Most of us have been recommended by someone from our LinkedIn network for jobs, joint ventures, or services. Yet, maximizing and leveraging LinkedIn remains a mystery to many people.
I’ve been a fan of LinkedIn for over a decade. While LinkedIn boasts that 3 people are hired through their platform every minute, it’s not just about getting jobs. Though truthfully, three of my most recent opportunities came directly from someone reaching out on LinkedIn, I see the platform’s value in other ways including:
- A place to keep up with past managers. We all get busy from time to time, but I’ve found that a quick note, like, or share of a post keeps me engaged with those VIPs from past jobs. This interaction keeps relationships fresh and top of mind when it’s time for advice or a reference later in your career.
- A way to befriend new people and stay in contact with old friends. As someone who doesn’t use Facebook, LinkedIn allows me to stay current with all of my associates and classmates. I’ve had one (unlisted) job opportunity and one joint venture come from keeping up with people on the platform.
- Social proof. A benefit of having a robust online presence and being connected with a wide range of people is that others you might not know are more keen to meet you based on “who you know.” This can be incredibly valuable.
- Warm fuzzies. Yep. I’m sure it’s not a huge deal to most people, but from what I’ve experienced, I get random “pick-me-ups” from my old coworkers, clients, and students on a regular basis. Some check in to tell me how things are going with them. Others reach out to reminisce and share a laugh. And still others connect to tell me what an impact I made on their lives (and that one last week is what inspired this post).
Also bear in mind that as my connections have ballooned to the almost 1K mark of people I didn’t request, yet sought out the connection, I’ve employed the techniques I share in the PDF on this page to maintain a presence and keep up with the great folks I’ve met along the way. I’m sure I could list more reasons to stay engaged on the social network, but my overriding message is to encourage you to stop using LinkedIn as an online resume.
Get the most out of the platform in only 30 minutes per week with this simple cheat sheet to manage all of your connections!
