Steve Jewell was the featured speaker for MWMC’s Nov. 22 webinar called “Leveraging LinkedIn for Professional Success.” Jewell owns Diamond-In-The-Rough Recruiting, and brings more than 25 years of Fortune 500 human resources experience from all functions of business and numerous industries.

Jewell is an active professional and social networker; he is very involved in the Twin Cities business and social media networking communities. Jewell is proficient in the use of online and emerging recruiting tools and techniques such as LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Below are a few key takeaways from the webinar:

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional social network with more than135 million members and three main goals:

1) Enable users to connect with one another.
2) Enhance career connections and business opportunities.
3) Share industry advice.  

Setting up your LinkedIn account

A photo allows people viewing your LinkedIn profile to quickly identify you. Choose a headshot that is clean and professional. Your LinkedIn photo should differ from a photo posted on Facebook or MySpace, which would be more appropriate for friends and family.

Summarize your professional experience and goals to help other users to quickly learn about your professional background and interests.

Your professional experience is displayed in chronological order. Any recommendations you have received will appear below the respective job description. Your position descriptions should briefly explain what the company does and your main responsibilities in that position. Use clear, succinct phrases when describing your responsibilities.

Your education should also be included in chronological order. Where and what you studied can open connections to alumni or those with similar backgrounds.

You can add a link to your personal blog, company website and Twitter username. You can add your personal interests and lists of professional organizations.

Using LinkedIn to find a new job

Referrals are powerful tools that will help you to get your foot in the door. Click on the “Request Referral” button to see whom in your network connects you to the job poster. You can request an Introduction, which lets you contact people through your current connections.

By connecting with someone on LinkedIn, you have the opportunity to view that person’s connections as well. Thus, the more connections you have on LinkedIn, the more opportunities you have for networking and professional growth.

Jewell stresses the important of building your personal brand via LinkedIn. He suggests updating your profile regularly and contributing to online conversations within your interest groups.

If you’re in a career transition, use you status bar to let people know you’re searching for a job. Posting a status update similar to “I’m seeking a career in communications…” will tell your connections and those searching your profile that you’re looking for a new opportunity.  

LinkedIn is also a great way to keep track of news and trends in your industry. You can find out who has recently been hired in your company. You can even contact someone who has the job you want.

Paid versus free LinkedIn accounts

Everyone can set up a free LinkedIn account. Members who choose to pay for an upgraded account are given certain perks. By paying for a LinkedIn account, you can:

• Send messages directly, without waiting for an introduction from one of your contacts (called “InMails”).
• Access the Profile Organizer that allows you to track important profiles in a dedicated workspace, organize profiles into folders and add details to contacts such as notes and contact information.
• View more profiles when you perform an advanced search (free accounts limit you to 100 search results).
• Access more specifics on who has viewed your profile.