LinkedIn Recommendation Interview Preparation Guide

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LinkedIn is a social networking site designed specifically for the business community. The goal of the site is to allow registered members to establish and document networks of people they know and trust professionally.

A LinkedIn member's profile page, which emphasizes employment history and education, has professional network news feeds and a limited number of customizable modules.

Basic membership for LinkedIn is free. Network members are called "connections." Unlike other free social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn requires connections to have a pre-existing relationship.

With basic membership, a member can only establish connections with someone he has worked with, knows professionally (online or offline) or has gone to school with. Connections up to three degrees away (see six degrees of separation) are seen as part of the member's network, but the member is not allowed to contact them through LinkedIn without an introduction. Premium subscriptions can be purchased to provide members with better access to contacts in the LinkedIn database.

Build and a maintain a current, thorough profile. LinkedIn administrators recommend the following as essentials for your profile: adding a professional photo of yourself; summarizing your professional persona and skill set; listing your educational background and three recent job positions; and featuring three recommendations from your LinkedIn connections. Doing this will answer many of your client's initial questions about who you are and what you do.

LinkedIn was co-founded by Reid Hoffman, a former Executive Vice President in charge of business and corporate development for PayPal. The site, which was launched in May 2003, currently has over 300 million members from 200 countries, representing 170 industries. According to Reid Hoffman, 27 percent of LinkedIn subscribers are recruiters.

InMail is LinkedIn's in-house email network, which is the fastest and most direct way to send and receive messages among LinkedIn members. Estimate how often you will answer client questions on LinkedIn. Then, if you still have a basic account, click on "Upgrade Your Account" at the bottom right of the page. Choose from among the subscription plans, for which you must pay. Each plan allows you a different number of InMail messages.

The answers you provide become part of your profile and demonstrate your expertise to your current and potential clients. Click on "More" from the menu at the top of your LinkedIn page and select "Answers." Answer relevant questions from those within your network.

Select "Groups" from the top-page menu and click on "Groups Directory." Search for groups most relevant to your business, and request to join those groups. Once in a group, start and join conversations with others in the group, who may be current or future clients with questions. Or, create your own group and invite current and prospective clients to join. Use this group as a platform for answering client questions.

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