to do with your account, here’s everything you should know about LinkedIn to help you decide whether it’s right for you.
First things first: Do you even care about LinkedIn? Even though it may seem like everyone else does, I can guarantee you that very few people outside of certain industries would ever dream of joining this particular social network.
But let me ask you something different: Is LinkedIn important enough to warrant spending time creating a profile and filling it out completely? You could argue yes, because it provides an easy way to showcase yourself professionally, build relationships, and maybe land a new job someday down the road. Or you might say no, because you don't see any immediate benefit in having a LinkedIn profile anymore.
I think both sides make sense. The pros of having a LinkedIn profile include being able to easily search through millions of candidates looking for jobs, building credibility by showing off work experience, getting recommendations from friends and colleagues, etc. And then there are the cons: You only show off your best stuff when your friends and family see your profile, so you run the risk of not making connections with people who wouldn’t otherwise know your professional side. Your name isn’t always attached to your work history, so people will never find your full resume without digging around on Google.
And finally, there’s also the issue of privacy concerns. As with any other social network, you’ll probably end up sharing information with others that you didn’t intend to. This includes private photos or videos, contact info, and anything else you post publicly.
On top of that, there are some big companies that have recently started banning employees from working on LinkedIn altogether. So while it may look like LinkedIn is gaining popularity among professionals, that doesn’t mean it won’t lose favor with them eventually.
As mentioned above, LinkedIn wasn’t created with the intention of becoming popular amongst professionals. In fact, it was built specifically to compete against other similar networks like Monster and CareerBuilder. But now that it has grown beyond that original purpose, you’d be surprised how much of a hit it’s taken in terms of usage within the workforce.
According to research conducted by LinkedIn itself, nearly 40 percent of U.S.-based workers use LinkedIn to keep track of potential job opportunities, and over half said they had looked for a job thanks to someone recommending them on the platform. Also, 65 percent of respondents said they would switch careers based solely on seeing a recommendation on LinkedIn.
It makes perfect sense that professionals would flock to LinkedIn to stay connected with peers and recruiters. After all, it’s easier to move between jobs via LinkedIn than it is to hunt for openings across multiple platforms manually. Plus, once you start connecting with coworkers and managers, it becomes a lot easier to get ahead in your career.
This brings us back to the question of whether or not professionals actually need LinkedIn—or if they just happen to enjoy using it, which is totally fine!
If you fall into either category, feel free to continue reading below. Otherwise, you may want to stop scrolling and go check out our list of reasons not to join LinkedIn instead.
Yes. A recent study found that 70 percent of hiring managers were familiar with LinkedIn, compared to 57 percent last year. That number jumped to 90 percent among senior management level positions.
Even though LinkedIn hasn’t gained widespread acceptance yet, it’s already become a trusted source of job seekers. When asked “Where did you hear about [the company]?,” 82 percent of respondents cited a recruiter or HR manager. Only 12 percent got the news from a friend or colleague.
These statistics indicate that businesses are continuing to rely heavily on LinkedIn to fill open roles, despite the fact that we haven’t seen major changes to the service since 2010. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that LinkedIn is doing better than before. Perhaps the rise in familiarity stems from the fact that recruiting firms are actively promoting their services on the platform.
In addition, there’s another reason why employers love LinkedIn: Its huge user base gives them access to tons of qualified applicants. Since it’s such a competitive market nowadays, finding the exact person you’re looking for takes a long time, especially when you have strict requirements. By simply targeting a large pool of candidates, it reduces the amount of wasted effort involved in hunting for talent.
How to use linkedin for beginners
So after you've decided whether or not you want to sign up for LinkedIn, you'll need to create an account. To avoid spamming people with annoying messages, it's recommended that you wait until you receive permission from the recipient before sending a request.
Once you log in, you'll notice that the homepage shows you all of your contacts, including groups you belong to, the latest updates made by each member, and common interests. From there, you can click on "More" to view additional details about your connections and their activities.
