Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
As you use LinkedIn to establish your personal brand and build your professional network, you might want to consider using the site to help discover a career mentor, too.
Despite the bells and whistles, LinkedIn is, at its core, a professional networking site — and as you expand and connect with your own network, a mentor can offer valuable guidance and support as you navigate your career path.
If you’re on the lookout for a mentor, try these 4 tips to make LinkedIn a productive part of your search.
Identify Potential Mentors
With 225 million users (and climbing), LinkedIn is a veritable professional networking powerhouse. And that means you have a huge pool of prospective mentors to select from. Your mission? Find some ideal candidates! Use LinkedIn features like Groups and Answers to connect with others and discover prospective mentors. Another ideal option? Browse your school’s LinkedIn alumni network for candidates, too.
Connect Thoughtfully
Once you’ve identified some key prospective connections, don’t simply spam them with generic connection invitations and mentorship queries. Instead, focus on connecting with a small number of people at a time and build relationships. Just because someone isn’t mentor material doesn’t mean they won’t make a valuable addition to your professional network.
Stay Active And Visible
No matter your goals, you’ll have more success on LinkedIn if you stay active and visible. After all, while you’re scouting mentors, you never know who might be trying to find you. Check to make sure your profile is complete and that you’ve used all applicable profile sections to give a rich, comprehensive overview of your professional story, accomplishments, skills and other relevant details. Share industry-related information on a daily basis and comment on resources and info that’s shared by other members of your network. You’ll not only continue to build your LinkedIn relationships, you’ll also stay more visible in the fast-moving stream.
Be A Detective
One of the (many) great things about LinkedIn is that it allows you to get even more leverage out of a face-to-face connection. Let’s say you meet a prospective mentor at an event, for example. Once you have that person’s contact information, head over to LinkedIn and do a little research. Send a personalized invitation to connect and use the site to discover more about this potentially invaluable career resource. The scenario works in reverse, too. If you’ve met someone on LinkedIn and, after conversing with them on the site, decide they could help give you the information you’re seeking, consider meeting for coffee or lunch to make a face-to-face connection.
One other thing: don’t forget to return the favor! As you advance in your career, consider serving as a mentor for professionals in your office and industry. Young professionals, consider offering reverse mentoring and sharing a new skill with a seasoned professional who wants to learn new tools or technology. Keep an eye out for opportunities to share your information and experience on LinkedIn, too, whether through LinkedIn Answers or by simply responding to a status update. The more you help others, the more likely they are to help you, so keep that in mind no matter how you build your network.
Have you connected with a possible mentor on LinkedIn? If so, feel free to leave a comment. We’d love to learn from your experience!
Image: TheSeafarer via Compfight cc
