What Is Networking?
Networking is the process of meeting new people, learning about new industries, and forging new connections that will carry you far in your professional career. These days, there are many different ways to network and in this article, we are going to focus on networking on the social media platform, LinkedIn.
Most people have an Internet presence…Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter. In a digital world, you can see pictures your friends share, news from your relatives, and thoughts posted by influential or famous people. You might think, “social media is fun, but it probably can’t help me professionally.” But that is where LinkedIn becomes handy…
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the social networking platform that has the most impact with professionals. LinkedIn is a professional social media platform that allows you to connect with others. LinkedIn also allows you to post your prior and current positions, as well as adding promotions, volunteer work, your educational career, projects you’ve worked on (graphic design, writing, etc.), and your resume. As with all social media sites, it is recommended that you only connect with people you’ve met before. When you connect with a person you know, you have the option to write a short message when you send a connection invite. LinkedIn also allows you to see your connections’ career changes, posts, and promotions.
Like all social media platforms, you have the option of adding a profile picture. But unlike Instagram or Facebook, your profile picture should not be something like a vacation picture, a selfie, or a photo of your pet. The best LinkedIn profile picture is a professional headshot. It is advised that you wear business attire and refrain from adding filters or crazy backgrounds. Listed below are some “bad” LinkedIn headshots, pulled from actual accounts. Click here to learn more about appropriate and inappropriate headshots.
Photo credits: Forbes
What Are Appropriate LinkedIn Behaviors?
Keeping that in mind, LinkedIn might be marketed as a social media tool, but you are to still conduct yourself with more professionalism, etiquette, and maturity than you would with other platforms. It would be inappropriate to post a picture of your recent vacation, your political beliefs, your weekend plans, or a new purchase that is not related to your professional life.
LinkedIn is also not a place to burn bridges…social media users bicker amongst themselves from time to time, but to do so on LinkedIn is inappropriate and unprofessional. LinkedIn is also not a site where you should troll users. Being rude on the Internet and/or insulting others is morally wrong, but it is also not a way to find new people on LinkedIn. LinkedIn users will recognize a person who leaves negative comments in a way different from an average social networking site…for instance, an interested employer may view your profile and view your most recent posts/activities. If they see a comment you left berating or making fun of someone, then they would most likely be uninterested in reaching out to you. It is tough to work with a person who is belittling or mean and most employers do not want to foster a toxic environment filled with trolls or bullies.
If you remember these tips and etiquette pointers, then you will surely make the most out of your LinkedIn experience. Just remember to connect with people you know, post content relevant to your professional life, add an appropriate headshot and post relevant content, and act with integrity, honesty, and responsibility.
Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140417174121-34888774-linkedin-etiquette-guide-20-do-s-don-ts/