Create a diagram of who’s in your network. This should include senior management, key stakeholders, peers and people at a more junior level. If certain vendors or suppliers are particularly important in your role you should include these as well. You do not have to write down everyone you know.
Now that you have begun the process of putting your network on paper, it is time to do some strategic assessment.
How strong is your network in relation to Your Key Stakeholders?
How Powerful is Your Network?
How wide is Your Network? (mix of functions and levels)
As you identify people you would like to be part of your network (and who are currently not)- you’ll need to think about identifying how you will connect with them and what is your message or content you’d want to discuss. Then, execute on your connection plan! Remember Networks aren’t built on just one connection, but often by connecting a number of times, so also think about how you can reconnect with that person over time.
You may have already looked at your colleague’s LinkedIn profile but asking them about their career journey is a good way to begin. It will ease you both into the conversation, and they might reveal something you didn’t know.
2. Why did you choose this part of the business/this function?
Learning about their motivation can give you an insight into what’s driving you too.
3. Can you give me an overview of what you do? What is it about your job that makes you want to get up in the morning?
This question encourages them to tell you about the highlights of their role.
4. What does an average week look like for you?
Getting a glimpse into their schedule will give you a realistic idea of what’s involved – and challenge any assumptions you’ve made. Your colleague might talk about the projects they’ve been working on, but make sure you also ask them about practical details, such as how much time they spend managing a team or in meetings.
5. Do you feel you can make a difference in your role?
For some people, the answer to this question is key, but you can also ask about your own personal deal-breakers.
6. What were your expectations for your career journey, and of this role in particular? How have they differed from the reality?
This question is another opportunity to challenge your assumptions. It’s not always easy to answer, so try giving an example of something that you’d thought was true but turned out not to be.
7. What are the biggest challenges of your role? What are the trade-offs?
Every job has its downsides and you need to be aware of them. This question lets you make an informed decision about whether the opportunities outweigh any disadvantages.
8. Which skills are important in your role? What type of person do you need to be?
Your colleague’s answer will highlight any gaps in your skillset that you might need to focus on, the soft skills needed and whether the working environment is right for you.
9. Which critical experiences were the most helpful in getting you into your current role? You might have the right skills and behaviours to take on a similar role, but do you have the experience?
This question will give you an insight into the broader experience needed.
10. What’s the best bit of advice you have for someone looking to move into this area?
The answer to this question can be memorable, action oriented and inspiring, so take note!
Don’t be a LinkedIn lightweight: how to make your profile pack a punch
Why it matters to be LinkedIn
We’ve looked at ways to increase your visibility at work ...
... by building your personal brand and developing your network. And you can use LinkedIn to do this too – to a potential crowd of thousands!
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network – and it’s not just used for job searches. Connecting and engaging with other professionals gives you access to knowledge, insights and opportunities. And LinkedIn also has a library full of development tools.
To make the most of everything LinkedIn has to offer, you need to be an active user – and you need to be visible. So first up, let’s sort out that profile…
Explore what LinkedIn has to offer
Keep up to date with the latest news
Join Groups to meet people with similar interests
Follow hashtags to discover relevant content
Sign up to webinars and TED Talks
Click the circles to read more about each area on your profile
Profile photo
According to LinkedIn (and they’re the experts!) having a picture makes your profile 14 times more likely to be viewed by others. So, make sure you have one AND that it’s set to public. Use a recent headshot that looks like you – no excessive filtering or makeovers required. You should appear professional, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit. Finally, make sure the file size isn’t too small, otherwise the image will appear blurry.
Headline
Your headline is your ‘sell’, so use it to promote who you are and what you do. It’s what people see, along with your profile photo, when they’re scrolling or searching on LinkedIn, and the first 50 characters of it are visible whenever you post or comment. Make it eye-catching and based on what you want from LinkedIn.
About
Spend some time on your ‘about’ section. You have up to 2,600 characters (that’s about 400 to 500 words) to tell your story: why you’re here and what makes you ‘you’. Use the first person and don’t be afraid to inject some personality into it – it makes you more approachable. You could also include a call to action at the end, such as an invitation to connect.
Skills
Add skills to reinforce your headline and ‘about’ section – and give your connections the chance to endorse you. Keep them relevant. A long list of skills will make you seem less expert and more jack of all trades.
Background photo
Your background photo stretches across the entire header of your profile. It’s a valuable advertising space, so use it to grab people’s attention and tell them about you. When choosing an image, think about what you’re trying to achieve on LinkedIn. If you’re there to develop your personal brand, your photo should capture your personality. If you want to showcase your achievements, you could use an image of a memorable career moment.
Experience
68% of LinkedIn members use the platform to reconnect with previous colleagues / connections, which is why it’s really important to keep your ‘Experience’ up to date. Be precise in your description. Treat it like a CV so people can understand what you do.
Your profile’s looking great
Now it’s time to build your network
Start by connecting with people you know using LinkedIn People Search. You can also synch your profile with your email address book. This allows LinkedIn to suggest possible connections for you. LinkedIn will also use your profile information to suggest people you might know based on your education and experience.
Remember, you’re on LinkedIn to grow your network, so connect with new people regularly. Use the advanced search feature to find new connections by company, job title or industry. They might be people with whom you have connections in common (known as 2nd connections) or you might have shared interests but no connections in common (3rd connections). Your reason for connecting doesn’t have to be related to your role – for example, both of you might be passionate about sustainability or diversity and inclusion. Keep your reasons for connecting professional.
When sending a connection request, include a short message explaining why you’d like to connect. Avoid asking for anything; at this stage, you just want to get to know them better.
68% of LinkedIn members use the platform to reconnect with former colleagues or contacts, so keep your ‘experience’ section up to date
When interacting on LinkedIn, don’t share or say anything you wouldn’t want anyone in real life to associate with you. Read our social media policy to understand your responsibilities online.
How to succeed on LinkedIn
A great LinkedIn presence is good for you and for Currys.
Because we love it when our amazing colleagues get noticed. Here are three ways you can increase your visibility online:
Keep it real
Be yourself and avoid using tired buzzwords like ‘experienced’, ‘passionate’ and ‘creative’ in your profile and on your posts. Show, don’t tell.
Give back
Networking is about making meaningful connections – and it’s the same on LinkedIn too. Focus on giving as well as getting. For example, take the time to reply to comments and connection requests. And instead of asking for endorsements from your connections, identify those who deserve an endorsement from you. (Then you can reach out and ask them to endorse you too.)
Be sociable
It’s SOCIAL media, so don’t forget to interact. Share content from your news feed and add a comment about what you found interesting. Like and comment on your connections’ posts, and write your own. Posting and commenting regularly and often helps you grow your LinkedIn presence and increases your reach to those outside your network.
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