Give your account the spring cleaning it deserves and get the most out of the platform's potential for networking, job hunting and researching
LinkedIn is a valuable tool for networking, job seeking and researching people and their career paths. It is also useful for journalists looking to build their professional profile by sharing their work, networking with peers, learning new skills, and finding fresh sources and prospects.
With over one billion members, 67 million listed companies, and 139,000 listed schools, LinkedIn bills itself as the world’s largest professional network. But are you making the most of it?
This step-by-step guide to optimising your LinkedIn profile is something I teach in multiple classes, but it is not just college journalists who can benefit from a LinkedIn tune up. Be sure to check back and update these elements regularly, as an outdated profile is not a good look.
Beyond your profile, consider these tips to enhance your overall LinkedIn presence:
Lastly, be sure to check out the LinkedIn for Journalists resources. This includes a group page, tips on how to use the platform, and best of all access to an online training session which can yield you a year of LinkedIn premium.
You have to apply to participate in that, and this may be hard for student journalists, but it is worth a shot, especially if you have clips from outside the classroom.
Also, some recommended LinkedIn newsletters:
Damian Radcliffe is the Carolyn S. Chambers Professor in Journalism at the University of Oregon. He is an experienced analyst, educator, journalist, and researcher who has worked in editorial, research, teaching, and policy positions for the past three decades in the UK, Middle East, and USA. You can, of course, find him on LinkedIn.
This article was first published on 15 March 2018 and has been republished with new information and advice
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