1.
LinkedIn: A Jobseeker’s
Guide
Using Social Media
By Ed Scrivener
2010
1
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

2.
Contents
Introduction Page 3 Building Your Network Page 9
What is LinkedIn? Add Connections
Who Can Use It? Colleagues
What Is It Not? Classmates
What Can It Be Used For? People You May Know
The Benefits For A Jobseeker Get Connected
Creating An Account Page 4 Groups Page 11
Creating A Profile My Groups
Writing A Summary Following
Add An Application Groups You May Like
Experience Groups Directory
Education How To Join A Group
Interests
Honours & Awards How To Use A Group Page 13
Contact & Personal Details Discussions
Contact Settings Members
Promotions
Settings Page 7 Jobs
Profile Settings
Groups Jobs Page 14
Privacy Settings Advanced Search
Other Settings
More... Page 15
Open Networker or Closed Networker? Follow A Company
Page 8 Questions & Answers
Open Networker
Closed Networker Don’t Be Afraid Page 16
Open Networker vs. Closed Networker Recommendations
Ask For Help
About Me Page 17
2
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

3.
Introduction
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is an online networking tool. It is often referred to as a grown-up’s Facebook, however, this
does not do justice to its uses. It is essentially a device that allows you to manage and build your
network of contacts in a targeted manner.
It is also important to point out that the service is free.
You can pay to upgrade your account, however, unless you are a What is LinkedIn
business owner or recruiter there is no need to do so as you gain all Video
the benefits required from the basic account.
Who Can Use It?
LinkedIn is designed for all professionals and so is open to everyone.
What Is It Not?
Most peoples’ opinion of social networking is related to lifestyle sites such as Facebook or Bebo.
LinkedIn is not used by people to post photos or talk about their weekend’s exploits.
What Can It Be Used For?
It can be used for anything that your professional network already provides, just on a far greater
scale. At present there are over 75 million users which even the greatest networker can’t claim to
be able to reach! The sole focus of this guide, however, is to relate how a jobseeker can get the
most out of it.
The Benefits For A Jobseeker
It can be baffling at first understanding how to use and get the most out of LinkedIn and whilst this
guide will point out how to achieve this, it is important to understand from the outset what the key
benefits are:
 Allows jobseekers to source for new opportunities either confidentially or openly. As
LinkedIn has so many uses, membership does not immediately mean you are looking for a
new role, which is how your existing employer will see it.
 As above, jobseekers can reach over 75 million people which not even the best job site can
boast.
 Allows jobseekers to post an online CV. Your profile can act as a CV, so with the correct
information your details will be viewed by headhunters and employers alike.
 Jobs are advertised on LinkedIn. These are posted either via Groups or the specific jobs page
of LinkedIn. 3
 It is an effective use of time. Whilst sourcing for new opportunities you can also build your
professional network, seek help and advice, etc.
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

4.
Creating An Account
Simply go the LinkedIn website and create a new account and follows the steps provided.
Creating A Profile
This is the single most important aspect of using LinkedIn effectively. A poor profile will result in
very few benefits so it is essential to get this part right.
1. Name
Simple enough!
2. Headline
This can take any number of forms, but the following are the most effective:
 Current job title. Recommended if you are confidentially/passively looking for
opportunities.
 Your desired job title. Recommended if you are actively and openly looking for
opportunities.
 Your skillset or service. Not as effective for jobseekers, but useful for interim consultants.
3. Location
It is best to state your home location as employers and recruiters will likely search under this criteria.
4. Industry
There is a long list of industries available so choose the one most relevant.
5. Photo
Despite any modest thoughts you may have, it is essential to have a photo. Anyone reviewing your
profile will immediately be able to put a face to a name and give confidence that the profile is real
and not a spam posting.
Remember, this is not Facebook so keep the photo professional and not of you on the beach from
your last holiday!
The rest of your profile is automatically created once you have completed your career and
educational history with the exception of the following:
6. Websites
You are able to link specific websites to your profile, the following are the most effective:
 Your company. Adding this gives credibility to your account and suggests you are not using
LinkedIn solely for job seeking!
 Other social media sites, i.e. Blogger, Twitter, etc. Remember to only link to these sites if
they are similarly professionally focused.
7. Public Profile 4
LinkedIn automatically provides you with a public profile which is in essence a website address. It is
best to personalise this address as it helps in a number of situations, most notably search engine
optimisation of your name. To personalise your address go to “Edit Public Profile Settings” on the
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