You can also browse through topics related to your interest areas, and discover articles shared by members based on the same topic. At the bottom of the page, there's a section called "Blogs," which displays blog posts written by influencers in your field. Clicking on a link next to a specific author opens up his/her profile page, where you can read a short bio and see a sample article.
When viewing your own profile, you can add links to relevant web pages, upload files, and attach documents. You can also set up notifications to alert you whenever anyone comments on your profile or sends you a message. There are plenty of options available to customize your settings, too.
Another cool feature is the ability to send personal invitations to individuals you'd like to connect with. These emails contain a personalized introduction, along with instructions on how to accept or decline the connection.
Do remember that your LinkedIn profile contains sensitive data, so take extra precautions when posting pictures or uploading resumes. Always ensure that your photo is unaltered and that the background behind it is clear, and try to avoid adding text directly onto images.
To edit your profile, hover over the gray bar at the top of your screen and select Edit Profile & Settings. Make adjustments to your headline, summary, education, skills, experience, and endorsements sections, and review the permissions associated with your account. On the left sidebar, choose Privacy to adjust your visibility settings and manage your security preferences.
Finally, there's the option to download your entire profile data file, which can save you valuable time if you plan to leave the site permanently. Once downloaded, however, you cannot change or delete your profile again unless you reupload your whole profile file.
Are you interested in taking your LinkedIn profile to the next level? Then consider checking out our guide on how to improve your LinkedIn profile picture.
If you've been on Facebook or Twitter at all this year, then chances are you've heard about LinkedIn. With more than 500 million users worldwide, LinkedIn has become one of the biggest platforms for professional networking. It also offers employers an easy way to find qualified candidates -- and it doesn't cost anything!
So if you're looking for work, or just want to be seen as "professional," then here's everything you need to know about LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is a website that allows people in different industries to connect with each other using their profiles. These connections can range from being friends to working together professionally. You'll have access to your own personal page (called a Linked In Profile) where you can add information like your education history, current employment status, skills, and even videos. Your connection list will show up whenever someone searches for you online.
On top of that, LinkedIn gives its members access to several features including:
Job Searching
Resume Review & Editing
Professional Networking
Learning Paths
Company Pages
Recruiting Tools
There are many ways to search for jobs on LinkedIn. The most common is to simply enter keywords into the search bar, but there are tons of other options available. For instance, you could click on the Careers tab and browse through thousands of companies who are actively hiring. Or maybe you'd rather look for specific positions within those companies. Whatever you do, don't forget to check out our guide to finding free LinkedIn jobs.
Like any other major social networks, LinkedIn operates under three main principles: privacy, community, and sharing. When you create a new account, you agree to terms which state that you won't post content that would violate anyone else’s rights. That means no pornography or illegal activity. And because every member is connected to everyone else, you can expect very little drama when posting.
In addition to connecting with others, the network encourages communication between groups by allowing you to join communities. There are dozens of interest areas ranging from music to travel, so whether you prefer chatting with coworkers or hanging out with fellow travelers, there's likely to be a group for you.
Finally, while you might not think of LinkedIn as having much in common with Facebook, the company does offer some similar tools. Like Facebook, you can send messages, post photos, and comment on posts. But unlike Facebook, LinkedIn lets you upload documents. So if you've got something important to say, you may as well bring it into the conversation.
LinkedIn was originally designed for business owners and executives. However, the service expanded beyond these boundaries over time, becoming a useful tool for job seekers as well. Nowadays, nearly half of LinkedIn's user base consists of non-employees. Some people use the service to stay in touch with old colleagues, while others make it part of their daily routine. Either way, you should definitely take advantage of these services.
The vast majority of users fall somewhere along the spectrum between employees and clients. According to LinkedIn's statistics, only 3% of members are CEOs. Another 12% are CIOs, and 2% are heads of sales. This is good news for job hunters because it indicates that businesses still see value in recruiting from outside sources.
