Here is our fourth exercise for wowOwow’s Virtual Executive "Interns." In this latest project, we will teach you the basics of getting started with the social and professional networking site LinkedIn. In our fifth and sixth projects — which we will post next week, after you have these basics down — we will show you how to grow your network and search for jobs. Our first three projects familiarized you with the social-networking site Facebook. Click here to see the previous project.

Once you’re familiar with Facebook, LinkedIn shouldn’t feel too foreign. You’ll get connected to others, join groups and conduct relevant searches. It’s a network for professional connections, and instead of sharing info on your children and pets, you share business information. It is a fantastic networking tool for job searching and for promoting a business or service. It also doubles as a terrific database for all your business contacts.

Let’s dive in!
PROJECT #4 GETTING STARTED ON LINKEDIN
Project #4A: After creating an account and logging in, the first thing to do is start completing your profile.

Do Now!
1. From the homepage, click on Profile on left side of page, which will bring you to your profile. Each section has an edit button.
2. Edit the Basic Info – name, professional heading, location and industry.
3. Complete Experience and Education with your top line info.
4. Complete Summary with a short blurb or “elevator pitch” about yourself or your business. This is a quick way for users to understand your goals.
5. Edit your Public Profile URL. You can edit that last section to be your name or business or other phrase that would be easy for hiring managers and/or business prospects to understand. Copy this URL into your cover letters and résumé so others can access your LinkedIn profile as a supplement to your résumé and job application. This is a useful tool and shows prospective employers that you are Internet literate.

Project #4B — Do Later!
1. Use your current résumé as a reference to add more details to Experience and Education.
2. Add a photo; it helps people recognize you.
3. Add a link to your website, if you have one.
4. Follow LinkedIn’s suggestions to further complete your profile, such as getting recommendations from former associates or employers.

Now people on LinkedIn can find you. You’ll get invites from current and former colleagues and classmates.

Click here for more about LinkedIn.