As the holidays approach, many professionals slow down, while savvy networkers step up their efforts and are networking on LinkedIn. Budgets get reset, hiring plans form, and new opportunities emerge for the new year.
Now is the perfect time to optimize your LinkedIn profile, expand your reach, and initiate meaningful conversations.
While others coast, stand out as organizations fill roles, renew contracts, or allocate fresh funds for collaborations.
Optimize, Comment, and Connect
Your LinkedIn profile is your digital handshake, and so you should be networking on LinkedIn.
- Update your headline now with strong keywords and a unique selling proposition (USP) to make a lasting impression.
- Make your “About” section easy to skim and scan, especially on a mobile device. Add emojis for color. Invite readers to contact you or learn more about your work.
- Don’t just post, but comment actively. Add insight, ask questions, and offer encouragement. Your thoughtful comments build expertise, foster connections, increase visibility, and enhance credibility.
Find networking events online or in person through LinkedIn, Meetup, Eventbrite, or local groups.
Holiday mixers, fundraisers, and year-end gatherings help deepen connections for next year.
Search “networking” and “holiday” on Great Careers Network blogs for more articles and tips.
Networking on LinkedIn for Every Personality Type
Networking on LinkedIn isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s how LinkedIn works for every type:
- Introvert: Prefer deeper interactions? Use LinkedIn messaging for one-on-one conversations after commenting on a post. Focus on quality over quantity.
- Ambivert: Strike a balance between online and offline engagement. Attend one virtual event weekly and follow up with a personalized LinkedIn note.
- Extrovert: Thrive on visibility? Host a LinkedIn Live, share event photos, or tag others in posts celebrating achievements. Let your energy inspire your network.
- Otrovert (a playful term for someone who adapts easily): Pivot between connection styles. Engage when it feels right, observe when needed, and jump back in when inspired.
Adapt styles as needed. Engage, observe, and jump in when inspired.
Each type brings unique strengths, and LinkedIn showcases them.
The Immigrant or “New to Town” Advantage
For immigrant professionals, networking on LinkedIn can be powerful. It provides access to global connections and visibility beyond geography and culture.
Join groups, share expertise, and engage to build credibility quickly beyond traditional networking.
Get tips from others, whether you’re new to town, moving cross-country, or from abroad.
The Great Careers Network hosts an Immigrant Professional Career Support Group monthly via Zoom, usually on the fourth Monday.
We also run online Career Support and Business Executive Networking Groups for mid-to-senior-level executives. To join or learn more, please contact us or visit our website. These are networking-focused events and have no topic speaker, so it’s straight conversations. Don’t forget to continue networking on LinkedIn after meeting people on Zoom.
On LinkedIn, you can highlight the perspectives you bring to the table.
Final Thoughts
As the year winds down, use this quiet time to prepare for the opportunities ahead in January. Update your profile using tips from LinkedIn workshops, as noted below. ABC – always be connecting and networking on LinkedIn!
Reconnect with past colleagues by reaching out directly. Share your insights and updates in messages or posts. Comment thoughtfully with value-added remarks on their activity.
Whether reflecting by the fire or lighting up the holiday mixer, remember: networking means cultivating relationships, not collecting contacts.
This holiday season, show up on LinkedIn with purpose, authenticity, and enthusiasm. Any connection could change your career next year.
MAKE NETWORKING A HABIT! MAKE HOLIDAY NETWORKING ON LINKEDIN A HABIT!
NEXT STEPS
- Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn™ for bright ideas on how to manage your career.
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- If you need a resume or LinkedIn™ profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat! Contact me for corporate training, too.
- Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership
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BIO
Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Network, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.
Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn profiles, Lynne is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the
