Highlights of the October 6 Webinar “Using LinkedIn As A Professional Development Tool, Whether or Not You're Looking for a Job Part 1: Getting Started” by Toby Nathan

You may ask yourself, “What exactly is LinkedIn?”
Toby shared the official website definition. It “is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing hundreds of industries. You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals.”

You may ask, “Why should I use LinkedIn?”
Toby says…
1. To build your personal and professional brand. You can define terms of what people think when they think of you and see your profile.
2. To build and strengthen your professional network. Your contact network is built up based on your direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second degree connections) and also the connections of second degree connections (termed third degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone you wish to know through a mutual, trusted contact.
3. To turn “relationships” into opportunities. 2-Way Recommendations can reflect the recommender as well as the person s/he’s recommending.
4. To research companies and individuals, competition, customers, partners, etc. and enable preparation for interviews and other opportunities.
5. Looking for jobs, people and business opportunities. Employers list jobs and search for potential candidates. Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.
6. Search LinkedIn Groups. This feature allows users to establish new business relationships and expand their network by joining alumni, industry, or professional and other relevant groups.

To know more about how to get started on LinkedIn, please visit the “Building Connections” section of www.uiaacareers.org.

Toby Nathan is the Co-founder and Principal of RecruitaStar, LLC (www.recruitastar.com). She has 14 years of retained executive search experience and has been utilizing LinkedIn for over 7 years. She received a BS in Psychology and Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and a MS in Industrial Relations from Loyola University.