But just because they employ external personnel doesn't mean they aren't interested in potential employees either. Companies typically post open jobs to recruit experienced workers. They often ask applicants to complete a short questionnaire before getting started. Then, once you've completed your application, HR staff usually spends hours reviewing resumes and conducting interviews. All of this takes lots of time and energy, so it makes sense that companies would try to save both by bringing in fresh talent internally.
And thanks to LinkedIn, they now have a pretty effective way of doing so. The service provides a database of millions of professionals across various fields. Even better, you can apply directly from your profile without ever leaving the site. So instead of sending out applications via snail mail or email, you can submit them digitally.
It's worth noting that although many companies use LinkedIn exclusively, some large organizations hire consultants to manage their entire applicant pool. A lot of times, these people end up spending less time vetting candidates than traditional human resources departments.
As mentioned above, the primary purpose of LinkedIn is to help you build relationships with other professionals. Most importantly, however, it serves as a sort of digital resume. Since you're already familiar with the concept of a resume, it shouldn't come as too big of a surprise that LinkedIn helps you format yours effectively. After all, the app itself includes plenty of formatting tools.
You can easily change fonts and colors, resize images, and even add links to relevant websites. And if you decide to attach files to your profile, you can choose from a variety of file types. LinkedIn supports DOCX, PDF, PPT, XLS, TXT, CSV, HTML, and plain text formats. Plus, you can embed video clips right onto your page.
Of course, you'll probably spend most of your time adding information about yourself. On the home screen, you'll have the option to link to your blog, YouTube channel, and/or Instagram profile. Other sections include Education, Skills, Experience, Work History, Projects Completed, Publications, Languages Spoken, Awards & Honors, Groups, Networks, Endorsements, Recommendations, Publicity, and References.
Each section contains a number of pre-filled templates. Click on the name of the field to edit it, or click Create New to start from scratch. Once you finish filling out your details, press Save Changes to go back to your profile.
Another cool feature is Smart Answers. While typing, you'll notice suggestions pop up below the line. These answers were chosen based on previous questions posed to other members. Simply select one and hit Enter to accept it. It's easier than writing a full response to a question.
LinkedIn offers additional editing tools inside its Help Center. One thing to note is that sometimes certain functions seem to be disabled depending on your browser settings. To fix this issue, log off and back on again.
How to use LinkedIn for beginners
To begin creating a LinkedIn profile, visit www.linkedin.com and sign up. Choose a username and password, and then fill in basic info such as your date of birth, gender, location, interests, and occupation. Next, click Add Photos to upload pictures. Alternatively, you can paste URLs into the box provided.
Once you're done, continue checking out the rest of your dashboard. From here, you can view recent updates made to your profile, write articles related to your career area, and follow other people. You can also add tags to your posts so that other members can filter your feed accordingly. Finally, you can invite friends to join your network.
Now that you understand the basics of LinkedIn, you should consider building a public profile. This isn't necessarily required, but it certainly adds credibility to your experience. As long as you keep updating it regularly, you'll soon discover your audience growing exponentially. Remember, LinkedIn is primarily a place for businesspeople to connect, so make sure you present yourself accurately. Don't lie about your qualifications unless you really need to.
How to delete your LinkedIn profile
First things first... you cannot delete your LinkedIn profile until it expires. Luckily, this happens automatically after seven years. Otherwise, deleting your profile will require contacting customer support and submitting a form request.
However, if you plan to leave the profession entirely, you can permanently remove your profile by following these steps:
Log in to your account.
Go to Settings.
Click Manage Data Privacy.
Deactivate Account.
Delete Account.
Afterward, your profile will disappear completely. Unfortunately, this process cannot be reversed.
