Sital Ruparelia

During last week, I published 7 daily posts to answer 7 common questions I’m asked about using the professional networking site LinkedIn.com

In case you missed any of the posts, below is a quick summary. Just click through to read the post.

1.  The Number One Rule For LinkedIn Users

2.  Increasing The Number of Connections On LinkedIn

3.  How Well Must You Know Someone Before Connecting?

4.  Three Rules For Connecting With People You Don’t Know

5.  How To Get High Quality Recommendations On LinkedIn

6. Tips On What To Write In Your Status Updates

7.  What To Write In Your LinkedIn Profile When Job Searching

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Questions: If I’m job searching, what should I put in my LinkedIn profile?

Answer: Here are 10 tips:

1. If you’ve been made redundant, don’t write “looking for a job.” Factually it may be true, but it smacks of desperation and isn’t the first impression you want to give to recruiters and contacts coming to your page.

Focus instead on telling the reader what you can do, what you can offer and who you can help by following the 9 tips below:

2. Don’t define yourself simply by your previous job titles (it limits the potential opportunities)

3. Define the target sectors, the kind of problems you can solve and the value and benefits you’ve a track record of delivering (it will open you up to different possibilities)

4. Make sure you state job titles (recruiters search using titles and so to come up on searches quote the type of key words and titles you think they’d put into search)

5. Notice how this list is full of contradictions (there’s no hard and fast rules. I’m simply sharing my experience and opinions – so make up your own rules and test them)

6. Test, try, edit, evaluate (now rinse and repeat)

7. Make the profile more than two lines please

8. But don’t tell me your life story

9. Make it slightly different or quirky from what everyone else writes on their profile (take a look at my own LinkedIn profile)

10. Be yourself. Don’t try and be different or clever by copying what everyone else writes.

Do you agree or have I got it all wrong? Feel free to share ideas or suggestions in the comments section below.

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Questions: Have you any tips on what to write in the status updates on LinkedIn?

1. Be Respectful of people’s attention

Just because your contacts agreed to connect with you on LinkedIn doesn’t mean you can spam their home page every day with irrelevant updates and self promotion.

2. Be Transparent

I often see people write a status update encouraging you to click on a link which then takes you through to some random product that they’re earning affiliate income from.

I’ve no objection to people promoting and earning affiliate income – but, like most people, don’t appreciate being misled. So be transparent.

3. Be of Value

Before you post a status update, ask yourself: “Will my status update be of value to my network? Will it be interesting, useful, entertaining or beneficial in some way?

If the answer is “no” or “I’m not sure”, don’t post it.

4. Be personable

Whilst LinkedIn is a professional networking site, it also allows people to see what you’re doing and feel more connected to you, without having to exchange emails or phone calls.

So share what you’re up to occasionally. But again, just ensure it’s something that would be of interest or value to others.

It’s useful if you’re telling me that you’re preparing a presentation on xyz subject, doing some charity work, just leaving town for a business trip, just started reading a great book or have just found a new job.

It helps me get a snippet of what you’re doing and feel more connected to you.

But saying “I’ve just had coffee” isn’t particularly of interest to many people – so maybe leave that for Facebook status updates rather than LinkedIn.

5. Promote with caution

If you’re going to self promote or make requests for help via the LinkedIn status updates, then do it sparingly.

If the only time people ever see your status updates is when you want something or are trying to promote something, then many contacts will view you as one of those people that only calls when they want something (..you know the type of people I mean).

But if you’re regularly sharing valuable, useful, interesting updates – then when you do want something or are promoting something, most people will have no issues with it. And in fact, are more likely to try and help you because you’re someone that shares openly.

6. Protect and enhance your Personal Brand

Remember, everything you write on LinkedIn is searchable via Google and other search engines. So any client, recruiter or employer will be able to see what you’re writing. And as every time you update your status, it’s an opportunity to enhance (or indeed damage) your personal brand.

