ExecTec on Linkedin in this modern age

I have been active on Linkedin for nearly 10 years now. I have always been a big advocate of the system which I believe promotes valuable networking.

While almost everyone has a Linkedin profile, I sometime feel that for some it has become at best an electronic resume and at worst a confusing and frustrating tool/experience.

So what is Linkedin good for?

How can you leverage to your advantage?

Is it good for more than helping get a job?

This week while at Digital Hollywood I attended a panel moderated by Linda Nicolai titled “Career Strategy in the Digital Age: The Resume is Dead–Will Social Media Get You Your Next Job?”

With top recruiters on the panel what struck me clearly was that Linkedin is a given in the job search process and that many people are not using it to their best advantage.

Career & Workplace Expert / LinkedIn Ambassador Lindsey Pollak writes in this blog post (http://linkd.in/138k8Sh) about three key actions in your search: A) Put people first, B) Gather information and build relationships and C) Maintain your connections.

In case you think this is about job search only it is not (although you should always be thinking about and preparing for your next job search).

These three actions are critical to success in your day to day work as well.

Do you take time to put people first? You can be all about finding and closing that next deal or getting that project done or product out anyway you can but in truth people are the lubricant that can and will reduce the friction in any task you take on. You just never know who has that key connection or knowledge that will make getting whatever task easier to complete.

Information and relationships are key. You can stumble around in the dim light of a limited network trying to achieve your goals and you will eventually achieve or fail. But life and work is much more fun with friends by your side to help you achieve any goal or target. But you can not hope to avail yourself of this advantage unless you have access to knowledge and existing relationships.

Maintaining your relationships and network is critical. Today more than ever this is easier to do and once can maintain a network whether vast or small without loosing hours and hours to the effort. The key is in doing something and not nothing. The unfortunate reality for many is that they are doing far less than more to maintain their connections.

So join me as we dive back in to what many consider one of the best professional networking tools and how to leverage it to your best advantage.

As always, there is no better way to meet and connect with other executives then over dinner and conversation. $21 in advance via PayPal or $25 at the event gets you a full dinner, drink and the best networking around.