LinkedIn: 6 HOT TIPS for Pre-Service Teachers

Some further helpful tips I learnt from Shaun Coulton:

• Slideshare can help you showcase work you’ve done, including assignments on contemporary learning and teaching practices

• Be strategic in setting up your profile - see ‘Profile Setup’ blog coming next Monday

• Keep network relationships warm - respond to birthdays and congratulate your network on their achievements

• Re-write birthday and congratulatory messages to make them more personal

• Ask people you know and have worked with for a recommendation - then reciprocate and write one for them

• Create connections strategically by keeping LinkedIn professional and Facebook for friends. The algorithms on LinkedIn are setup to respond depending on the types of networks you have. I have deleted a few friends (they are still on my FB friends) and will continue to do so until my network reflects me as an educator. It’s not a popularity contest, too many random connections will dilute your specialty!

• Use ‘Pulse’ the news aggregator - follow a channel and set up a digest. The a channel can give you access to interesting information, posts and hot topics. The digest will stop you being bombarded all day by condensing the constant feed into one timely delivery.