So be clear about what you want to be known for, how you want people to perceive you and ensure that your status updates enhance your personal brand rather than damaging or diluting it.

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Question: How do you get genuine, personalised recommendations on LinkedIn?

Answer: Here are 4 tips to follow:

1. Make personal requests for a recommendation via phone or face to face before sending the LinkedIn request for recommendation

2. Request results and benefits driven recommendations

3. Ask people to include comments on what they feel makes you different or unique

4. Get into the habit of giving your contacts personalised recommendations (without wanting anything back)

Have you any more tips or suggestions…? Feel free to add them in the comments box below.

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Question: ”Are there any guidelines on connecting with people you don’t know?”

Answer:

Here are 3 rules to follow:

1. Be respectful of what type of networker they are:

There are 3 types of people on LinkedIn:

a) ‘Open Networkers’

People who are open to connect with anyone who approaches them

b) People who will only connect with people they have a relationship with

I know some people who will absolutely never connect with people they don’t have a face to face relationship with. That’s their choice and their prerogative.

c) People who are somewhere in between

I’m one of the ‘in between’ types.

I’m not an open networker that says “anyone, come and connect with me”, but at same time on my website I openly invite people that read my blog and newsletter to connect with me. Similarly on my Facebook page, I have link backs to my LinkedIn page too. So what I’m saying is that I’m open to connecting with people on LinkedIn who have some type of relationship with me (even though we may not know each other personally). That’s my choice.

Everyone is different so take a few moments to read people’s profiles, website, blog (if they have one) to look for clues to what they prefer and be respectful in following their preferences and choices in how they use LinkedIn.

2. Where possible, always go via a mutual contact

In the offline world, if you want to connect with someone you don’t know, it’s always best to go via a warm introduction rather than making a cold approach. The same applies on LinkedIn.

So mention the mutual contact within your invitation note and you’re more likely to get a positive response and begin the relationship on a good footing. Hardly rocket science, but many people don’t think to do this and simply try and make a cold approach or don’t bother at all.

3. Personalize and ‘be nice’

I hate the standardized LinkedIn invites. I know it’s a small thing, but taking 30 seconds to personalize a message makes so much difference. It tells me you want to connect with me rather than simply clock up the number of connections you have.

So if I receive a LinkedIn invite from someone I don’t know but they’ve personalized the note I’m generally fine with it.

E.g. “Hi Sital, I read your blog and really enjoy it. I hope you don’t mind me adding you to my LinkedIn network”

or “Hi Sital, I heard you speak at xyz and really found what you had to say about abc interesting. Would it be ok for us to connect on LinkedIn..?”

I’m totally fine with connecting with these types of people – because they’re being polite, respectful and have taken a few seconds to personalize their note.

In summary

If someone doesn’t know you, is not an ‘open networker’, has no mutual contacts with you and sees that you haven’t bothered to spend 30 seconds writing a personalized note in the invite – why should they be bothered to join your LinkedIn network?

Be respectful, be personable and be nice – it works (most) of the time…

Question: ‘How well do I need to know someone before inviting them to connect on LinkedIn?”

Answer: Use the same common sense you’d use in the offline world

If you met someone at a networking event or conference, you’d usually exchange business cards and details once you’ve developed some kind of rapport or interaction with them. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes of conversation, sometimes it takes just 2 minutes – there are no hard and fast rules.

The same principle applies on LinkedIn – so use your common sense.

Consider how much rapport you have with them, how recently you interacted with them, how you came into contact with them (complete new contact or via a warm introduction) – and then, if you feel appropriate, invite them to connect by sending a personalized note (ie not using the standard LinkedIn invite).

“And what about connecting with people I don’t know? Is that a complete no no?”

I’ll answer that in tomorrow’s post.

In recent weeks I’ve had flurry of questions about using LinkedIn.

So over the next week I plan to post the 7 most common questions I’ve been asked along with my typical reply.

