Using LinkedIn to promote yourself effectively

In today's competitive job market, it is vital that you utilise every opportunity to advance your employability status. For many law students and graduates, LinkedIn is a solution to this issue. Utilising social media can provide a wealth of job opportunities.

LinkedIn is one of the world's largest social media networks, connecting over 100 million professionals across a wide range of career specialism. Legal firms such as Pinnington Law and DLA Piper thrive on LinkedIn. Therefore, it is vital that your profile is as impressive as possible to attract and engage the attention of networking recruiters and solicitors.

When registering with LinkedIn, use your own personal email address rather than your student or current work email address. If appropriate, give yourself a professional title which details your specific location and industry, to provide a clear personal statement. Once you have filled out the remainder of your basic information and professional/academic history, it is advisable that you join relevant groups as soon as possible. Within these groups you can contribute to discussions  to attract attention from prospective employers, while also gathering information or receiving recommendations. To locate these relevant groups, search the 'Groups' section for terms such as 'law' and 'legal'. Once you are a member of these groups, aim to contribute to discussions concerning topics in which you are knowledgeable. By interacting with firms on a discussion in which you can exhibit legal expertise, or ask sensible questions, you are marketing yourself to them and establishing valuable professional relationships.

As well as searching 'Groups', you can source relevant contacts and invite them to connect with you. You can suggest connections on the basis that you are members of the same LinkedIn groups, or because you have met them at law fairs or open days. Either way you can begin to build up your own network of contacts from which you may benefit in the future.

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Another method of promoting yourself is to increase the popularity of your LinkedIn profile on Google. If you select a unique URL, your page will rank more highly on Google and be brought to the attention of prospective employers. To do this, go onto your 'Public Profile' and select 'Edit'. Your URL could be your full name, your location or specific job title, anything which can be linked back to you and raise your online status.

You can capitalise on your LinkedIn profile by monitoring who has been viewing it. Simply select 'Who's viewed my profile?' on the right hand side of the 'Home' page. This permits you to analyse what type of professional has been viewing your profile and the potential relationships you could develop with them in the future.

Fundamentally, LinkedIn is an invaluable tool for would-be lawyers in forging and developing sustainable business relationships. Websites such as Legal500 and Chambers feature partners with immense online presences, thus displaying the importance of online social networking in the legal profession. If you take pre-emptive measures early on in your legal career, you increase your chances of establishing a solid online presence and making valuable legal connections. You can develop your profile according to which industry or employer you are currently pursuing, enabling you to connect with professionals who can help you to establish a successful career.

Rachael Harris is the social and brand manager at How2become, a careers information and development website.