Rick Caminiti dotCOM

This was a great article on LinkedIn that I thought I would share.  I’ve done most of this and I’m ALWAYS getting LinkedIn messages for job openings.  It’s a very valuable resource in this economy!

 1. Make your LinkedIn profile 100% complete

•    Include all companies, education, and awards. These are the key items on which we recruiters search.
•    References are very important. The more we know about you the better.
•    The more robust your profile, the higher you will be in the Google search rankings.
•    The more information a recruiter has upfront, the more efficient the search process.
•    Update your LinkedIn profile here

2. Use a profile picture that you use on multiple sites

•    A picture helps to create and reinforce your online brand
•    It will help a recruiter identify you on the interview day at “Starbucks”
•    Add a profile picture here

3.  Use the “Specialties” box to fill in keywords

•    List as many keywords as possible that are relevant to your roles, capabilities, and interests that will help you turn up on LinkedIn Search
•    Update your profile summary and specialties here

4. Update your LinkedIn “Status” regularly

•    Link to articles you have written or in which you are quoted
•    Update status with your latest blog posts
•    Discuss business accomplishments
•    If you are actively looking for a job, tell people what you are looking for!
•    Update your status on other social networking sites such as Twitter. Try services like ping.fm that allow you to update your status across multiple sites.

5. Make changes to your profile after every job change or promotion

•    The recruiters you are linked to will notice these changes
•    It is harder to be found if people don’t know where you are
•    Update your LinkedIn profile as you would your change-of-address at the post office

6. Include your web site and blog links

•    Add suitable weblinks to the “Websites” section on your LinkedIn profile
•    This could range from your career blog to your Twitter profile. Alternatively, you can also link to a guest blog post you wrote recently.
•    Update your “Websites” section here

7.  Do not block incoming emails

•    No matter how popular you think you are, you will not be overwhelmed. I promise!
•    The LinkedIn community is all about participation so feel free to accept incoming communication from fellow LinkedIn users. Update your contact settings here.
•    If a recruiter reaches out to you and you are not interested, let him or her know or better yet refer a friend
•    LinkedIn actually allows you to control how you receive emails and notifications. Update your settings here.

8. Increase your number of trusted connections!

•    Use webmail importer to bring your real world professional relationships online and to find your contacts who are already on LinkedIn.
•    Depending on whether you’re a browser person or an Outlook person, check out the respective toolbars that will help organize your professional relationship either while you browse or check out your Inbox.

These are just a few tips that I’ve gleaned from my LinkedIn usage over the past year. If you’ve other tips that have helped you as a job seeker reach out to appropriate hiring managers or recruiters, feel free to leave a comment. Hope this helps.