Your LinkedIn Profile should be as fresh and up to date as fresh squeezed organge juice

And packed with Vitamin C.  Give it that oomph, that sparkle. Take a cue from Guy Kawasaki’s LinkedIn profile and make it personal, engaging, conversational.  In fact, Guy has admitted he had some help from an exec at LinkedIn writing one of his best known blogs on how to use Linked in (Guy explains he didn’t know how to use it that well at the time.)  If Guy needs a little help sometimes, perhaps you do too.  If you are not the world’s best writer, hire one to help you.  By that I mean hire a college student or put out an ad on Craig’s list or eLance to find a good writer.  There are a lot of writers out there and a lot more of them than usual are probably looking for some extra cash about this time, with the recession and Christmas double whammy. It wont’ require a lot of cash either.

Point them in the direction of Guy Kawasaki’s LinkedIn profile and tell them, ok, you haven’t been a venture capitalist-entrepreneur-mover and shaker with Apple -founder of tech companies like Guy but you do have a solid profile of professional accomplishments and you’d like to put the best face on it. You want to exude power, confidence, experience and expertise.  And you want to be engaging, not dry as a pile of dust, while doing it.  A good writer can achieve that for you.

Important Point

If you’re currently unemployed, The LinkedIn Blog »  Getting Back-to-Business Checklist for Job Hunters suggests listing your current position as “open to opportunities.” Good idea.

Now: Edit your LinkedIn Profile.

The LinkedIn Blog also suggests, “if you just recently lost your job, make sure you update your status field in your profile so your network know that you’re looking for a job. It’s a quick and easy way to let folks you’re connected to know that you could use their help. David Stevens, one of LinkedIn’s users, updated his status upon being laid off. Within seven business days someone in his network knew of an open position, which Dave landed shortly thereafter.

Network, Network, Network

You should also put out the word on Facebook and any other social networks you belong to.  Then get on the phone and tell all your friends:”Open to opportunities.”  Then go to all the professional networking events you can squeeze in.

Networking is crucial. I just heard from one of the leading business consultants in the country that one of his biggest mistakes, when starting out, was sending out all these printed brochures to strangers when he had just come from a major company with hundreds of close associates who knew and respected his work already.  When he started working the phones with them, he starting pulling in consulting engagements.

Like this old pro, most of the work you get will come, one way or another, from people you already know.  Start calling or emailing them.  Then point them to your LinkedIn profile.

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