Scholarly Impact Challenge: Bonus: LinkedIn for Academics

Getting started

1. Register at https://www.linkedin.com/
2. Create a solid, low-maintenance profile.
   1. LinkedIn includes a short text blurb next to each person’s name in search results. They call this your “Headline,” and just like a newspaper headline, it’s meant to stimulate enough interest to make the reader want more. Here are some keys to writing a great LinkedIn headline:
      1. Describe yourself with the right words: Brainstorm a few keywords that are relevant to the field you’re targeting. Spend a few minutes searching for others in your field, and borrowing from keywords found in their profiles and Headlines.
      2. Be succinct: Never use two words when one will do.
      3. Show your expert status: What makes you the chemical engineer/genomics researcher/neuroscientist? Do you put in the most hours, score the biggest grants, or get the best instructor evaluations from students? This is your value proposition–what makes you great. Those with less experience like recent graduates can supplement this section by showing their passion for a topic. (I.e., “Computer scientist with a passion for undergraduate education.”)
      4. One popular tip for writing your headline: 3 keywords + 1 value proposition. For example, taking the keywords from (1) and value proposition from (3) above, we can create a Headline that reads, Computer scientist with a passion for undergraduate education and experience in conceptual modeling and research management. Well-written headlines are also key to making you more findable online–important for those of us who need disambiguation from similarly named researchers beyond ORCID.
3. Add a photo
   1. A professional photo can elevate your online profile
      1. Rice’s Center for Career Development generally schedules free headshots once a month. Dates are advertised on social media.
4. Craft a compelling summary section
   1. Don’t just use this section to repeat information found elsewhere on your profile. Instead, write a short narrative of your professional life and career aspirations, using some of the keywords left over from writing your Headline. When writing your Summary, aim to be specific and make your value clear.
   2. Don’t use technical jargon, but do provide concrete details about your research and why it matters. Make yourself a person, not just another name in a discipline. Describe what you’ve done and why it matters.
5. Highlight your best work
   1. List no more than 5 publications or accomplishments (awards, etc.)
   2. To add works: in Edit Profile mode, you’ll see a “Recommended for you” panel to the right of your profile photo and header section. Click the “Publications” tile to add that section to your profile.
      1. Manually add publication information
         1. You can also add your co-authors, if they’re on LinkedIn and you’re already connected.
   3. After adding publications, drag the Publications section to appear just above or below any eye-catching content on your profile.
6. Make your profile public
   1. Check your “public profile” settings (go to Privacy & Settings > Edit your public profile) to make sure people can see what you want them to. What might others want to see? Your past experience, summary, and education, for starters; also include your best publications.
   2. You can also check your settings by signing out of LinkedIn completely and searching for yourself on both LinkedIn and Google.

Learn more:

• The 30 Day Impact Challenge (Day 5: Make LinkedIn Work for your Research)
• Tips for Building an Effective LinkedIn Profile (Northeastern University)
• How do academics use LinkedIn?
• LinkedIn for Academics, Professors, Adjuncts, Lecturers, Instructors, School Teachers, Educators, Tutors, Researchers, Deans and Vice Chancellors

Bonus Challenge: Connect with other researchers

Connecting with other researchers on LinkedIn is just one more way to build an audience for your research. Connections help you maintain relationships with past and current colleagues, who are likely interested in the work you’re doing and want to read about it.

Use the Add Connections tab in the top right corner of your profile to connect LinkedIn to your email account. LinkedIn then suggests Connections based on your contacts. An important rule to follow for LinkedIn is to only select Connections you actually know and feel comfortable asking to keep in touch (e.g., former collaborators, co-workers, and friends).