5.
top right hand side of the page and the “update this address”. It is best to use your name, however
if this is not available keep the name professional!
Writing A Summary
This section is similar to a personal profile section in a CV. This allows you to write about who you
are and what you do. You can write this in either the first or third person, however, ensure you keep
to this style throughout. This gives you the opportunity to really sell yourself and it is best to include
the following:
 A brief career overview. This should be the only duplication in your whole account but
should then give the reader an understanding of how your career has taken shape.
 Your skillset. You should relate to your areas of expertise and any major achievements you
may have within these fields. Do not simply list these areas, as you are able to do this in the
next section.
 Your passions. If you are passionate about any particular field of your industry write about it
here.
 Contact Details. Your contacts will be able to see your email address, but other won’t so it is
worthwhile to include your email in the summary and if you are actively looking to include
your mobile number.
 Specialities. Simply put list all your areas of expertise in this section. This should just be a
list as the main summary can provide the detail.
Add An Application
LinkedIn has a number of applications that you can add to your profile ranging from Amazon book
lists to a link to your Blog updates. These applications are effective however if your main purpose
for using LinkedIn is to gain a new role then it is not recommended to add too many applications, if
any at all, as they can clutter the look of your profile.
If you are openly looking for a new role it can be worthwhile to add the “SlideShare Presentation”
application. This allows you to attach documents to your account and the most notable would be a
copy of your CV or recommendations.
Experience
This section is similar to the career history part of a CV. The content of this should reflect whether
you are actively or confidentially looking for opportunities, the key points to include are:
 List all relevant roles. As with a CV you should state the dates worked, the employer and
the title you held. If you include the correct information LinkedIn will be able to generate a
list of people you may know who have worked at the same organisations. The job title and
companies you list will also appear in your profile under “Current” and “Past”.
 Include the remit. As with a CV you can detail your responsibilities within each role. If you
are actively looking for new opportunities it is worthwhile to detail all the major
achievements within each role. It is not recommended to do this is you are confidentially 5
looking as this may arise too much suspicion!
 Write it like a CV. The most important aspect being to include bullet points for all the key
aspects of each role.
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

6.
 Judge the content. As with a CV the most amount of information should be for your recent
roles and the content should decrease with each role listed. A recruiter will review your
profile as swiftly as they would a CV, i.e. 20 seconds! So make sure it is to the point.
Education
As with experience you can list all your educational history. If you have an impressive educational
and vocational background make sure you include this detail. Like the experience section the details
you list will also be listed in your profile, so it is important you only include the qualifications that are
relevant to your current career.
Interests
The interests section should be treated exactly as with a CV, only include your interests if they are
interesting! Simple statements such as reading, socialising, etc will not add to your professional
appearance.
Honours & Awards
As it sounds, in this section you can detail any awards and honours you have received. Only detail
ones that are genuinely relevant to your career.
Contact & Personal Details
You are able to list a number of contact details ranging from email to date of birth. It is highly
recommended to only include your email address. Only include your mobile number if you are
actively looking. Do not include your home address or date of birth as including too much personal
information could cause a potential security risk for you.
Contact Settings
This is the final aspect of creating your account, but it is an essential part to ensuring your profile is
viewed by as many people and has the impact it deserves. The “Edit Contact Settings” tab can be
found at the top right hand corner of the page (just above the “Edit Public Profile Settings” tab which
you’ve already used). It is recommended to do the following:
 Accept introductions and InMail. This does not mean you will be spammed, but does ensure
you will receive any approaches regarding opportunities.
 Set opportunity preferences. Set all the preferences to cover all areas of interest. If you are
looking passively or confidentially including “career opportunities” and “job inquiries” will
not be a cause for concern as this can simply be linked to opportunities for your current
business rather than your own activity.
6
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

