6 Mistakes Not to Make on LinkedIn

6 Mistakes Not to Make on LinkedIn

1. Never leak information on LinkedIn that should not be broadcast to the world. Announcing a big deal before it is finalized proves you lack discretion and can cost the deal. Discussing technical projects before they are public may be illegal and can prevent a patent from being obtained. Can you be trusted with proprietary information? Leaking big news before the public relations department formally releases it proves you cannot be trusted in that regard. Eagerness to share secrets can prevent you from attaining a security clearance required to work in many government and military contracting jobs, getting a position in human resources or financial records, and even any position of trust.
2. Avoid listing general fiction, religious titles, horror, or potentially offensive books. Keep the reading list on LinkedIn limited to professional books that benefit your image. Include books that demonstrate your knowledge of your industry, management skills, time management or technical expertise.
3. Do not keep your links to toxic coworkers or former employers that would speak ill of you. The links in LinkedIn provide the network of people that you reveal to the world is a friend, colleague, and peer. These links also give potential employers a direct method to contact your peers for opinions of you and your work. Disconnect the links in Linked In for anyone who you would not want to act as a reference.
4. Never speak ill of individuals or businesses on LinkedIn. These comments are immortalized on the Internet and visible to potential employers and recruiters on Linked In. It also creates a record of negative commentary that your former employer can find, which can result in a lesser opinion of you by former coworkers.
5. Do not use LinkedIn as your primary social network. Discuss your vacation plans, child’s antics, best friend’s wedding and concert viewing somewhere else. Keep LinkedIn professional. Be your social self elsewhere.
6. Job hunting is sometimes described as a matter of who you know instead of what you know. A large network is also important when job hunting, since more links result in more contacts for a job hunter. Unfortunately, the question that can come back as: do I know you? If you cannot immediately describe a relevant professional or social relationship with someone, do not add them as a link. Remember that LinkedIn is used to find references and background information. If a linked person were asked about you, could they describe your relationship? If not, either build up the relationship or terminate the connection.

This is a Guest Post from Daniel Blinman is writing on behalf of Marketing By Web; an online marketing company specialising in adwords and adwords google management.