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Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world
Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world

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2.1 Using social media

John is keen to take forward the skills and knowledge from this course in terms of improving his career prospects and professional development. He would also like to become part of a wider professional network and find opportunities to showcase the skills he does have. LinkedIn is one of the world’s largest professional networks and offers the ideal opportunity for John to do this.

The two videos below provide some information about LinkedIn and how to get started. As you watch them, think about how they might help John to improve his professional profile.

Download this video clip.Video player: Video 2: What is LinkedIn?
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Video _unit8.2.1 Video 2: What is LinkedIn?
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Download this video clip.Video player: Video 3: Top tips for getting started on LinkedIn
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Video _unit8.2.2 Video 3: Top tips for getting started on LinkedIn
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LinkedIn is often seen as an online CV. It should be as complete and as detailed as a CV, and should be kept up to date. Other ways LinkedIn can help with your career include enabling you to:

  • connect with others in your industry or profession
  • find jobs
  • be part of professional groups and discussions
  • find connections through other people.

Companies and employment agencies use LinkedIn to recruit staff. They will be searching for specific keywords, so it’s essential to include those keywords within your profile. Think about what recruiters are likely to search for. If you’re unsure, look at job specifications or advertisements for essential skills.

Activity _unit8.2.1 Activity 3 Making the most of LinkedIn

Timing: 30 minutes

Think about how you would advise John on making a professional impact using LinkedIn. What kind of information should he include on his profile and who could he connect with?

You might find it useful to make some notes on your ideas in the box below before reading the feedback.

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Discussion

LinkedIn will give John a good professional presence online. When people search for him, they will find his LinkedIn profile. Employers will be able to find out about his experience, passion and commitment. He will also benefit from making connections with chefs around the country, and finding new people with similar interests to connect with. He can join LinkedIn groups and look for jobs.

John will make an impact if he comes up with a strong summary that highlights his skills and enthusiasm. He needs to treat LinkedIn like an online CV and include all his experience, training and skills. By choosing appropriate terms to describe his skills, employers will be able to find him when they search for people with those specific skills.

John’s profile needs to have a good headline and information on the industry he is in. He should choose an appropriate and professional-looking photograph that portrays him in a professional light.

John should initially connect with people he already knows. These might be people he currently works with, or people he’s worked with in the past. From there, he can make new connections through his own contacts or special interest groups on LinkedIn.