LinkedIn for Your Job Search October 2025

This webinar helps you understand and navigate your way through LinkedIn. Topics covered include learning the many elements of your profile, populating your work experience history, and understanding why a profile is more than just a resume. You will be able to identify the different features available on LinkedIn and where to focus your attention. We will teach how to create a job search agent on LinkedIn and explore job applications on LinkedIn.

1. For Your Job Search brought to you by Bruce A. Bennett Career Coach Corner October 13, 2025

2. Introduction & Notes for session Introduction MCWN Volunteer since 2010 & Contractor from 2018 Career Coach Corner Blogger & Presenter LinkedIn user since 2006 General Notes for Today My contact info is on the last slide Workshop is interactive, Q/A & Parking lot Follow-up email includes a link to the deck (no recording) and an evaluation survey Red arrows point to LinkedIn page topic(s)

3. Outline for session Outline Why LinkedIn? Navigation tabs Enhancing your profile Best Practices Building your network Searching Settings

4. Goals for session Goals Recognize the differences in a resume & profile Understand how to build a compelling profile Create a relevant job search agent(s) in LinkedIn Research employers on LinkedIn & the Internet

5. LinkedIn - What is it & Why use it? Over 1.15 b illion professionals in more than 200 countries use it to connect, learn ideas, promote, & opportunities! Your LinkedIn Profile Is Not a Copy of Your Resume for 5 Reasons More than 90% of recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn 45 million people use LinkedIn to job search weekly 6 people are hired on LinkedIn every minute 77 job applications submitted every second Source: https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-statistics-business

6. Your View of My Introduction Card

7. Your View of My Introduction Card Use the More button to reveal additional options including the Connect

8. My View of the Introduction Card

9. LinkedIn Home Tab

10. LinkedIn My Network Tab - Grow

11. LinkedIn My Network Tab - Catch up

12. LinkedIn Jobs Tab

13. LinkedIn Messaging Tab

14. LinkedIn Navigation Tab - Notifications

15. LinkedIn Me Tab

16. LinkedIn For Business Tab

17. Adding a Custom Banner Providing a custom banner enhances a profile

18. Adding a Custom Banner Use relevant image of your profession or brand 1600 x 400 pixels is suggested banner size

19. Adding a Custom Banner Upload a Photo option allows you to adjust the image to size

20. Editing Your Profile Contact Info Check your contacts for email & phone

21. Editing Your Profile Contact Info Your contact info should include email & phone

22. LinkedIn's Career Explorer Career Explorer identifies transferable skills https://linkedin.github.io/career-explorer/

23. LinkedIn's Career Explorer Begin by identify a job title LinkedIn makes suggestion based on key words

24. LinkedIn's Career Explorer Default setting changes from high to low Find jobs on LinkedIn that match your skills

25. LinkedIn Best Practices Photo Headline that’s not a title About section - TMAY Complete Skills section #OpentoWork - Create a job search agent Posting activity updates & add media Build your network of connections Recommendations Following & engaging with target companies Join Groups

26. Best Practice - Photo Passport photo with a professional appearance Contrasting plain background Rename photo for SEO e.g. Bruce Bennett LinkedIn Training.jpg

27. Best Practice - Headline Headline can have 220 characters Separate your skills with a space and pipe symbol or create a Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

28. The About section can have 2600 characters The first paragraph should be about your skills, job titles, work experience and passion Second paragraph should relate how you added value for a previous employer(s) - tell a STAR story The final paragraph should tell how you can solve a company’s problems and/or career role you are seeking Close with a call to action: “let’s connect…contact me if…call me if” Incorporate the new logo and your top 5 skills Best Practice - About Summary

29. Examples of an About Section

30. LinkedIn Suggested Actions Add your email address at the top of your About section Post your 2-page resume in the Featured Section and maintain it as the first item Why? Make it easier for recruiters to contact you! Join LinkedIn groups to increase the number of network connections Common LinkedIn Setting Mistakes Causing Invisibility

31. Best Practice - Skills Two skills are featured but you can have 100 skills You can add a new skill by clicking the + hyperlink symbol Your skills can be edited by clicking on the pencil Add a new skill Edit your skills

32. Best Practice - Skills LinkedIn suggests key skills based on your profile Click on the skill and Save to add it to your profile Or type in a skill to add it to your profile

33. Best Practice - Skills You can select the role in which you gained the experience Multiple positions can be selected for the skill

34. Best Practice - Skills & Endorsements Click on the editing pencil to arrive at this screen. Two options when clicking on the 3 dots symbol.

