Feature Article

Your LI profile should have all or most of the parts that are in your stand-alone resume. This profile can be posted for the entire world to see, or you can make it visible for a limited audience--you decide and control who sees it.

 

But here are some useful extras that the LI web site offers:

Recommendations. Ask your coworkers, bosses, or other colleagues to write a recommendation for you. You can post (or not, your choice) their comments on your public LI profile. Having great recommendations posted on your profile could be just the edge you need to get that phone call from a hiring manager or recruiter. You can elect to post recommendations from your colleagues and friends on your profile, or not.

 

Groups. The LI web site offers access to many professional and social groups. Group membership requests may or may not require the group moderator's approval. If you become a member, you can display the name and logo of the group in your LI profile. You can use these memberships to show you're active with respect to writing, medical devices, eCTD publishing, and many other pursuits. If you want to branch out into another career or field, consider joining LI groups in the new area. By implication, this can show you're already interested or involved in those new career activities.

Referrals. The LI network includes a built-in referral system. How can recruiter S. Jones use the system, if she needs to locate medical editors for an open staff position? Jones can contact other recruiters and/or medical editors through the LI network, asking for their referrals to qualified candidates. These referral requests often work even if the involved parties don't know each other. The LI network listings are classified by geography, job title, and other parameters, so it's easy to connect with candidates or recruiters using the search function.

Introduction Requests. Another great LI feature is the network's ability to send requests for introductions to new contacts. This feature is one of the functions in the free basic account. It allows you to connect with professionals, locally or worldwide, who may be complementary to your work or job-hunting needs.

Profile Changes and Network Updates. LI will notify you (if you wish) of updates to the profiles of people in your LI network. Even better, you can use this feature to keep your own name and profile in front of those in your network. In turn, this can  make marketing your services easier. What kind of updates trigger notifications to your LI colleagues? Change your photo, revise your profile text, participate in Q & A exchanges, join a group, add a job listing, or add a connection -- all of these changes trigger network updates.

Directory of Service Providers. If you seek contract opportunities, rather than staff positions, you know how important it is for your prospective clients to be able to find you. The  Service Provider Directory is yet another way that LI makes it easier for clients to find the right consultant or contractor. When someone on LI recommends you as a service provider, you are listed in the LI Service Provider Directory.

Remember to use these strategies with other business networking web sites, if the functionalities are available. For those of us who are marketing on a budget, using networking web sites costs nothing (except your time). It's also a very effective way to promote your online professional profile.