I admit it, I fit the classic librarian’s Meyers-Briggs profile – introvert all the way, known for hiding out and avoiding human contact for days (okay, weeks if I can get away with it) on end.

 

So when a career-savvy friend suggested I get a profile up on LinkedIn so he could connect with me, I created just enough of a profile (read: name, title, and e-mail address) so that I could get back to writing my article on career resiliency. I mean, I already have a pretty big group of “connections,” i.e., colleagues I love hanging out with and staying in touch with, and I have a tough enough time keeping up with them as it is. Why would I want three million more?

 

 

Working with Christian to build the presentation, however, I realized that tools like LinkedIn offer an invaluable opportunity for those of us likely to be hiding our light under a bushel, if not in a cave. And in the LIS profession, that’s generally a whole bunch of us.

 

 

Although I believe that creating a personal/professional brand is critical to building a resilient career, drawing attention to ourselves and – heaven forbid – talking about how valuable we are can be pretty challenging for those of us have been taught “not to brag.” Like many of my friends, I often find it difficult to broadcast my skills, value, and availability in such a way that doesn’t leave me feeling (or looking) like an idiot.

 

 

Under the “Additional Information” section, you can list your websites (in my case, those for my company, my book, and should I ever get my act together, my blog), interests (including a couple of your personal passions/commitments may help “round you out” to potential employers or clients), groups and associations, and honors and awards (I listed my books and workshop presentations here instead).

 

A last section, “Contact Settings,” allows you to stipulate under what circumstance you’d like to be contacted. For example, my contact-settings statement reads: “Available for information-based projects, including print and online content development, information strategy, and online/adult learner support. Also available for workshops and presentations related to LIS career development. Please indicate nature of project, timeline if known, and location.” In addition, you’re asked to specify what categories of contact you might consider; among the options here are career opportunities, consulting offers, new ventures, job inquiries, expertise requests, business deals, personal reference requests, and requests to reconnect ( think school chums, lost relatives, former co-workers, etc.).

 

There are many strategic ways to use social network tools like LinkedIn, none of which I’ve touched upon here. For example, power users find jobs/employees, actively seek out potential clients, identify subject experts, find partners with whom to collaborate, and glean competitive intelligence data. All useful options, and at some point I may ramp up my investment of time and start learning how to maximize the system’s strategic benefits. For now, however, I’m content to have it be a personal branding tool that allows me to showcase my strengths without my having to say a word. I simply list my LinkedIn URL on my business card and in my signature block on my e-mails, and give people the opportunity to learn more about me if they so choose. Well worth the investment of a Sunday afternoon.