35. Best Practice - Skills & Endorsements Click on the symbol and drag the skill to the new position.

36. Best Practice - Skills & Endorsements Endorsement settings Enable endorsements to boost your skills

37. Best Practice - LinkedIn Skills It is imperative to add all your skills to your profile You might ask yourself why is this important? This Is Why I Emphasize Skills

38. Best Practice - LinkedIn Job Search LinkedIn has many tools to enhance job search Covertly letting Recruiters know you are open to work Overtly informing Everyone you are #Opentowork Advising you are Open to New Opportunities #ONO Review jobs Recommended for you by LinkedIn Search for job openings by title, skill, or company Create relevant job search agent(s) in LinkedIn

39. Best Practice - LinkedIn Job Search LinkedIn suggestions based on profile, skills, company, etc. Enter a job title & location to start a search

40. Best Practice - Job Search Agent All filters allow for expanded searching by Date posted, Experience level, Company and more…. Searches can be filtered on many criteria & saved

41. Best Practice - Job Tab Filter Panel

42. Best Practice - Job Tab Filter Panel Utilize filters to target your ideal position & company New filters have been recently added Under 10 Applicants, In Your Network & Fair Chance Employer

43. Best Practice - Job Search Agent Apply on the Company website

44. LinkedIn Job Applications The Apply button prompts you to share your profile

45. LinkedIn Easy Apply Application Only use Easy Apply if NOT listed on the Company Website

46. LinkedIn Easy Apply Application Easy Apply has many screens for the application Paul Cameron counsels why not to use a LinkedIn Resume

47. LinkedIn Easy Apply Job Application Easy Apply shows your application progress

48. LinkedIn Easy Apply Job Application One step in the application process is sharing your work experience section but only includes a limit of ten positions Self identification are other questions that may be included You have an opportunity to review the application before submitting it

49. Best Practice - #OpenToWork Two options exist for the #OpentoWork option Click on the Open to button to start a multi-step process

50. Best Practice - #OpenToWork Add job titles that are appropriate for your career The maximum number of job titles you can insert is five Use all 5!

51. Best Practice - #OpenToWork Select from Location types and areas, Start date and an Employment type

52. Best Practice - #OpenToWork Select Recruiters only or All LinkedIn members You can edit #OpenToWork status Note: If you are employed and you select All LinkedIn members people at your company can view your status

53. Best Practice - #OpenToWork LinkedIn offers to post your #OpenToWork as a generic status Click on the Start a post button to customize the message

54. Best Practice - #OpenToWork The post should be concise and focused on what you are seeking

55. Best Practice - #OpenToWork

56. Best Practice - #OpenToWork Exercise caution when interacting with a recruiter’s requests or messages. Review their profile for accuracy or validation that they are a real person.

57. Activity posting can be articles, recognition, etc. or reposted Try to include an article hyperlink, image or video Click on Show all posts to view additional content Best Practice - Your Activity

58. Best Practice - Your Activity Activity is displayed in four categories The More button allows you to review Events, Documents or Reactions

59. Information about the individuals viewing your posts Best Practice - Your Activity

60. Best Practice - Your Analytics Your Analytics are only visible to you Post analytics Impressions offers insights about the exposure your activity Periods range from past 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, 90 days, and 365 days

61. Best Practice - Add Media Slideshare stores files to share on your profile/posts Use in Posting, Featured or Work Experience

62. Three levels of connections Your LinkedIn Network - 1 st , 2 nd , or 3 rd

63. Best Practice - Build Your Network LinkedIn recommends connections, alumni, etc.

64. Best Practice - Build Your Network Click on blue Connect button

65. Best Practice - Build Your Network Dialogue box pops up with two options Add a note customized to the person Send now produces a generic spam like message

66. Best Practice - Build Your Network Make it personal and engaging with a limit of 200 characters After accepting a connection request, send the person a thank you note, offer of help in networking or welcome them to your network