Here’s the first question and answer:

Question 1: “I’m just getting into LinkedIn – what would you say is your number one rule or principle for using LinkedIn?”

Answer: Focus on helping others, not just growing your network or ‘getting stuff’

The currency of networking is generosity – i.e. helping others.

And that’s what your focus should be when doing any kind of networking – being helpful and valuable to your network of contacts instead of simply trying to ‘get stuff’ from them – e.g. job leads, contacts or potential customers for your products and services.

LinkedIn is simply a networking tool – a technology platform to connect with your professional network.

And so the principle of being generous applies to your interactions on LinkedIn too. So if you’re new to LinkedIn,  don’t worry too much about how to do stuff – just keep asking  yourself “how can I help my contacts?” and  “how can I be of value to them?” and you’ll figure out everything else as you go along.

Just remember: We reep what we sow. So focus on cultivating a strong LinkedIn network by focussing on what you put into to it-  and in time all the support, contacts and leads will come to you (very often from different sources).

So what’s your number 1 LinkedIn rule or principle? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments box below.

Look out for the answer to Question 2 tomorrow:

Question 2: “What’s a good number of contacts to have on LinkedIn? How do I quickly increase the number of connections I have?

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By the way, if you’re currently job searching and want to know how to use LinkedIn to find your next job, you may want to take a look at my instantly downloadable audio programme: “7 Ways To Find Your Next Job Using LinkedIn.”

I’ll talk and walk you through some simple yet effective ways to speed up your job search using LinkedIn. For further details, click here now.

The UK, Europe, parts of Asia and the US are this week in the grip of arctic conditions.

Which means that some of you will struggle to get into work this week, whilst many job seekers will find it difficult to make contact with recruiters and contacts who themselves have struggled to make it into the office.

So you have 2 choices:

a) You can sit around complaining about the weather and travel problems,

or

b) You can create your own weather by turning the big freeze into an opportunity by investing any additional time you have on doing those activities which you never have time for and so give your career a kick start at the beginning of the year.

Here are 6 suggestions on how to turn the freezing lemons into ice cold lemonade this week:

Click here to read the rest…

I am excited to announce a series of instantly download able Audio and Video Programmes to help you deal with specific career related matters

These extremely affordable solutions feature me speaking directly to you from my couch about how to deal with your biggest career related problems and head aches.
The programmes will launched and available from the beginning of January to help you kick start your career in 2010. But starting from today – for 14 days only – I’m offering all 9 programmes at a 35% discount special pre-launch price

Take your time to look through the summary below or go straight to webpage by clicking here

The final newsletter of 2009 comes out on Friday with some big news - so keep a close eye on your inbox

Best Wishes
Sital
Sital Ruparelia
P.S. As I mentioned in my mail last week, this note should have come out on Monday – but we’ve had some technical hitches and so it’s been delayed. So instead of a 10 day holiday sale, we’re running the sales for 14 days until 30th December. After which all programmes will be at full price.
P.P.S. Have you a friend, colleague or family member struggling with a career related problem? Could one of these programmes be a nice little Christmas present for them?

Focused Audio and Video Sessions on Specific Career Related Areas

These programs are instantly download able audio and video programmes. All programs are between 60 and 75 minutes long and feature me talking directly to you about a specific career related area along with an accompanying resources to download (e.g. a transcript, sample documents or templates).

All programs cost only £17 (that’s approximately $28 USD or EU €19) and come with 100% money-back guarantees.