7.
Settings
You will have now completed your profile, but it is essential that you ensure you profile is viewable
to recruiters and employers, so you need to ensure your settings are correct. At the very top right
hand corner of the page you will find “Settings” just to the right of the green Add Connections tab,
click on this to set your settings. You do not need to change every aspect and below are the key
settings that you should change.
Profile Settings
This is essential for job seekers as it improves your coverage. If a recruiter or employer is searching
for profiles they will be able to see far more information and as a result a far more likely to contact
you. There are 2 key parts to this section:
 My Profile Photo. Set this option to visible to everyone.
 Member Feed Visibility. Set this option to visible to everyone.
Groups
It is essential to ensure you are able to receive group invitations as this is an integral part of
LinkedIn.
Privacy Settings
This is the most detailed section and the most important in ensuring you maximise the potential of
your profile.
 Research Surveys. You should allow contact for surveys. You will not receive countless
spam, but this will give you more opportunity to network.
 Connections Browse. You are free to choose if your connections can view your network.
Allowing connections to view each other does increase the speed that you will generate your
network. Whereas not allowing does slow the process but provides more confidentiality to
you and your connections.
 Profile Views. It is recommended to allow anyone whose profile your view to see that you
have viewed their details, therefore, you should choose the first option. As a job seeker you
should not choose the third option to remain invisible as this will not develop your network.
 Viewing Profile Photos. Set this option to view everyone as you may not remember a name
but you are more likely to remember a face.
 Profile and Status Updates. Set both options to yes. If you have posted any updates that are
relevant to your job search your connections will be notified. For example, if you state you
are actively looking for work all of your connections will see this.
Other Settings
You can choose the other settings as these will not influence how well your profile is publicised. 7
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

8.
Open or Closed Networker?
This is one of the key decisions you will make regarding your account and you need to choose which
option suits you best.
Open Networker
This means you will connect with anyone and everyone and as a result you will be able to build a
vast network very quickly. The top LinkedIn open networkers have over 40,000 connections. You
can also join specific groups to build your network further, such as Top LinkedIn. If you choose this
option it is recommended to add the letters LION after your name in your profile. This signifies you
are a LinkedIn Open Networker.
Closed Networker
This means you manage your network more traditionally and only connect with people you know or
have been recommended to you. Your network will be far smaller than Open Networkers, but you
will find your connections to be more useful due to the personal link, as an acquaintance is far more
likely to refer a role to you than to someone they do not know. This option is also easier to manage
due to the smaller numbers involved.
Open Networker vs. Closed Networker
You need to choose which option suits you best and below are the key pros and cons of both options
weighed up against each other:
 ONs provides a far bigger network than CNs, therefore you can reach more people and find
more roles.
 CN is far more personal than ON, which provides more personal recommendations for roles
which tend to be very effective.
 ONs still receive the bulk of the benefits of CNs.
 A CNs network is targeted and relevant.
It is your decision as to which route to take and you are not tied for ever with the option you take, so
you can always try one first. Once you have decided you will be ready to start building your
network.
8
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

9.
Building Your Network
Add Connections
This option allows you to search all of your email contacts to see if they are registered with LinkedIn,
which saves hours of leg work. Simply click the green “Add Connections” tab at the very top right
hand corner of the page. You will then be given the option to enter your email account with
password and LinkedIn will then search to see who are members.
This option is not foolproof as it is reliant on your email contacts using the same email as the one
you have. As nearly all of us will have at least 2 different email addresses you are likely to miss a few
by this method.
Another option, although less personal, is to enter a list of email address in the same Add
Connections page and LinkedIn will send a connection request to all regardless of whether they are
members or not. This will help build your profile but can be somewhat impersonal.
Colleagues
In the same Add Connections home page you will see a list of options running along the top tab bar.
The second option is to search for “Colleagues”. Once you have clicked on this tab, you will then
have the option to search for colleagues from all of the organisations you have listed be it past or
present.
If this is one of your first times of using this option you should click “view all” to ensure you do not
miss anyone you know. Once you have used this more often you can simply click “find new” and this
will only search on people who have recently registered with LinkedIn.
Classmates
This option works in the same manner as Colleagues as LinkedIn will search against anyone who has
listed the same educational institutions are you have.
People You May Know
This is the most important section and proves to be increasingly useful as your network grows. This
matches anyone who may have worked or studied at the same places as you, but more importantly
this also shows the connections of your connections, known as 2nd and 3rd degree connections, who
are relevant to your vocation and interests.
This can be found in 3 places. The first is via the Add Connections tab on the far right, however, the
best place to utilise this is on your homepage, which is the first section on the top right hand side of
the page. You will find this one more useful as you are more likely to visit the homepage than the
Add Connections tab. 9
The third area you will find this will be after you have sent or accepted a connection request.
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

