Jump-start your second act on LinkedIn

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Facebook may help you stay connected socially, but having a presence on LinkedIn can be crucial to staying connected professionally. If you're starting your second-act career, this social network can help you build your personal brand and find your next career endeavor.

LinkedIn has more than 722 million members in more than 200 countries and territories. "When you Google yourself — even if you have a website — the first result is likely to be your LinkedIn profile," says Alex Pirouz, founder of Linkfluencer, an online community for LinkedIn training in an interview conducted by Athene.

"That's why it's so important to use LinkedIn to the fullest extent to build your reputation, network successfully, and attract clients or recruiters who can help you find your next gig," says Robin Colner, director of the Digital and Social Media Professional Certificate Program at Fordham University's School of Professional and Continuing Studies, as well as the president and founder of DigiStar Media in an inteview conducted by Athene.

Here, Pirouz and Colner share five steps to creating a LinkedIn experience that will help get you noticed and move ahead, no matter what your goals are.

1. Tell a story. "We've always been taught to create resumes that list experience, dates and skills. While those things are still important, the traditional list-based résumé isn't ideal for LinkedIn," states Pirouz. "Instead, build your profile based on the answers to these questions: What are the three challenges your service or product can solve for your target market? And what makes you different as a person and as an employee? Write your summary in the third person and in a story format that covers how you got started, what led you to where you are and what you're currently working on. You can also weave in any achievements or awards."
2. Join the right groups. There are millions of LinkedIn groups. You'll want to join the ones that are related to your functional expertise, industry interests, and where you're regionally located. "Groups offer an opportunity to network and learn from industry professionals, while demonstrating your expertise by contributing articles and comments related to discussion topics," shares Colner. "Groups also offer the opportunity to attract strategic partners and potential clients."
3. Write your own recommendation. LinkedIn allows you to ask your connections to provide recommendations. Pirouz suggests writing your own recommendation and sending it to people you think will feel comfortable giving you a public nod. Most of the time they will be happy to post it with a few personal touches.
4. Discover new information. LinkedIn is a veritable goldmine when it comes to finding info on the organizations you'd like to work with or for. Be sure to follow the updates of all the companies and people you have an interest in doing business with, as well as influencers and experts in your field.
5. Put in the time. LinkedIn isn't a set-it-and-forget-it resource. You need to ask for connections, participate in groups and get involved. Colner suggests spending 15 minutes each day making connections, reading and engaging with updates, and posting blogs or sharing content to keep yourself top-of-mind.

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