How to utilize LinkedIn for your nursing career

For better or for worse, social media networks are here to stay. There are some networks that have been around for a while and a bunch of new ones that are trending. Picking the right social media apps to be on is a difficult decision for many. Each network takes time and trying to manage multiple profiles can lead to anxiety and burnout. At the same time, social media is a great way to connect with other people and even build professional connections.

LinkedIn is one of the more popular social media platforms for professional networking. For nurses and medical professionals, it can be a great tool to connect with coworkers and potential employers, keep track of the latest trends in the field, and even find jobs. Here are some tips on how to build and manage a LinkedIn Profile that will help you succeed.

1. Build Your Profile Right

The Photos

Your photo is the first impression you will make to both potential professional connections and employers. Choose a profile photo and cover photo that showcase you in a favorable, professional light. If possible, use a professional headshot. If not, use a photo with a neutral background. Avoid any photos that could be controversial or hint at controversial issues.

The Story

You need to hook people in from the moment they visit your profile. From your title through the summary and the endorsements you get, your aim is to craft the story of who you are and what makes you a great person and medical professional. If you use LinkedIn to find jobs, it’s important also to incorporate keywords related to your field to make it easier for recruiters to find you.

The Bio

This is the place to showcase your expertise. List out education, experience, certifications, skills, and awards. And remember, as with any resume, showcasing results is important, so use numbers when possible.

2. Manage your Profile & Engage

Connections

LinkedIn is a great platform to keep in touch with current and past coworkers, classmates, employers, and industry leaders. You can also connect with people you’d like to work with. Be strategic about who your connections are, and also join the right groups to stay informed and get the information you’d like to know.

Posting & Engaging

Having a profile is great, but as with any social media, it’s also important to post and interact with content to show you are actually on the platform. If you don’t have time to create content, try to comment or re-post content you found interesting at least once a week.

3. Find Job Positions on LinkedIn

Endorsements & Recommendations

Getting endorsements and recommendations from other industry professionals is a great way to showcase your expertise in the field and why you should be hired. Ask happy current and past employers, coworkers, and friends for endorsements and recommendations, and give those back when you can. The best way to go about it is by being honest, genuine, and authentic: be strategic about who you ask.

Job Posts Review

One of the great benefits of LinkedIn is the ability to showcase your professional aptitude and review that of your coworkers, employers, and businesses and hospitals you’d like to work with. To make job postings and searching even more convenient, you can even look for positions and apply easily through LinkedIn. The platform also has a paid service that can help you with looking for positions and make applying for the best fit even easier.

Interacting with recruiters

One of the features LinkedIn offers to businesses is the ability to both post job openings and recruit through the platform. That means that every once in a while, you will get a message from a recruiter looking for people to fill a position. You certainly don’t need to interact with all, but if they are working for a business or facility you’re interested in, it’s usually a good idea to exchange a few words with them – even if just to tell them you’re not interested right now, but they should check back in after a while.

Sources:

All Nursing Schools. (n.d.). LinkedIn for nurses: How to leverage your profile. All Nursing Schools. https://www.allnursingschools.com/articles/linkedin-for-nurses/

Daily Nurse. (n.d.). LinkedIn 101 for nurses: Dare to be a bold networker. Daily Nurse. https://dailynurse.com/linkedin-101-for-nurses-dare-to-be-a-bold-networker/

FierceHealthcare. (n.d.). LinkedIn rolls out new features to help nurses, clinicians land their next job. FierceHealthcare. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/linkedin-rolls-out-new-features-help-nurses-clinicians-land-their-next-job

Gupta, A. (n.d.). 5 tips for making your professional nurse LinkedIn profile stand out. LinkedIn Pulse. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-tips-making-your-professional-nurse-linkedin-profile-gupta

Nurse.org. (n.d.). How to create a standout nurse LinkedIn profile. Nurse.org. https://nurse.org/articles/nurse-linkedin-profile/

Post University. (n.d.). Benefits of LinkedIn for nurses. Post University. https://post.edu/blog/benefits-of-linkedin-for-nurses/