Individual Audio and Video Programmes – Only £17 each (approx $28 USD)

- Instantly downloadable audio or video onto your computer (between 60 – 75 minutes in length)

- Plus an accompanying resource to download (transcript or sample documents or templates)

- 100% money back gaurantee

- All programmes available to download from January 2010

- But purchase before January and take advantage of our special pre-launch 35% pre-launch offer

PRE-LAUNCH OFFER: 35% Off – £12 each (approx $19 USD)

Offer valid until midnight (UK time) Wednesday 30th December 2009

All programmess are listed below: Just click the link for further information and details of how to make your purchase

Once purchased, you will be emailed your programmes for download onto your computer at the beginning of January when all the programmes are officially launched

THE PROGRAMMES

1. GETTING UNSTUCK: HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NEXT

A 60 minute Video Programme along with Self Assessment Worksheets to help you get further clarity on what it is you want to do next

Are you at a major career cross roads? Are you trying to figure out what it is you want to do next? Feeling stuck? If you said ‘yes’, click here for further details

2. CAREER CHANGERS: HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY MARKET AND SELL YOURSELF INTO A NEW CAREER

A 60 minute Video Programme along with Sample CVs and Resumes Used By Career Changers

Are you struggling to find opportunities and secure interviews within a new field? Click here for further details on how you can stop getting rejected

3. SITAL’S TOP 10 RECOMMENDATIONS TO RAMP UP YOUR JOB SEARCH

A 75 minute Audio Programme plus a full 25 page word-by-word transcription of the recording

Are you struggling to find your next job? Fed up with all the rejections? Looking for some fresh ideas? If so, click here to learn more about this unique programme

4. HOW TO STAY POSITIVE AND MOTIVATED THROUGH A JOB SEARCH CAMPAIGN

A 60-minute Video Programme along with a 15-minute ‘Pep Talk From Sital’ MP3 audio which you can listen to as and when needed.

Are you struggling to stay motivated consistently through your job search? Know you need to be positive but find it extremely difficult to do so? Need some help and inspiration to keep going? If so click here to see how I can help

5. HOW TO GET A JOB USING YOUR NETWORK

By Sital Ruparelia and Andy Lopata

A unique 60 minute audio programme delivered alongside one of Europe’s leading networking experts, Andy Lopata. Plus a copy of the “50 Networking Tips For Job Seekers” check list to help you progress much faster.

Struggling to find your next job? Know you need to network much more, but don’t know quite how? Want to improve your networking skills but need some help? If so, click this here now.

6. SEVEN WAYS TO FINDING YOUR NEXT JOB USING LINKEDIN

A 55 minute Audio Programme along with a complete 21 page word-by-word transcription of the whole audio

Not quite sure what LinkedIn is? Using LinkedIn but need some fresh ideas on how to use it to attract job opportunities? If so this Audio Programme will help. Click here for further details.

7. CREATING A CV OR RESUME THAT STANDS OUT

A 60 minute Video Programme along with a series of downloadable templates and sample CVs and resumes

Not sure how to create a resume/CV? Fed up with all the rejections and looking for a way to stand out? Want some some smart, time efficient ways to improve your CV/resume? If this sounds like you, then click here for further details

8. HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW

A 60-minute Video Programme along with a list of 50 interview questions which you can print off and use to help you prepare for virtually every interview question you’ll face.

Preparing for an upcoming job interview? Need to brush up on your interview skills? Having difficulty converting interviews into job offers? If so, this video programme will definitely help you.

9. SALARY NEGOTIATIONS MADE EASY

A 60-minute Video Programme along with a preparation check-list to help you prepare, plan and execute salary negotiations

Are you about to negotiate on a new job offer? About to negotiate for an internal position and want to avoid getting ’screwed over’ on the package? Hate talking about money and want some help and advice? Then this is for you. Click here for all the details

Please remember that the 35% discount price only applies until 30th December 2009. So if you’re looking to kick start your career in January, treat yourself now to some resources and advice to start 2010 with a bang!

Click here to see a full summary of the products and make your purchase

Are you confused about the plethora of social media platforms?

Are you unsure about what you should (or shouldn’t) be doing in the online world of blogs, forums, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc..?

Wandering how you can effect your career by the click of a mouse?

Question what you need to know and what you don’t?

Ok, here is everything you need to know in 20 seconds:

Click here to read the rest…