LinkedIn has become an essential networking tool for business people and professionals alike. We asked our guest blogger, LinkedIn trainer Emily Miller, for her tips on how NQs can use LinkedIn to build their profile and grow their network.
Networking is invaluable at all levels of the legal profession and this is no different for newly qualified solicitors. It is never too soon to start building your network and making connections, and LinkedIn is a great way to do this.
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I receive that will help you use LinkedIn to your maximum advantage:
I’m a newly qualified, why do I need LinkedIn?
As with all things, you should start as you mean to go on. Making connections with fellow NQs and colleagues in your firm, as well as joining (and contributing to) LinkedIn groups is a great habit to get into. This will help you build a presence within the legal community and grow your professional network. LinkedIn is also an extremely valuable tool for showcasing your experience and the extent of your network to prospective employers.
Who should I be connecting with on LinkedIn?
Knowing who to connect with on LinkedIn is partly strategic, partly common sense. As you will probably know by now the practice area you want to specialise in, research businesses or organisations you are interested in, find their key players and see if you have any shared connections. If you do, then why not call your connection and find out more about the person you’d like to meet and, if appropriate, ask for an introduction? Find a handful of active law-focused LinkedIn groups and get involved in conversations a couple of times a week. This is a great way to grow your personal brand and start building new relationships with other group members.
Is it OK to connect with someone that I don’t know?
LinkedIn does not encourage connecting with people you don’t know; your LinkedIn network will be undermined if it is full of strangers. However, if you’ve had an online conversation via a LinkedIn group or other social media platform with someone you haven’t met in person, or if a shared connection has introduced you to them, do send them an invitation to connect. It’s best not to use the invitation template LinkedIn provides. Rather, make an effort to write them a nice note that reminds them of how you’ve met or why you want to connect. Your invitation is your first opportunity to start building a professional relationship with a contact so don’t waste it.
If you’ve received an invitation from someone you don’t know, have a look at their profile. Do you have shared connections? If so, you may want to connect and then send them an email via LinkedIn thanking them for the invitation and begin building the relationship further.
What should my tone of voice be on LinkedIn?
This varies from industry to industry, but for NQ solicitors it is important that you sound professional yet approachable. Make sure that the content in your ‘Summary’ and ‘Experience’ sections flows well and includes key words, but don’t fill them with too much jargon (no one likes that – not even lawyers!). A good way of testing for flow is to read it out loud.
Should my profile photo be fun or serious?
Ultimately, you want to look professional, especially given the career that you are pursuing, but also approachable. Get a good head and shoulders shot with a decent background (not a pub), look smartly dressed and, above all, smile. No Facebook photos of you on the beach or with your partner, please.
Before I wrap up, here are two common myths that I’d like to demystify about LinkedIn:
1. You have to spend lots of time on LinkedIn every day for it to make a difference
LinkedIn can be as time consuming, or not, as you make it. As with most activities, the more you put in, the more you will get out. My advice is that you should set goals for your LinkedIn activities (not just scroll through ‘People You May Know’ for hours) and focus on meeting those goals.
2. It’s just about making connections for the sake of it
There is little point in having a large network if you are not going to build and develop these relationships. LinkedIn is great for online networking (especially for newly qualified solicitors for whom time is at a premium), strengthening current professional relationships and developing new ones, but this is of limited value if these relationships stay online. You should take these relationships offline for them to be of maximum benefit.