Sams Teach Yourself LinkedIn in 10 Minutes

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Introducing LinkedIn 3

Understanding What LinkedIn Can Do for You ............................3

Understanding the Key to Success on LinkedIn..........................4

Understanding LinkedIn Account Types ......................................5

Using a LinkedIn Free Account ..................................................6

Exploring LinkedIn Premium Accounts........................................6

Creating a LinkedIn Account ....................................................8

Exploring the LinkedIn Home Page ..........................................13

Navigating LinkedIn ................................................................15

Chapter 2 Creating Your Profile 17

Viewing a LinkedIn Profile ......................................................17

Creating a Profile That Achieves Your Goals ............................18

Understanding Profile Completeness ......................................20

Entering Basic Profile Information ..........................................21

Adding Positions ....................................................................23

Adding Educational Information ..............................................24

Adding Website Links and Other Additional Information ............27

Integrating Your LinkedIn Account with Twitter ..........................28

Customizing Your Public Profile ..............................................30

Adding Profile Sections ..........................................................31

Adding a Profile Summary ......................................................33

Adding Personal Information ..................................................34

Specifying Contact Settings ....................................................35

Adding a Profile Photo ............................................................37

Viewing Your Profile................................................................38

Chapter 3 Adding and Managing Connections 39

Developing a Connection Strategy ..........................................39

Building Your Network ............................................................40

Importing Webmail Contacts ..........................................41

Importing Contacts from Other Email Systems ........................43

Connecting with Current or Past Colleagues ............................44

Connecting with Former Classmates........................................45

Connecting with Other LinkedIn Members ................................46

Connecting with People Not on LinkedIn ..................................49

Responding to Connection Invitations......................................49

Managing Your Connections....................................................51

Removing Connections ..........................................................53

Viewing Your Network Statistics ..............................................54

Chapter 4 Customizing Your LinkedIn Settings 55

Customizing the Way You Use LinkedIn....................................55

Customizing Profile Settings ..................................................56

Customizing Email Notification Settings ..................................57

Customizing Your Home Page Settings ....................................60

Subscribing to RSS Feeds ......................................................61

Customizing Group Invitations Settings....................................63

Customizing Your LinkedIn Personal Information ......................64

Customizing Your Privacy Settings ..........................................65

Specifying How You Want to Use the LinkedIn Network ............67

Chapter 5 Managing and Updating Your Profile 69

Understanding the Importance of a Current Profile ..................69

Posting an Update ................................................................70

Managing Your Updates..........................................................73

Commenting on an Update ....................................................74

Updating Your Profile..............................................................74

Promoting Your Profile on the Web ..........................................75

Printing and Downloading Your Profile......................................77

Chapter 6 Communicating with Other LinkedIn Members 79

Understanding Your LinkedIn Network......................................79

Understanding InMail, Introductions, and LinkedIn Messages....80

Understanding Your Contact Options ......................................81

Managing Your Inbox ..............................................................83

Sending Messages ................................................................85

Reading and Replying to Messages ........................................87

Sending InMail ......................................................................88

Requesting Introductions........................................................90

Managing Introduction Requests ............................................93

Chapter 7 Searching on LinkedIn 97

Performing a Quick Search ....................................................97

Searching for People ..............................................................98

Narrowing People Search Results............................................99

Performing an Advanced People Search ................................102

Saving a People Search........................................................103

Using Advanced Search Techniques ......................................105

Using the Profile Organizer ..................................................105

Chapter 8 Using LinkedIn Tools 109

Understanding LinkedIn Tools ..............................................109

Installing and Using the LinkedIn Firefox Browser Toolbar ......110

Installing and Using the LinkedIn Internet Explorer Toolbar......112

Using JobsInsider ................................................................115

Sharing Web Pages with LinkedIn Members ..........................117

Using the Outlook Toolbar ....................................................118

Creating an Email Signature ................................................119

Using the Google Toolbar Assistant ......................................121

Chapter 9 Finding a Job 125

Attracting Recruiters and Hiring Managers ............................125

Searching Job Postings ........................................................126

Viewing Job Postings............................................................129

Performing an Advanced Job Search......................................130

Applying for a Job ................................................................132

Finding Recruiters and Hiring Managers ................................133

Upgrading to a Job Seeker Premium Account ........................134

Chapter 10 Requesting and Providing Recommendations 137

Understanding LinkedIn Recommendations............................137

Requesting Recommendations..............................................138

Managing Recommendation Requests ..................................141

Responding to Recommendation Requests............................142

Accepting Recommendations ................................................145

Making Recommendations....................................................146

Managing Recommendations................................................147

Managing Received Recommendations.........................148

Managing Sent Recommendations ...............................149

Chapter 11 Participating in LinkedIn Groups 151

Understanding LinkedIn Groups ............................................151

Joining a Group....................................................................152

Participating in Group Discussions ........................................155

Liking a Discussion .....................................................156

Adding Comments to a Discussion...............................156

Following Group Discussions and Members ..................157

Starting a Discussion..................................................158

Using a Group's Jobs Discussion Board ................................160

Managing Your Groups ........................................................162

Viewing Your Groups....................................................162

Changing the Display Order of Your Groups...................163

Viewing Group Updates ...............................................164

Viewing Group Members..............................................165

Managing Group Settings ............................................165

Forwarding Information About Groups ...........................165

Leaving a Group..........................................................166

Creating and Managing Your Own Group ................................166

Creating Your Own Group.............................................166

Managing Your Own Group...........................................169

Chapter 12 Using LinkedIn Answers 171

Understanding LinkedIn Answers ..........................................171

Asking a Question................................................................173

Browsing Open Questions to Answer ....................................175

Answering Questions............................................................177

Searching LinkedIn Answers by Keyword ................................179

Viewing and Modifying Your Questions and Answers ..............180

Chapter 13 Using LinkedIn Applications 183

Understanding LinkedIn Applications ....................................183

Choosing the Right Applications............................................184

Adding Applications..............................................................185

Adding the Blog Link Application ..................................187

Adding the Box.net Files Application.............................189

Adding a Poll ..............................................................189

Adding the Reading List by Amazon Application.............193

Adding the SlideShare Presentations Application...........195

Adding the WordPress Application ................................197

Adding and Managing LinkedIn Events ..................................198

Removing Applications ........................................................200

Chapter 14 Using LinkedIn Service Providers 201

Understanding LinkedIn Service Providers ............................201

Searching for Service Providers ............................................202

Recommending a Service Provider ........................................203

Requesting a Service Provider Recommendation....................206

Responding to a Service Provider Recommendation Request ..208

Chapter 15 Using LinkedIn Mobile 209

Using LinkedIn Mobile ..........................................................209

Accessing LinkedIn on Your Mobile Phone ............................209

Using the LinkedIn iPhone Application ..................................211

Using LinkedIn on Your BlackBerry ........................................212

Using LinkedIn on Your Palm ................................................212





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