How and why to use LinkedIn when you’re not job hunting

Updating your profile makes sense for learning, branding, networking

At the newspaper where I worked, “Al” was known for his sloppy, scruffy appearance. Supervisors tolerated it because he was a great employee otherwise. One day he arrived wearing a suit and tie, hair cut, face clean-shaven. Alarmed, his boss asked him why he was interviewing with other businesses.

Al said he was perfectly happy with his job. He realized that his sloppy appearance gave the false impression that his work was sloppy, too. Though some kept a disbelieving eye on him, Al continued to wear a suit daily, and the rumors died down.

As Al discovered, appearance is important when you’re establishing relationships, and the same is true of a social media profile. If updating your personal information or photo on sites such as LinkedIn makes co-workers nervous, point out that networking has several benefits, including:

1. Learn more about your industry and/or profession. Betsy Lasse Stern, a recruiter at Management Recruiters of St. Charles, Ill., points out that LinkedIn users have many reasons to stay in touch, hence the formation of company alumni and industry-specific groups.