The MicroTrain Blog

Social media can be intimidating. Privacy, online etiquette and practicality are just a few of the concerns one confronts when creating a profile on a platform like Linkedin. The key is to view each social networking site (e.g., Myspace, Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram) completely independent of one another. Where Facebook is like a backyard barbecue, Linkedin is more like a company networking event or trade show. The rules of communicating are different for each platform, and what your profile says to visitors must be closely managed.

As job seekers, Linkedin is a powerful tool to create and manage your personal brand and to network with individuals who may value what you do. Remember that your Linkedin profile will come up in Google, Bing and Yahoo results when interested employers search your name before and after an interview.

Much like a business, it’s important to control the message and perception you convey to prospective employers. The first step to success is simply showing up. These days, if you’re applying to jobs (especially a tech job), it looks strange if you’re not actively engaged on one of the most widely-used job seeking platforms.

Here are some simple ground rules for Linkedin that everyone should abide by:

Please Log In

The great Tom Dore once said that anything can be improved if we spend 15 minutes a day doing it. While he was referring to free throw shooting, the same applies to becoming an effective Linkedin user. Spend at least 15 minutes a day connecting with past associates, updating your profile and contributing to any industry-specific groups that you’re part of. Linkedin also has one of the best online job boards, so it would help your job search to start checking that regularly.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

You need a profile picture, even if you fear being discriminated against based on it. Rest assured that anyone who is seriously interested in you will probably be more interested in your knowledge and experience than your looks. However, employers will judge you on your clothing (keep it professional) and the quality of your picture. If you have access to a camera that can take “HI-Res” pictures (600x900 pixels), put on some professional attire, find a desk and start snapping!

What Type of Professional Are You?

The details of your experience say one thing, but you’ll want to decide on a professional title that’s relevant to your chosen industry. If your career has gone in several different directions, figure out a title that is broad enough to encompass the strengths you’ve picked up from your career (e.g., Organizational Development Professional or Customer Experience Analyst). And whatever you do, don’t list “Unemployed.” That certainly won’t get you anywhere with prospective employers.

Watch Your Grammar

Even if you're an effective communicator in person, you’ll still be judged and scrutinized by your writing skills when presenting your brand on Linkedin. If you’re not the best writer, don’t be afraid to ask for help or to have someone proofread your resume for spelling and grammatical errors. These can be job killers if you’re not careful.

Start Building Connections (and don’t worry if you know them or not)

Having lots of connections is the key to being seen on Linkedin. Without getting too much into the algorithms behind the technology, only 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd tier connections can view your profile on Linkedin. The more 1^st tier connections you have, the more 2^nd and 3^rd tier connections can search for you. No business wants to hide their brand from potential customers and neither should you. You shouldn’t be disclosing personal information on Linkedin, so there’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to have a large and expansive network to work with.

Consider branding yourself as a LION (Linkedin Open Networker) to grow your network. Professionals who hover in the single and double digit connections range will have less opportunity and are typically viewed as less sophisticated professionals. 

Photo: Shutterstock

Finding a job can take a while, so it’s crucial you keep your technical skills sharp in the time between interviews and resume workshops. Fortunately, whether you’re looking for a refresher course or to learn something new to boost your resume, there’s a wealth of online resources designed to help you expand your skill set on the cheap.

But where should you start?

Embrace the Blogosphere

Recently, the folks over at Lifehacker put together a list of the best (free!) online courses the internet has to offer this summer. With everything from Harvard University law courses to a web development program at Udacity, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Google is your best friend here. A simple internet search will reveal dozens of similar results. Everyone from CNET, to the Huffington Post, and even TED seems to have compiled a list, so take some time to sift through their research before doing too much of your own

Get Started with Start-Ups

Online institutions like Khan Academy and Coursera paved the way for free online education and have come a long way since their early days on the internet. These organizations now tout extensive lists of high-quality courses from many top institutions around the world. If it’s been a while since your last visit, or if this is your first time, they're worth a look.

Don't be Afraid to Spend Some Money

Free is great, but there’s something to the old saying “you get what you pay for.” When you’re ready to get serious about your online education, there are a lot of excellent resources available for those with a few dollars to spend.

If you have an iPhone or iPad or another mobile device, iTunesU is a great place to start. With thousands of free and paid courses at your fingertips, iTunesU boasts one of the world’s largest collection of online courses on some of the most widespread platforms available.

Lynda.com is another useful tool that focuses mostly on computer skills. While its subscription fee of $25 per month may seem high, you can get a week of free access to their vast archive of professional training courses via a 7 day free trial.

Distinguish Yourself

As the list of institutions offering online courses attracts more established names every day, online education is becoming an integral component of many job seekers’ technical repertoire, and may represent the edge you need to separate yourself from the competition. 

Photo: Shutterstock