Are you a writer seeking a writing job? If so, your options are limitless: authorship, publishing, entertainment, education, journalism, law, counseling, business, politics, marketing, advertising, science-related writing fields, and so many more. But to get the job, especially for creative or freelance work, you’re selling more than your work—you’re selling yourself! This brief walkthrough of LinkedIn personal branding strategies aims at three goals for job-seeking writers: increased visibility, networking and opportunities, and self-discovery and expression.

 

Before creating a personal internet space, backtrack through your internet history and clean up your digital footprint. According to The Recruitment Lab, an organization that connects recruiters to applicants, sixty-six percent of job recruiters Google candidates before inviting them to an interview, and seventy percent search for personal social media. That picture you posted in 2017 at a very fun wedding reception? A questionable comment chain you wrote on Twitter? Imagine a potential employer seeing it. Even if you’re social media free, check your friends’ and family’s pages, and consider asking them to remove any problematic posts. 

 

The sixty-six percent can also work in your favor. Google yourself. What shows up? If you have a positive, professional online presence, such as an author website or self-promotion social media page, recruiters can get to know you and your work better on your own terms. 

 

LinkedIn, the current most popular business social network, connects you with powerful people you’re unlikely to run into walking down the street: potential employers, classmates, professors, industry experts, and alumni from your school. The app allows you to see open writing positions, apply directly, and even encourages recruiters to contact you for job opportunities. However, beware of scammy or pyramid-scheme recruiters, who sometimes take advantage of the open design of the app.

 

Develop your public profile 

1. Custom URL: Your URL helps job recruiters find the information you want them to when they’re looking you up. After creating your profile, click on Public Profile and URL. Customize the URL to be your name (and a number or two if LinkedIn requires that).
2. Profile Picture: Presentation is important! Professional headshots are the norm, but San Diego locals can also slap on a suit or dress and head to Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma with a friend for a free photoshoot!
3. Headline: Your headline should be brief and describe who you are and what you do, as well as what you want to do.
4. About: The About section expands on the headline. Use it to reflect your degree if you have one and a few sentences about what you’re currently working on. Keep it brief!
5. Experience: Here is the place to copy and paste your resume. LinkedIn allows you to link specific skills to your experiences, highlighting where you learned to copyedit, lead a team, or provide customer service. You can also link files to experiences and education: This is a perfect opportunity to showcase your projects and publications!
6. Education: Include your degree if you have one, a G.P.A. at or above 3.5, and school activities relevant to your field. 
7. Endorsements: Other LinkedIn users can “endorse” your skills, boosting your credibility. Imagine a freelance recruiter seeing thirteen professionals affirm your “reliability” skill! 

 

Grow your connections

1. Build your network: Add fellow writers, join relevant groups, follow target companies! Some universities offer an alumni network. Perhaps someone you know from school may have taken the career route you’re seeking now.
2. Quality > Quantity: 10 deep connections > 50. This isn’t Instagram. Don’t just connect with people to connect with them—connect for a purpose.

 

Engage regularly

1. Posting regularly can help you build an audience. Post recent achievements, upcoming projects, and what you’re passionate about.  You never know when connecting with a specific community will come in handy.
2. Some fields use LinkedIn more than others for networking. For example, higher education uses LinkedIn heavily, whereas some fields only use the app to hire applicants. 

 

Reaching out to professionals for career conversations

1. The Preparation:

• First, know yourself, your skills, and your goals for the conversation: Why are you reaching out to this person? What do you hope to get out of the connection?
• Next, research the professional. Are they currently in the field? 

2. The Action:

• Send a polite, specific message to a professional on LinkedIn. If you request a meeting, specify how long it will last. Busy people want to know what they are signing up for.

3. The Interaction

• This seems cliche, but be yourself! Try not to brag about yourself. Acknowledge that you have much to learn, and show that you’re interested in them and their work.
• Ask questions, listen, engage, and take notes.
• Ask if there’s anyone else they recommend talking to. People are usually happy to point you toward others with different areas of knowledge and expertise.

4. The Follow-Up 

• Within 24-48 hours, thank them for speaking to you, and keep in touch through engaging with their LinkedIn posts.

 

Overall, remember President Kennedy’s famous words: Ask not what your community can do for you, but ask what you can do for your community. San Diego has a vibrant writing community inside and outside of SDWI, and you never know who will pass along your name to the right recruiter. Follow names in the field you’re seeking, research people, and volunteer or intern for companies you’re interested in. City governments, SDSU, and UCSD have in-person career fairs open to the public.