67. Best Practice - Build Your Network 2nd Level - Click Connect Button, Message Locked

68. Best Practice - Build Your Network 2nd Level - Click Connect or Message group member

69. Best Practice - Build Your Network Click on More to reveal several options including Connect

70. Building Your LinkedIn Network or Not

71. Building Your LinkedIn Network or Not

72. Building Your LinkedIn Network or Not Another way to remove connections is to view the individual on the network tab

73. Best Practice - Recommendations They are an important element of your profile Ideally, have at least two or three recommendations Ask any of your LinkedIn connections Co-workers, Managers, Vendors, Clients, etc. How does the process work? Write a recommendation for others Ask for a recommendation from several connections A two-way street, i.e. quid pro quo You are messaged that a recommendation was written Review it and approve to post it or ask for a revision Lastly, are your recommendations current?

74. Best Practice - Recommendations

75. Best Practice - Recommendations First step is identify who to ask by typing a name

76. Best Practice - Recommendations The 2nd step is to define your relationship and position with the individual by selecting options from the drop down menus

77. Best Practice - Recommendations The 3rd step is to customize the request and offer an idea for their comments. Finish writing the note and click on the Send button to complete.

78. Best Practice - Follow Companies LinkedIn lists your interests at the end of your profile page Keep current with your target companies LinkedIn enables you to easily view news & jobs

79. Best Practice - Follow Company LinkedIn company page features many details Following the company makes it easy to stay informed and up to date about it Jobs can usually be found on their company page

80. Best Practice - Follow Company The About section features an overview with many details about the company You can let a company know you are interested in working there

81. Best Practice - Follow Company Like, Comment or Repost to engage with a company

82. Best Practice - Follow Company Additional Job search agents can be specific for your target company You are more likely to be viewed when liking, commenting or sharing their content It demonstrates you are engaged with the company

83. Best Practice - Join Groups LinkedIn lists your interests at the end of your profile page

84. Best Practice - LinkedIn Groups Access LinkedIn Groups via For Business or Home

85. Best Practice - LinkedIn Groups Groups are important and vary with members #s & activity You can manage notifications, change settings or leave

86. Best Practice - LinkedIn Groups You can view & search the members of a group This makes it easy to message a non-connection

87. Best Practice - LinkedIn Groups This post from Linked N Chicago (LiNC) illustrate another reason to join groups

88. LinkedIn Searching Find people, companies, groups, etc. using search Type in name or subject and press Enter key

89. LinkedIn Searching Click on People to reveal categories; People, Jobs, etc. Clicking on All filters opens a dialogue box on the right

90. LinkedIn Searching - Filter Panel

91. LinkedIn Searching - Filter Panel

92. LinkedIn Searching - Filter Panel You can search for an HR recruiter OR Talent Acquisition specialist with a target company to identify potential connections.

93. Who Viewed You? The 5 most recent five people are identified with a free account except those that want to remain anonymous

94. LinkedIn Settings

95. LinkedIn Settings

96. LinkedIn Settings

97. LinkedIn Settings There are 3 profile viewing options. You want to let individuals and companies know you are looking at them!

98. LinkedIn Settings

99. I want to add you to the 2025 Success Stories Lisa - Administrative Assistant Deborah - Medical Billing Olivia - Mortgage Industry Bob - Market Research Kevin - IT Tech Support Regi - Human Resources Rafael - Accounting Lisa - Marketing Jennifer - Business Development Rose - Marketing Susan - Market Research

100. McHenry County Workforce Network Career Workshops & Services brochure for October Free Personalized Job Search Assistance Services To sign up, email the professional directly LinkedIn Critiques 60 minute session Virtual Session is a one on one profile review and/or Q&A about LinkedIn usage Email me to set up an appointment: [email protected]

101. Upcoming Webinar Events Advanced LinkedIn Strategies Wednesday , October 15, 2025, from 10:00am to 12:00pm Resumes, Cover Letters & Applying Online Wednesday, November 6, 2 025, from 10:00am to 12:00pm Guide for a Winning Interview Mon day, November 6 , 2025, from 10:00am to 12:00pm Network to Success Job Club Effective Networking for Your Career Wednesday , November 12, 2025, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

102. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn Bruce A. Bennett Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bruceabennett Career Coach Corner Blog: http://bruce73.wordpress.com/ https://bruce73.wordpress.com/upcoming-presentations/ Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/b-squared-linkedin