We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog...With a new perspective on LinkedIn

1) Use LinkedIn.  2) Use Linked to complement your resume.


No...we haven't been cancelled.  Just been on hiatus...We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.


On Tuesday, earlier this week, I dusted off my grown-up clothes and sensible shoes and attended SmAlbany 2012 - 6th Annual Small Business Expo hosted by the University of Albany (NY) College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering.  This year's theme was Social Media. Kudos to the crew at SmAlbany.org for landing big fish Google as a major sponsor and as a key note speaker. 

One of the sessions I attended was called "LinkedIn: How to Use LinkedIn to Advance your Career". Frankly, I sat in only because, of the three sessions offered at that time, it was the only one that seemed appropriate for me. Even so, I didn't think I would get much out of it, since I'm a pretty experienced LinkedIn user.

Here's were the snide laughter should commence.

(For a deeper understanding of the statement above, please refer to my blog from April 30th, "Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks")

Why do I assume I won't learn anything? Don't I always learn something? For a deeper understanding of myself, should I refer to my blog from April 30th, "Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks"?

So, in the continuing education of this old dog, here's the latest trick: Your LinkedIn profile should not be a repeat of your resume.  Use it as a marketing tool - just as you use your resume - but use it in a complementary way. So, when someone reads your resume, and then follows up by reading your LinkedIn profile, the profile expands or deepens the reader's knowledge and understanding of you.

One specific suggestion: when entering the "basic information" that appears in the upper most section of your profile, just beneath your name, use a professional headline instead of a job title. This is especially important for those of us who are between jobs. Let's say your last position was "Senior Account Executive". With a headline of "Sales Professional", even in the event of separation from your employer, you are still a sales professional. Not only does your profile remain the same, but it's a psychological boost. It reminds you that you are not your job or your title; you are you, and you continue to be so even after that employer's door closes.

You could also choose to use a tagline instead of a headline. Staying in a sales theme, it could be "I can increase your company's sales by 10% each month." Of course, you want to make sure you have a proven record of doing so, or such a tagline won't help much. Other great suggestions from the leader of my seminar include using the summary to talk about client success stories, or similar stories that showcase your big "wins", and asking colleagues to write recommendations in a "results-oriented" manner.


Today's Sign Post is a two-parter:

1) Use LinkedIn.  2) Use Linked to complement your resume.

Let me give a shout-out to the woman who, in her words "wrote the book on LinkedIn", Ms. Jan Wallen. Her book is called Mastering LinkedIn in 7 Days or Less. She has a 2nd book due out soon. Thanks, Jan, for a dynamic, interesting, and informative hour.


What are your tips for effectively marketing yourself on LinkedIn? Share in the comments, below.