As LinkedIn continues to move forward as the dominant professional social networking platform, it is becoming more and more useful to "tentmakers" earning their living in the corporate world. In the current economic climate finding (and maintaining) employment is becoming a challenge. Those serving in technical ministry can help "digital immigrants" leverage the digital world in a job search is by coaching them not only how to do it, but why to do it.
People use technology they find useful; conversely if you aren't using a particular technology then you may not know its capability. (For example, there is a whole host of people with no idea this conversation is going on.) So, here are the Top 10 reasons LinkedIn is useful in the current economic climate...
1) LinkedIn is a simple way to create and maintain a digital resume.
2) Many companies search for different skillsets for job openings using LinkedIn. (And increasingly, companies are using LinkedIn over Monster and other servcies to post job listings.)
3) By filling out a Linked In profile, you automatically come up high in search engines when people look for your name.
4) LinkedIn shows how people are connected to each other professionally.
5) LinkedIn allows you to create a professional network separate to your personal network (which may be on Facebook, Flickr or MySpace).
6) Linked In is a great way to learn who you should be connecting with in which firms and can provide quick snapshot information on companies without digging through a corporate website.
7) LinkedIn is a great way to prompt yourself to check in and stay connected professionally. (To really maximize this functionality, test drive the Outlook plug-in which will allow you to be prompted when you haven't e-mailed or called someone in a few months.)
8) LinkedIn facilitates group interaction and can allow you to connect with others in your profession digitally.
9) LinkedIn shows job history and the connections of your connections which can sometimes create serendipity in connecting you to a job opportunity through a friend.
10) Setting up a really detailed profile takes less than an hour and is absolutely free.
As digital communication becomes the dominant tool for business, it can pay to be connected. Literally.
