In praise of LinkedIn

I debated whether my subject today was letting fear hold you back from getting what you want, or just singing the praises of LinkedIn. I have a lot more to say on another day about deferring to fear and making short sighted decisions, so I’ll come back to it another time.

LinkedIn has to be the best tool for career management out there. Notice I didn't say the best tool for changing jobs. A lot of people get the two confused.

I use Linkedin for many, many reasons. Among other things, to stay in touch with business partners and connections I may be able to refer work to, as well as current, former and future clients I may be able to refer jobs and companies to. I always suggest to clients, not just those that want to change jobs - that they do the same.

It is an easy and time-efficient way to stay in touch with and broaden your network - not necessarily when you want to make a job move. Some clients express fear that having a profile in LinkedIn will “out” them to their current employer as an active job seeker.

This is a short-sighted decision allowing fear and a scarcity mentality to hold them back from giving and receiving an amazing gift of ongoing connection. None of us can ever do our job alone. If they use LinkedIn to benefit their current employer and to give to their connections, their motivation would be a non-issue.

There are many, many reasons smart people use LinkedIn besides actively looking for a new job: networking regarding ongoing work issues including best practices, partnering opportunities, finding suppliers, subcontractors, customers, even getting back in touch with long lost friends, co-workers and schoolmates.

Almost without exception when clients want to make a job change they tell me they wish they had been better about developing and nurturing their network all along. My standard answer: it's never too late to start - but adopt it as a career management habit, not as a silver bullet for this job move.

If networking is a bank account many try to draw out more funds than they have deposited. LinkedIn is a great tool to make small deposits you’ll never miss, which grow exponentially. It’s a time efficient way to give to your network, rather than just trying to “use your network” when you want to receive.

Like any tool, how you use it can help steer toward the outcome you want. Only loading up a profile when you want to be rescued by a recruiter can look obvious to your current employer.

Connecting with other professionals inside and outside your company, recommending those you feel strongly about, and spending just a few minutes (of your own time) to forward questions, answers, and job postings someone else might be interested in is a great way to give back to your network – fyi, while also being searchable by recruiters.

Career Management is the long line of the music. It involves seeing abundance rather than scarcity. You know you have value and choice. It can be as simple as thinking about what makes you happy so that you notice and are ready to maximize those opportunities when they present themselves. At best it's also setting goals and taking actions that enable more opportunities that are to your liking to come your way.

Changing jobs is one note on your sheet of music. The best way to make a job change easy and even fun, ironically, is to adopt the long-term habit of career management. To set goals and continue to make tiny investments all along to the long line of your career, while you are holding each specific position.

If you are changing jobs, take the opportunity with this move to start new, long-term career management habits. Adopt a viewpoint of abundance over scarcity. It's never too late to start steering toward where you want to be next from where you are now.

p.s. unless you own your business, use a personal email address for your LinkedIn profile.