LinkedIn isn't technically a dating site per se. Instead, it's a professional networking site. Still, it does provide a great opportunity to meet new contacts. After signing up, you'll receive emails inviting you to join groups dedicated to subjects you care about. These groups can be extremely helpful if you're trying to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
Some people worry that meeting strangers on the Internet could lead to unwanted encounters. Fortunately, the risk of harassment is minimal since most people on LinkedIn use pseudonyms. Also, if you feel uncomfortable interacting with someone, you can always decline to engage further.
Still, there are legitimate concerns regarding safety on the web. Because LinkedIn is so popular, scammers attempt to trick unsuspecting users into giving away sensitive information. Thankfully, there's a simple solution to avoid falling victim to fraudsters. Just remember to never give out your real phone number or address.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your professional life, there are plenty of resources available on the internet -- from YouTube videos to podcasts, articles, blog posts, books, and more. One of those resources that has been gaining popularity over recent years is LinkedIn.
This article will help you understand exactly what LinkedIn is, its history, and some of the best tips and tricks to make it easier to use as well as find success with this powerful networking tool.
Why do people join LinkedIn? What can they expect from using it? And most importantly, why does everyone say that LinkedIn is so important? Let us answer these questions by first explaining what LinkedIn actually is and then we'll look at some reasons why people love it (and hate it).
To start off, let's define what LinkedIn actually is. In short, LinkedIn is a professional social media website owned by Microsoft that connects users based on their interests or profession. Users have built profiles which include work experience, education, skills, etc., while also being able to search for jobs and opportunities. The purpose of LinkedIn is to allow users to keep up with friends, colleagues, and others who may be interested in similar professions. People often use LinkedIn to stay connected professionally after leaving an organization. It allows them to continue working together even if they aren't working in the same company anymore.
While LinkedIn was originally created for businesses, now many nonbusinesses and individuals are joining, including celebrities and politicians. You might see pictures of Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau on LinkedIn, but chances are good that you probably wouldn't recognize them on Twitter or Facebook!
The easiest way to fill out your LinkedIn profile is to go through various industries and select one that sounds interesting to you. For instance, if you want to become a doctor, choose "Healthcare" as your industry. This will give you the option to add additional information about yourself such as where you went to school, any awards or honors you've received, and things of interest like volunteerism.
For each field you enter, LinkedIn shows you all other members in that particular industry. For doctors, this could mean seeing patients in hospitals or visiting nursing homes. Other fields may require you to visit certain locations such as laboratories or medical centers. While this doesn't seem very exciting, it gives you insight into how LinkedIn works and what types of connections you would potentially have.
Once you click Save Changes, you can begin adding new contacts by either typing someone's name directly or going to Contacts on the right side menu bar and entering a person's email address. When you type someone's full name, you only show them if they match exactly what you typed. To save time when searching for potential connections, you can always just type their last name in the Search box.
As you build relationships within your chosen industry, you may come across opportunities to expand beyond your current career path. Keep track of those opportunities and don't forget to update your profile regularly to ensure you're staying relevant. Remember, LinkedIn is not meant to solely focus on your personal life. Make sure to maintain professionalism while connecting with other professionals.
LinkedIn isn't exclusive to desktop computers alone. Many companies provide software tools specifically designed for employees to log onto LinkedIn from mobile devices. These apps are usually free to download and offer features such as notifications, alerts, and quick access to your account. Some popular ones include Google Drive, Outlook, Slack, Evernote, Dropbox, Telegram, WhatsApp, Skype, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and more.
You can easily switch between platforms depending on whether you prefer to use a computer or phone. If you'd rather stick with a smartphone app, check out our list of the best LinkedIn phones for Android. We recommend checking out both options before deciding on which one suits you better.
Yes, absolutely! But to really benefit from LinkedIn, you'll need to invest time building your online presence. By creating a LinkedIn profile, sharing content via blogs, commenting on news stories, engaging with influencers, and participating in groups, you will stand apart from the crowd and gain valuable exposure. Even though you may feel uncomfortable doing something new, remember that it takes time to develop real relationships. So take baby steps towards making changes.
