
Krasi Shapkarova February 22nd, 2017
Three Takeaways from the Bulgarian Professionals Club LinkedIn Workshop
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Vanya Kaloferova and Krasi Shapkarova led a LinkedIn workshop attended by 20 members of the Bulgarian Professionals Club. In the course of two hours, Vanya and Krasi covered everything from basic information on how to set up a powerful profile to tips on how to maximize one’s professional online presence. Here are the main takeaways:
An incomplete profile is worse than no profile
- A headshot with a professional smile. Make sure you upload a headshot that welcomes visitors to your profile. It needs to convey trust that you know how to do what you say you can do.
- A concise headline. Your six-word brand should give viewers an idea of who you are. Avoid going for the safe option: your job title. You are and do more than your job title suggests.
- A polished summary. Tell your professional story through information about your background, interests, core competencies, and values. Mention a personal fact that gives other professionals a glimpse of who you are beyond your professional engagements. As you work on your summary, consider keywords from your target area as these bring recruiters to your profile.
- Customized LinkedIn URL. It’s easy to do and it shows you are serious about your online profile.
Connect with target professionals the right way
- First, you must identify potential target connections. The obvious groups include alumni, former or current professors, co-workers, supervisors and clients. You can then expand your search to people in target companies.
- Once you identify potential connections, review their profiles and reflect on the value of connecting to them. Be smart and strategic: not every employee at a target company will be a valuable connection.
- Next, draft a customized message you can include in your connection request. Sending a customized message is a must; it will help people determine why you are reaching out and what you have to offer.
- Be genuinely curious about the person and the work they do. If you are reaching out because you just want them to give (find) you a job, you will not be able to build a quality relationship.
Be active: Having a polished profile is only the beginning
- Follow target influencers and companies. Who you follow becomes part of your brand and professional image, so be strategic.
- Join relevant affinity or professional groups and interact with other members.
- Share, like, and comment on articles from employers and influencers you follow.
- Write. Write. Write. Become an influencer by drafting original content and publishing your articles on LinkedIn. Using relevant hashtags brings people to your profile and increases your profile rating.
Good luck building a professional profile on LinkedIn!