10.
Get Connected
Whichever method you use to connect to a person you will be taken to a screen that asks “How do
you know...?” It is important you answer this question truthfully, as nothing is more likely to result
in you being reported for spam than to say you are a friend of someone you have never met!
The second key point is that you can include a personal note. LinkedIn generates a standard
message, however, it is highly recommended to write a personal note instead. If you know the
person really well then just a personal message will suffice, however, if it is someone you do not
know as well you should include the following:
 How do you know them? State when you last spoke or met, or if you are a friend of a friend.
 Why do you want to connect to them? Make sure this is as much for their benefit as yours
 Add you contact number. LinkedIn does not allow email or web addresses in this field, but
telephone numbers are fine. LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool, but nothing beats the
telephone!
10
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

11.
Groups
The purpose and benefits of Groups are on the whole misunderstood by many LinkedIn users.
Groups provide a forum for like minded people or professionals from a similar vocation to exchange
views, seek help and advice and generally network freely. The only downside to the Groups is that
as they a managed voluntarily by members and many have succumbed to spam and spurious
postings. Fortunately, there is a growing trend to eradicate this and you will find Groups becoming
increasingly focused and helpful.
You can find the “Groups” tab in the middle of the top tab bar. Once you have clicked on this you
will be given a number of further options within the Groups homepage.
My Groups
This section allows you to manage the groups of which you are a member. If you have the basic free
account you can join up to 50 groups which is more than sufficient. You can edit the order the
groups appear in your list and the key aspect from this page is you can see the activity that is taking
place in any of these groups, i.e. how many new discussions or more importantly jobs.
Following
This section shows you the activity of those you are following. This is particularly useful as you will
be able to see if one of your contacts has posted a job in one of the groups.
Groups You May Like
This section is similar to People You May Know as LinkedIn will recommend groups to you based
upon your connections and interests.
Groups Directory
This allows you to search for relevant groups. So simply add keywords that are relevant to your job
search and the search engine will find any that match the requirements.
How To Join A Group
You will now know how to find groups but how do you use them? Firstly you should search for
groups relevant to your industry. You will find each group has a summary and when you find one
you want to join simply click “Join Group”. Some groups may have a criteria to join so your
membership will need to be approved, others are open to everyone.
You will then be given a number of options about how often you receive information. As a job 11
seeker it is important you keep up to date with any new opportunities so apply the following
settings:
 Display the logo on your page. This will encourage fellow members to connect with you.
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

12.
 Receive daily digest emails. This will ensure you do not miss any important discussions or
job opportunities.
 Receive messages from members.
The option to receive posts about each new discussion is down to your discretion. If you choose this
option with a very large group you may find that there are simply too many emails being sent,
however, if you are a member of a group specifically geared towards jobs within your vocation then
it would be worthwhile to receive an update on any new posts.
12
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

13.
How To Use A Group
Once you are a member of a group you can start reaping the benefits. The key areas of a group are
as follows:
Discussions
This is where discussions relevant to the specific group are posted. These are often non-commercial,
so whilst these may not bring an immediate impact in the long run contributing to these groups will
raise your profile. This is another reason to add a photo to your profile as when you post a comment
or write a discussion fellow members will see it is not a spam posting.
These discussions really give you an opportunity to show off your ability, so make sure your
comments are professional and well thought out.
If you post a discussion you become eligible to be listed as a top influencer of the week, which is
found on the right hand side of the group home page. Simply the more comments you have the
higher up the list you move. As a result it is another method to raise your profile.
Members
This section allows you to view all members of the group, which is another good way of building your
network.
Promotions
This is a new section to LinkedIn groups and there is not set rule how these are used. The purpose is
to allow commercial promotions in a section that does not clutter the discussion pages.
Jobs
As a job seeker this is naturally the key area. Each group differs, but typically these jobs will be
posted by recruiters and employers alike. Unfortunately some groups will have some spam postings
here, so be prepared to wade through the roles.
Other than job adverts most groups will also allow you to post an advert to publicise your
availability. Groups differ as to where this can be placed, but most prefer these within the jobs
section.
13
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

