Educate me about LinkedIn - please!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I'm 59 years old, been bedside staff nearly my entire career. Would love to get into staff development - even earned an MSN a couple years back to push that.

Please educate me on how LinkedIn could help. I have a profile but really don't know what to do with it.

Thanks!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

I'm on linkedin, under my real name of course.

Make sure your profile reflects your experience and education.

it should essentially be a mini-resume.

Join a few groups, and participate.

reach out and connect to relevant past professional connections, but ignore those cold calls that want to simply add you to their network. Restrict to those you know, or those that have a strong career enhancing potential.

[eagle78]

I also have a profile, and I am just as confused as you are about what to do with it.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

If you join appropriate LinkedIn groups, they may have job postings that are opened up to the group prior to listing them on more public areas. I have also been contacted many times by recruiters who found me on LinkedIn.... even though I am NOT looking for a job.

FWIW, the best way to move into staff development is by just doing it - become a preceptor, get certified as a BLS instructor, volunteer to provide inservices, join task forces/committees involved in planning educational activities, etc. That's basically the way all of us started out.

[eagle78]

HouTx, I am interested in getting contacted by recruiters, is the key to that joining LinkedIn groups?? That is not something I have done as yet. When you say "appropriate", I am curious as to what constitutes "appropriate". I am really trying to understand how to make the best use of my profile.

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

remember, anyone can read your profile, your name, your address, whatever you post

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

If you join appropriate LinkedIn groups, they may have job postings that are opened up to the group prior to listing them on more public areas. I have also been contacted many times by recruiters who found me on LinkedIn.... even though I am NOT looking for a job.

FWIW, the best way to move into staff development is by just doing it - become a preceptor, get certified as a BLS instructor, volunteer to provide inservices, join task forces/committees involved in planning educational activities, etc. That's basically the way all of us started out.

I've done all of the above and more. The sole reason I do not have a staff development job in my current workplace is politics. Not sour grapes, fact.

[eagle78]

remember, anyone can read your profile, your name, your address, whatever you post

I wasn't asking for any pertinent information, I just wanted a general understanding about what an appropriate group is.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

all I meant was, be careful about what you post. Good luck

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I also have a linkedin profile, and I've had a couple of recruiters contact me. Make your profile professional, resume-like and limit your contacts to other professionals.

[Wave Watcher]

My husband has a LinkedIn account and his fellow co-workers also (work from home and travel). They get on daily and have meetings (webcam) and discuss things.....ok, well, they are all men and they sit around and fart....and laugh. *sigh* No, they don't work for the Federal Government. ;-) That's about all I know concerning LinkedIn.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

LinkedIn is kind of a nice tool (although I use Facebook for what LinkedIn thinks it's for...networking and the like). It is like having a public resume. I've been legitimately contacted and gotten interviews through it. Less garbage comes through there than on other "social networking sites", less spam and such, but "connecting" with someone there is basically like vouching for a person professionally: that you know and could recommend him or her. I keep it updated just like I do my resume. Since it's free, why not use it?