LinkedIn: Do’s and Don’ts for Emerging PR Professionals

LinkedIn: Do’s and Don’ts for Emerging PR Professionals

824 583 Admin

In a world of ever-multiplying social media platforms the thought of navigating LinkedIn, a platform that is so closely related to your career development, can seem daunting at first. And when I say this, I mean I personally find it daunting, and I thought creating this blog will help those who feel the same way.

With over 300 million members, LinkedIn seeks to manage your professional identity, build and engage with your professional network and access knowledge, insights and opportunities. In an attempt to a. develop my own account, and b. produce my second post on this blog, I sought out advice from professionals on what to do and, almost more importantly, what not to do for LinkedIn newcomers. Here’s what I found:

DO: proofread obsessively! This should go without saying, and although it applies to everyone using the service, it is especially important for emerging PR professionals. As we’re all aware, strong writing abilities is one of the most important skills in public relations. If your profile contains spelling and grammatical errors, those reviewing your information will take note and perhaps come to the conclusion that PR is not right for you.

DON’T: build a network only for the glory of boasting “500+ connections”. Quality over quantity is a cliché that applies here. It is tempting to want to connect, connect, connect and to create the illusion of being well established but please resist the urge. Meaningful connections are with people who actually know who you are and can speak, even briefly, to your positive, work-related attributes and will serve you best in the long-term.

DO: ensure you have a professional photo to complete your page. Keep in mind that professional doesn’t necessarily equate to a studio experience complete with a wind machine and professional retouching. No. We’re talking a good quality photo (realistically, the camera on your smart phone will probably do) in business casual attire, showing slightly-below the shoulders and above, which features you smiling in front of a plain background.

DON’T: underestimate the power of entry to mid-level connections. LinkedIn users are often tempted to send connection requests to hiring managers at companies they are interested in. This can often backfire if the connection isn’t “meaningful” and subsequently come off as insincere. Ensuring you maintain connections with those you met in your PR program, or at CPRS Toronto events throughout the year including our upcoming Mix and Mingle event, can be very powerful. Remember, the world PR is constant and ever-changing and you never know when a former classmate is going to end up at your dream agency.

Straight-forward, but it was enough to get me up and running! I’d love to hear any LinkedIn tips or tricks in the comments section below. Happy networking, everyone!

Jamie Jensen is the CPRS Toronto Student Steering Committee Representative for Ryerson University’s Public Relations Certificate.