14.
Jobs
As above the Groups have job pages, but organisations can also advertise directly on LinkedIn
similarly to traditional job boards. The tab can be fund along the main tab bar in between “Groups”
and “Inbox”
LinkedIn will automatically flag any roles that are relevant to your experience based upon what you
have inputted into your profile, however, it is advisable to conduct an advanced search to compile a
full list of opportunities.
Advanced Search
You will find the option to complete an advanced search near the main “Search” button. The
process is straightforward and is similar to other search options within LinkedIn as well as other job
boards.
You will be given a number of options and it is advisable to initially search under a broad criteria and
dependent upon the results you can then be more specific to reduce the number of roles if required.
You can initially choose to include information from the following:
 Keywords
 Job Title
 Location
 Company
Including a key word and location are important, however, the other two options may make the
search too narrow.
Similarly, you can also refine the search further with the following:
 Functions
 Industries
 Experience
 When Posted
As above it is only advisable to use these options if the initial search created too many results.
14
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

15.
More...
You will find a tab labelled “More...” on the right hand side of the main page bar at the top of the
home page. This isn’t as cryptic as it sounds and provides a number of other options to help
increase your chances of finding a role and increasing your profile.
Follow A Company
The first tab in this drop down menu is “Companies” which allows you to search for companies in
LinkedIn. Once you have found a company a relatively new function allows you to follow the
organisation. As a result this updates when anyone joins or more importantly leaves an
organisation. As a job seeker you need to be aware if someone has left a business as this may result
in a job. Similarly, where has the employee moved to, as it may be an organisation which is looking
for more people.
When you click into the company profile you will find on the right hand side a clear start next to the
words “Follow Company”. Simply click on the star and you are now following the company. Further
to this whoever is the administrator for the specific company’s profile will be informed you are
following the company and will be alerted to your availability for work.
Questions & Answers
The second option in the “More...” drop down menu is “Answers”. This section allows you to ask
and answer a question relating to any subject. In effect this section is similar to the discussion pages
of a group, but it is open to everyone and not just group members.
As with the discussion pages, you will need to keep your answers and questions both focused and
professional. It is advisable to answer and ask questions relating to your vocation, as whilst
answering numerous questions can be helpful it does not illustrate your vocational ability for
recruiters and employers to judge.
A real benefit of this section is that if you answer a question the original poster of the question has
the option to make one of the answer the Best Answer. If your question is voted as Best Answer
anyone viewing your profile will see this. If you have received a number of Best Answers within your
vocational area this will illustrate you are an expert within the field.
15
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

16.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask
This is not unique to LinkedIn, but in general people are backwards in coming forwards when it
comes to asking acquaintances for help and advice. As a result, the computer based method of
LinkedIn may provide you with more confidence to ask for help but however shy you may be a
network is built to support you. Therefore, ask your connections for help!
Recommendations
You will have noted when completing your profile and organising your settings there is an option for
recommendations. You may find people will recommend you without asking, which is always a nice
boost for the ego but do not be afraid to ask for a recommendation. If you have a genuine working
history with your connection they will more than likely provide you with a recommendation. Once
you have a recommendation anyone viewing your profile will see this. In effect these act as
references and any recruiter or employer will be able to see your track record before even
contacting you. If you have a list of good recommendations you are far more likely to be contacted.
It is simple to ask for a recommendation. Along the main tab bar you will find the tab for “Profile”,
this is a drop down menu and you should choose the option “Recommendations”. Once you have
chosen this simply follow the option “Ask to be endorsed” against your relevant role. You will then
be taken to a screen where you can ask up to 50 people at one time to recommend you. Whilst you
can send these broad requests it is highly advisable to send these individually as it is both more
personal and more likely to get better results. As with connections it is also highly advisable to
personalise the standard request.
16
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707

17.
About Me
I have been a specialist Human Resources recruiter in the UK for the last 8 years. From the early part
of my career I had the desire to move away from the standard numbers driven recruitment market
and instead use innovative resourcing strategies, as a result my attraction to social media was a
foregone conclusion. I presently run my own recruitment business and am also a partner with an HR
Consultancy which sees the daily use of social media solutions, with LinkedIn being the most
notable.
If you wish to follow me in any of my social media outlets, my various connection details are below:
LinkedIn Profile
Twitter – ScrivRec
Blog – ScrivRec
YouTube
Scrivener Recruitment
AcademyHR
Human Resources UK (LinkedIn Group)
Alternatively I can be emailed at ed@scrivener-rec.com
17
Ed Scrivener, Scrivener Recruitment & AcademyHR | ed@scrivener-rec.com | 01179 147707