LinkedIn is becoming the top way to connect with professionals, meet prospective clients, and establish yourself in the professional community- all without leaving your home. Although this is all done on the internet and is commonly referred to as the “professional Facebook,” there is nothing virtual about the real impact that LinkedIn can have on your business, reputation, and opportunities. Below are the top 5 ways to build your LinkedIn as an Organ Professional:
1. First Impressions Matter– The first thing most recruiters look at is your picture on LinkedIn. Make sure you choose a professional head-shot with a nice background to make people want to look more at our profile and see what you have to offer. A professional picture goes a long way!
2. Make Yourself Seem Interesting– Be specific with your title on LinkedIn by telling the viewer exactly what you’re specialized to do. For example, instead of saying “Organ Professional”, be specific with saying “Organist” or “Pipe Organ Builder”. This profile has great examples of how to be specific with your job title, but keep it fairly short and to the point.
3. Be Social and Join Groups– This isn’t like kindergarten where you are assigned people to play with- go out and join various professional groups to build your profile, receive information about your career field, and make new connections. They can be specific for your specialization or broader to cover the professional classic music industry. Also, look into joining groups for music professionals in your area or closest metropolitan area.
4. Follow and Learn– LinkedIn is a great source of knowledge not only from fellow professionals, but from potential employers, companies, and organizations. By following companies and organizations, you can learn more about their purpose, values, and what makes them so successful. If you are looking for connections in places of faith, try following churches. If you are trying to establish yourself as a business, try following competitors in your field. Remember that whomever or whatever you follow will be shown publicly on your profile with your other information, so if you a looking to be employed by or work for a specific company or organization, following them on LinkedIn reinforces your interest in he position. It also enables you to learn more information about them.
5. If You Got It, Show It– Many times we are told to be humble and not brag about our work. LinkedIn is an expandable resume and list of references that enables you to showcase your talents and communicate your attributes to potential customers, employers, and colleagues. Utilize LinkedIn’s different sections to showcase the projects you’ve worked on, awards received, and positions held. By showcasing your talents, like done in this profile, you can help ensure your success as a professional in the organ community.
