Career Hub

Recap: LinkedIn Questions & Answers (Plus Further Tips From Readers)

During last week, I published 7 daily posts to answer 7 common questions I’m asked about using the professional networking site LinkedIn.com - easily the most popular and effective social networking site for job seekers.

In case you missed any of the posts, below is a quick summary. Just click through to read the post.

As promised, there is also a summary of the additional tips left by readers in the comments sections under the various posts. Thanks so much for contributing and sharing.

1.  The Number One Rule For LinkedIn Users

Further tips from readers:

"I believe rule one is a golden rule of networking. I would like to reiterate/rephrase Zig Zigler's philosophy of life - If you help other people to achieve what they want in their life, then you will get what you want in your life."

- Imran M. Ismail 

"That's a great one, but I think I would have put it at number 2, even though it's satisfying philosophically to have it at number 1.

My number 1 would be to make sure people can figure out who you are. You can help all you want, but if someone clicks through to your profile and finds it nearly empty, with no photo, a bare bones current job title, and no other info about you, they're (or at least I would be) going to be hesitant about contacting you and taking that connection further."

- Beth Robinson 

2.  Increasing The Number of Connections On LinkedIn

3.  How Well Must You Know Someone Before Connecting?

4.  Three Rules For Connecting With People You Don’t Know

Further tips from readers:

"Another tip, and one I use often is when I would like to connect with someone with whom I might share a group and am able to send a message to them directly, I will ask them if they mind me sending an invitation, or to feel free to invite me as well. Most people answer positively. 

Those that do not answer at all I assume to not wish to connect. That applies personal contacts as well, if I am trying to renew an old contact; if that person is listed on Linkedin,and especially if I have a concern that he or she may not remember me, I will send a personal email to reestablish the rapport and ask if I can invite him or her to join my Linkedin network. Again, most results are positive."

- Halhorowitz 

5.  How To Get High Quality Recommendations On LinkedIn

Further tips from readers:

"Ask that the recommendation include how the person knows you - as a former colleague, professional association peer, supervisor, mentor, customer, etc. That contributes to the CONTEXT of the comments about your unique value and your accomplishments in the recommendation."

- Susan Guarneri

6. Tips On What To Write In Your Status Updates

7. What To Write In Your LinkedIn Profile When Job Searching

Further tips from readers:

"One way to test that your profile can be found is to search just as a recruiter would. Use LinkedIn and Google to search by job title, or keywords in the job decription of the job you want. If your profile comes up in these simple searches, then you are on the right path."

- Marshal Kern

Once again, thank you to the above people for sharing their own tips. If anyone else has further LinkedIn tips then feel free to share them below.

By Sital Ruparelia

A Story About Blogging

Tomorrow morning, I have been invited to address a number of employers and college/university staff on the topic of blogging. I have been asked to share my story...

Three years ago, thanks to Louise Fletcher, President of Blue Sky Resumes and Career Hub Co-Creator and Managing Editor, my professional life forever changed -- for the better, I might add. Thanks to Louise, I started blogging! She must have seen something in me that I didn't see in myself, because I did not think I knew enough about technology to blog. I mean, after all, blogging is for people who have mastered the high tech-stuff, at least that's what I thought! Certainly not for people who can barely navigate the Internet.

I can vividly recall working for hours and hours on my very first blog post for Career Hub. I can't remember for sure what is was about, but I think I wrote something about fear. How appropriate, since that's exactly what I was freaking out about...my fear of blogging.

Today, three years later, I look back and smile and think to myself...Sucher, you're an idiot! Why did I put myself through such angst and gut-wrenching struggle to craft my first blogging piece? I'll tell you three reasons why: 1. I wanted to do an outstanding job for Louise, first and foremost, because she had entrusted me to write for Career Hub; 2. In no way, did I want to embarrass myself, or anyone else and 3. I wanted to produce something that was a masterpiece of a blog post. I continue to strive to perform number one! With respect to numbers two and three, I am much more comfortable now in writing blog posts and realize that I am not going to craft a masterpiece, but you know what -- I'm totally okay with that. And I don't dwell too much on embarrassing myself, or someone else, anymore.

In any event, I absolutely love blogging. I am probably a blogging addict by some people's standards. When I am not blogging, I am thinking about blogging. I cannot imagine my professional life without blogging in it. And beyond that, it's just plain fun, relaxing, and enjoyable! Here are a few ideas of what blogging means to me now, some three years later. It's...

1. a chance to share your thoughts, ideas, and knowledge with the world.

2. a place to teach, train, and think about matters you feel passionate about.

3. a place to find your voice and be your own best brand.

4. a chance to build and grow relationships and friendships...and treasure the comments that readers take time to make.

5. a potential to create new business connections, partnerships, opportunities.

6. as natural and as easy as breathing.

7. a way of giving back whatever it is you've been given.

8. an extension of what you are already doing.

9. a powerful way to learn, find resources, and discover solutions.

10. a place to connect different generations, cultures, people, preferences, notions, ideas.

11. efficient; you can direct others to go read the post about this or that subject matter.

12. an important tool to distinguish yourself, whether you are a job seeker, business owner, corporate giant, small entrepreneurial start-up, or, or, or.

If you have been thinking about the business of blogging, but find yourself too afraid to start one, jump in! I would encourage you to take action and get a blog going. Just ask yourself - what is the worst thing that could happen? What is the best thing that could happen? I can tell you the best that happened to me...you will find that about three years from now, in March 2012, you will look back and say...wow, I'm so glad I did that! That, then, is my story about blogging.

posted by: billiesucher