What's the best way of setting up your LinkedIn Profile?

[cojak]

Well, I'll admit it - I'm not sure that I'm using LinkedIn to it's best advantage.

I've basically just cut and paste my CV into my profile, but I've seen advice that your profile (certainly the 1st part) should be more informal and 1st person based. Would this be in a narrative style?

I do know that agents are beginning to challenge differences in your CV to your LinkedIn Profile but I think that provided contract dates align you could confidently push back by saying that the 2 are different beasts used for different purposes.

What does the panel think?

[SimonMac]

Well, I'll admit it - I'm not sure that I'm using LinkedIn to it's best advantage.

I've basically just cut and paste my CV into my profile, but I've seen advice that your profile (certainly the 1st part) should be more informal and 1st person based. Would this be in a narrative style?

I do know that agents are beginning to challenge differences in your CV to your LinkedIn Profile but I think that provided contract dates align you could confidently push back by saying that the 2 are different beasts used for different purposes.

What does the panel think?

Have you tried using the search?

[AnonAgent]

As an agent, I would suggest solely that you get people to recommend your work. Some clients do check out profiles and I have had a client say "I dont know if I trust him, no one on linkedin has recommended them"

Edit: Oh and obviously, you dont need to make it your managers. Because that is a sure fire way of us agents finding out who you worked for. Its the new "i just need two references".

[oscarose]

I didn’t take a particularly scientific approach and just threw everything onto my profile in the designated areas, but it did the trick and attracted a lot of interest and yielded a number of good leads resulting in contracts.

Searching through old threads ‘v8gaz’ seems to have a lot knowledge in this area.

[cojak]

Have you tried using the search?

Yes I have.

[pmeswani]

Well, I'll admit it - I'm not sure that I'm using LinkedIn to it's best advantage.

I've basically just cut and paste my CV into my profile, but I've seen advice that your profile (certainly the 1st part) should be more informal and 1st person based. Would this be in a narrative style?

I do know that agents are beginning to challenge differences in your CV to your LinkedIn Profile but I think that provided contract dates align you could confidently push back by saying that the 2 are different beasts used for different purposes.

What does the panel think?

My LinkedIn profile is pretty much the same as my CV to a certain extent. My Professional Headline states if I am available or not. I have been approached by a few agents and clients, but nowt to write home about.

I have given up on the "Recommendations" theory as it is biased towards the positive and not the balanced view. If I get interviewed and the client wants to know what I am like, they can ask the agent to ask my previous agents to obtain references from my previous clients if they so wish. I haven't been refused work based on the lack of LinkedIn references.

[norrahe]

Well, I'll admit it - I'm not sure that I'm using LinkedIn to it's best advantage.

I've basically just cut and paste my CV into my profile, but I've seen advice that your profile (certainly the 1st part) should be more informal and 1st person based. Would this be in a narrative style?

I do know that agents are beginning to challenge differences in your CV to your LinkedIn Profile but I think that provided contract dates align you could confidently push back by saying that the 2 are different beasts used for different purposes.
think
What does the panel think?

I have put basic details of the roles rather than cutting and pasting my CV. If an agent is interested in what I'm doing and want to get me a role then they contact me and get an updated CV.

I've found by posting in special interest groups gets people interested in your profile and try and get 1 or two recommendations from people you have either managed or managed you. It is a little difficult to take someone seriously if they have 50 recommendations from mates they have worked with.

As for posting in groups, try not to spam them but post articles that are useful and if you can get something "hot off the press" if does raise your profile. I have been approached regarding consultancy work on the basis or articles or comments posted in groups.

I do connect with pimps but my connections are hidden and I have connected with people in groups that work in my area who may be able to benefit me in the future ( and it has worked). If you do go for a meeting with someone or have met someone at a conference, do try and link with them.

If does take a while to build the profile but it is worth it in the end.

Also remember that LinkedIn is not facebook or twitter, a lot of people the same carp they post on facebook or twitter, the business populous does not want to know if you" had a bacon sarnie for your tea" or that "your shower is on the blink".

Use the status to your advantage, it saves you ringing people when you are looking for a new role.

A good professional looking profile pic is always good, I don't know how many profiles I've seen that look like they've been taken after one too many at the company do or with their significant other next to them. It is a business site.

[v8gaz]

Stick to the basics, get the client names in, and a brief description of the roles. I'm not convinced about recomendations, as everyone simply asks their mates to provide on a reciprocal basis. At least two of mine are comedy recomendations, but you would probably have to have been at that client to get the joke.

Don't connect with agents unless you know them and trust them - the whole reason linkedin works is the trust element, and if you connect to random scumbags then that's broken. If I'm looking for someone, and we have a mutual linkedin connection, then thats a good sign.

Don't confuse Linkedin with Jobserve - its for managing your circle of contacts on the basis that they will one day want to work with you again, and recommend you when they see that you are looking for work. That's how its working for me nowadays, but you have to ensure that you have built up a large enough pool of contacts - around 250 is enough.

Build that contact list, think back through all your previous gigs and invite everyone know know (and trust) to connect. Look through your contacts contacts and you WILL find people you know and have forgotten about.

Join groups and contribute, and make yourself known.

Its a bit of work, but the benefits are real.

[v8gaz]

Oh, and I agree about FB and twitter - DO NOT link them. I have dropped contacts who flood my Linkedin timeline with their twitter feed.

[nomadd]

Well, I'll admit it - I'm not sure that I'm using LinkedIn to it's best advantage.

I've basically just cut and paste my CV into my profile, but I've seen advice that your profile (certainly the 1st part) should be more informal and 1st person based. Would this be in a narrative style?

I do know that agents are beginning to challenge differences in your CV to your LinkedIn Profile but I think that provided contract dates align you could confidently push back by saying that the 2 are different beasts used for different purposes.

What does the panel think?

K.I.S.S

I have a Summary section on page 1 of my c.v., and it's that summary that I use for my linkedIn profile, albeit a little trimmed down. I think posting the entire c.v. is pretty pointless and counter-productive.

Below the Summary, I have a simple list of areas of expertise that I'm looking for in future roles, just so people know what it is I do and what I'm looking for next.

Whatever you do, don't follow the 'bot on their site which tries to get you to "improve" your profile. Having all your schoolmates and ex-colleges on your profile just looks awful. I'm always very suspicious of people with 100's of linkedIn connections - just seems like sad trolling to me (kind of like these "social networking" sites.)

Oh, and reject all connection requests from Agents.