It's easy to believe that once you create a great LinkedIn profile, everyone will automatically notice you and reach out to you. Unfortunately, that's rarely ever true. Instead, you will need to actively seek out opportunities to engage with prospective employers and clients. There are several different methods to do this, ranging from attending events to sending personalized emails to reaching out to past mentors. LinkedIn provides tons of helpful guides and tutorials to help you accomplish everything from filling out your CV to writing compelling cover letters. Once you master the art of LinkedIn, you won't have to worry about getting hired again because you'll already be known around town!
Although LinkedIn started back in 2003 as a corporate product, today it is one of the largest websites in the world. According to Statista, it had 668 million monthly active users worldwide in June 2019, with 1 billion registered accounts overall. That makes it bigger than Instagram, Reddit, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter, Snapchat, Twitch, and Spotify combined!
Nowadays, almost every major brand and corporation utilizes LinkedIn heavily to recruit candidates and promote themselves. However, it wasn't long ago that LinkedIn was seen as a less desirable choice compared to other sites. With the rise of social networks, however, brands began realizing that LinkedIn offers much more value than simply posting ads and hoping for results. Now, LinkedIn is viewed as the ideal place for finding employment, promoting products, and interacting with customers.
So yes, LinkedIn is still growing, especially due to the fact that it's completely free to use and only requires minimal effort. As mentioned above, there are many ways to utilize LinkedIn to further increase your visibility, so don't hesitate to try out new strategies. And if you encounter problems or issues with your account, please contact customer service immediately so they can assist you.
How to use LinkedIn to get a job
When applying for a position, you should definitely consider LinkedIn. Most positions nowadays ask applicants to submit their resume, but according to a study conducted by CareerBuilder, 86 percent of hiring managers said that they were impressed by a candidate's ability to present himself/herself on LinkedIn. Furthermore, 89 percent of respondents stated that they found it useful to learn more about a candidate by browsing his/her LinkedIn profile.
It's important to note that many companies use LinkedIn differently. They may request resumes, references, and interviews instead of allowing applications sent through the mail. Before submitting anything, you should familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of the company.
Many companies post open positions on LinkedIn, giving you the opportunity to apply right away. Others will invite you to send your resume directly to their careers page. Either way, you should follow instructions provided by the employer. After you complete the application process, you'll receive confirmation of receipt.
A few weeks later, you should receive a response asking for feedback regarding your application. Take advantage of this chance to explain any concerns or clarify anything unclear. Finally, you'll hear back from the recruiter and hopefully land your dream gig!
No. Although it is possible to use LinkedIn to meet new people, it isn't intended for that purpose. At least not yet anyway. Even though LinkedIn is becoming increasingly popular among singles, it remains focused on professionals.
However, you can certainly use it in another capacity. For instance, you could set up a group of friends or coworkers and turn it into a casual chat room. Or perhaps you could create a community of likeminded people whose common interests motivate you to grow professionally. Whatever your reason, LinkedIn is here to serve you and provide assistance whenever needed.
Here are four ways to use LinkedIn for work and fun.
1) Find a mentor:
LinkedIn Groups are communities of shared expertise. Members discuss topics related to their career goals and interests. Finding a member who knows your area of expertise and can guide you along the road to success can be extremely beneficial.
2) Start a conversation:
Whether you're seeking advice from a colleague or trying to decide what to order at lunch, LinkedIn is the perfect environment for communication with fellow professionals.
3) Build your own team:
LinkedIn Groups are an excellent place to find experts in your industry. Create a Group dedicated to discussing a topic that matters to you and your peers, and you'll soon be surrounded by knowledgeable members eager to collaborate.
4) Meet new people:
One of the greatest benefits of LinkedIn is that you never run out of people to talk to. Whether you're looking to connect with someone outside of your professional circle or simply chatting with friends, LinkedIn is a fantastic resource for meeting new people.
AI tools to find & convert leads. 
Send emails at scale
