Faculty Development Session: LinkedIn Basics

LinkedIn is not just for job-hunters; it is an incredible platform for faculty who wish to share their research or to find collaborators or mentors. On October 19, 2021, we hosted LinkedIn Basics, an informal workshop to share best practices for faculty. 

Linkedin Basics with photo of computer and books

Our presenters were Acacia O'Connor, Director of Social Media and Jen Leach, Associate Director for Faculty Advancement. Vina Tran, Assistant Provost for Faculty Advancement, introduced the session.

Key takeaways for setting up your profille:

  1. Upload a professional headshot (photo should be square; 400 x 400px is the ideal size)
  2. Write a compelling headline that lists more than your current job title and that includes relevant keywords (character limit - 220)
  3. Describe your research and why it matters in your About section. Be specific but do not use academic jargon. Don't just paste your professional bio; draw the reader in and have a call to action (character limit - 2600)

    Learn more

    Engage with others. Read your feed, 'like' and comment on others’ posts. Follow hashtags that are of interest. Share a resource, link, or article.

    Build your network. Look through your contacts; who is on LinkedIn? Look at My Company to find colleagues and connect with them. Look at the connections of a colleague. Join groups, alumni networks, or professional organizations.

    Write a recommendation for a colleague.

    Promote your work (or that of a peer). Share events, book publication dates, published papers, and grants.