We will be running a Linkedin and Social Media Retreat on the 5th of February, 2025 book your place on the IAD website.
In an increasing fragmented (and some might even say dysfunctional) social media landscape, there are a few islands of stability. Linkedin in provides researchers with one of these. Yes, Linkedin is a networking site but I want to stress another, perhaps more important element of Linkedin’s usefulness (depending on what career stage you are at):
It’s research tool. A massive database of millions of career options, providing insight into individual career paths, and millions of organisations.
SMEs (organisations employing 500 people of less) comprise 98% of UK businesses, account for 60% of employment, and half of the nation’s economic turnover. For job hunters and career changers, this means a huge number of potential diverse career options are effectively ‘hidden’ – and Linkedin is an important tool which can help you begin to uncover them. You can also gain insight into the steps people took to access those career options. And when you’re ready, you can reach out to them for an informational interview.
For anyone completely new to Linkedin or still unsure/unconvinced of the value of Linkedin for academic networking, this article from the University Association of Contemporary European Studies sets out some compelling reasons why it is valuable
https://www.uaces.org/resources/articles/linkedin-tool-researchers-and-academics
and also check out this advice for academics by Linkedin specialist Sue Ellison https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-academics-professors-adjuncts-lecturers-school-sue-ellson/
For how to guides on using Linkedin, start with the University’s Linkedin Learning subscription: https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/help-consultancy/is-skills/linkedin-learning there are short courses and quick tips on everything from setting up your profile, using AI to help you write your summary, using and following hashtags, how to use Linkedin creator mode, how to change careers using Linkedin, and much, much more.
Beyond the practicalities – time is precious. Ask yourself, what do you want to get out of using Linkedin? How is going to help you meet your career goals – short, medium, long-term? This article by Mark Carrigan at LSE can help extroverts and introverts alike develop an effective online and hybrid networking strategy https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2022/09/15/an-introverts-guide-to-academic-networking-and-hybrid-events/
Browse profiles to get a sense of the range of options available to you for developing your own. Browsing the profiles of role models can help you think about developing your ‘brand’ – whether you are aiming for an academic career in Anthropology (for example), or an Anthropology researcher aiming for a career in the Civil Service (for example).
You may want to start out just using Linkedin to research, but think about how becoming more active by commenting, posting, sharing, and discussing can help to raise your professional profile – increasing opportunities for work, research collaboration, ideas, support, and more.
Lastly, we run our Linkedin and Social Media Retreat which gives you time and space to work on your Linkedin profile and online networking (I am on hand to provide advice and guidance if needed), but don’t forget you can talk to me or Eleanor about Linkedin and how to use it in managing your career in a 1:1 Career Consultation.
Follow some of these pages on Linkedin, and see who they follow, also look for organisations that interest you, and follow their company page:
University of Edinburgh Careers Support for Researchers
Institute for Academic Development
Pathfinder at Glasgow (profiles of careers in and outside of higher education research and teaching)
Thank you for mentioning my article on LinkedIn for Academics. There is a variety of free webinar slides and recording available at https://sueellson.com/webinars-and-recordings/ that may be suitable for particular students and graduates. I have also published two books on the topic of LinkedIn and have an online course available. Happy to contacted directly for more information.