Sure most of you have you ever heard of LinkedIn. Although many may not know what it is or how useful it is. Next we are going to talk more about it. So you can know what it is, what it is for, and more importantly, how it works. Thus, you may discover that it is something that interests you and make use of it.
On some previous occasion we have already talked about LinkedIn on the web, but then we will talk in more depth so that you can already get an idea of what it is or what it is for. But all this, in addition to the way it works, we will tell you below.
What is LinkedIn and what is it for?
LinkedIn is a social network that was founded in December 2002 and it was officially launched in May 2003. Its creators are Reid Hoffman, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, Allen Blue and Jean-Luc Vaillant. Although, it is not a traditional social network, as we know in other cases.
Since this time we mean a professional social network. It is geared towards business and professional relationships, rather than personal ones. Thanks to it, it is possible to find companies or professionals looking to do business, make themselves known or network. In addition, you also have the possibility of looking for a job or offering it, through this website. But, it is clear that LinkedIn is aimed at a professional audience.
This website, which we also have available in the form of an app for mobile phones, has grown rapidly throughout the world. Currently the number of users It is close to 500 million worldwide, more than 200 countries in the case of the network. It also has a large presence in Spain, with millions of users in our country.
Therefore, if you want to make yourself known among people and companies in your sector, promote your business, or are looking for a job, this social network is the best option. It will allow you be in contact with professionals of all the world. Something that can be a great opportunity for your business or for you individually.
How LinkedIn works
First of all we have to access the LinkedIn website, where are we going to create an account. You can do it from this link. To create an account we enter our email, name and surname and a password. Once we have accessed this account, the first thing that we will be asked to do is configure our profile on the professional social network.
LinkedIn profile
Our profile on this social network is like a kind of CV or cover letter towards professionals and companies that come to visit it. For this reason, we have to introduce our work experience in it, mentioning the companies in which we have worked, the time that we have worked, the position and the tasks that we have carried out in that position. Explaining these aspects in detail gives a better picture.
We must also introduce studies that we have completed throughout our lives. Therefore, if you have completed a degree, or have done a master's degree, it must be mentioned. Mention the title, the study center, qualifications (optional), study time, etc. The languages we speak and the level of them are also requested. To do this, in the language section, the language is entered and you have the possibility to choose between different levels.
In addition to this, we can introduce other courses or additional training that we have received. Everything that serves to show that we have this knowledge or that we are prepared. If you have written a book, thesis, or carried out a project or research, you can also enter them, there is a section for it in the profile.
Another very interesting aspect of your LinkedIn profile is that you are allowed to enter a number of skills that you consider you have and you are good at. In addition, other people who have worked or studied with you, can validate these skills. Something that will serve other people, especially if they want to hire you, to see if you meet the profile they are looking for.
Finally, as regards the profile on LinkedIn, it is important to keep the information updated. Therefore, if you change jobs, leave the one you currently have or complete any additional training, you must update this information. They may be of interest to those who visit your profile, especially when looking for a job.
LinkedIn Contacts
One of the key functions of this social network is to meet and contact professionals from all over the world. When you create an account and configure your profile in it, contacts are usually recommended to you. They are those you know, or who work in your company or have studied at the same center as you. Typically, you add these people you know first.
And on LinkedIn you can always search for profiles, using the search engine at the top. In this way, you will be able to add people that you think may be useful to promote yourself or your business, or if you are looking for a job. There are profiles that are public, in which you can see all the data and other private ones. In addition, there are users who have limited who you can send a contact request. So you will meet people to whom you can not send this request. But you can send a private message.
Having a broad network of contacts on LinkedIn can be very helpful. It depends on the use you are going to give this professional social network. But this is something you should be clear about, since it may also influence the people you are going to contact. You too you are going to receive requests from people who want to be part of your network. You must decide whether or not you accept, with the same criteria that you add to other people.
Groups
We find a large number of groups available on LinkedIn. There are groups of all kinds, from workers in a company, to students of a career or university or people who talk about a specific topic. It can be interesting to be in one of them. Not only to participate in debates or news about them, but to be able to have contact with other people. Also to be up to date with what is happening in that topic or activity.
You can search for groups using the search engine at the top of the web. Once you've completed your profile, you may get some group recommendations to belong to. Too, you can visit the profiles of those people in your network and see which groups they are in. Since if they are like-minded people, there is probably a group that is of interest to you.
The most common is that LinkedIn groups are divided into two: Public and Private. Therefore, in the former, anyone can join them. While in the second type, you have to request to enter it and it will be the group administrator who decides to give you access to it.
Jobs
Another of the great utilities of the professional social network is to look for a job, which has new competitors in Spain. Over time, changes have been made to this aspect on the web, but now, when we enter LinkedIn, at the top we find a jobs section. By clicking on it, we find job offers that may be of interest to us.
The job offers displayed are different for each user. For it, your profile information has been used, such as your studies or work experience, to be able to show jobs that could be related to what you are looking for. Typically, jobs are displayed in your area. Although if you want, you can use the search engine in this section and search for jobs anywhere in the world.
You can click on a job offer, where you can find all the information about the company and the specific position. Also, LinkedIn usually shows how many of your skills are suitable for this job, so that you can get an idea about the possibilities you have, or the possible compatibility with that job.
When requesting, you can do it directly in said offer. There is always a request button, large. By doing this, your profile will be shown to the company on LinkedIn, where they have all the data of your experience and studies available. In some cases, there may be companies that ask for additional documents such as letters of recommendation or a letter explaining why you are good for the position.
LinkedIn Learning
A service that we have already told you about, and which you can access from the website of the social network. You just have to click on the icon of the nine squares that is in the upper right part of the screen, under which a text that says products appears. When pressing, a few options come out, among which we find Learning.
It is a website where we have access to online courses, in many cases free. In this way, you will be able to complete or improve your training with courses from various entities, which can be helpful in your professional career. The number of courses has increased significantly. So surely there are some that interest you.