You may already be sick of hearing me go on and on about LinkedIn after the last WCPA Newsletter (http://www.mywcpa.org/files/WCPA_newsletter_winter09.pdf -  on page 10), but here I go again. Not writing this time, just posting a link and explaining it. Find it in the links section. It is about using social media for networking in general, I just recommend LinkedIn above the other options.

Ok, I guess I’m writing a little. For most of the students I work with, and a lot of the professionals I communicate with, getting on LinkedIn is easy. It’s figuring out what to do once you are on that is hard! I hear you.

Here are my quick top-three tips for using LinkedIn:

1. Profile. Make sure it is very full and complete. Make it public (you should not have anything to hide on LinkedIn). Ask some colleagues to recommend you.

2. Groups. Join some. Then get active with them!! Read discussion boards, comment on posts, start posts of your own.

3. Contacts. Search for colleagues, invite them to join LinkedIn if they aren’t already on it. Really – it will make you look cool. At least professional and into networking – which is the epitome of cool in my world. It’s not a popularity contest so make sure you go for quality over quantity.

What else? What else have you done on LinkedIn that has been helpful? What tips do you want to share? How about questions?