I’ve just discovered LinkedIn’s new blog of networking success stories (only 5 so far), written by members of LinkedIn, who have achieved something desirable while using LinkedIn. Interestingly, only one is a job-getting success.

You can find them all linked above, but in case you don’t have time at the moment…

  • One is how a mother (and television producer) was able to find and connect patients and parents of patients with rare diseases and doctors who treat them, and she was able to bring media attention to the problem.
  • Another is how an author got a book contract with a major publisher, by connecting with the publsher’s rep.
  • Another is how an unemployed undergrad landed several job offers, including her dream job.
  • Another is how the Board of a non-prof filled its membership by searching LinkedIn for the kind of people (qualified and local) they wanted to participate with them on the Board.
  • The last one is how it happened that an American science writer was invited to Rome to report on a little-known-in-America award for the sciences and humanities (because the awards committee searched for an American to offer the expense-paid trip).

The authors tell their stories here, and how they did it, or how it happened for them. I encourage you to read these stories and take heart. In the spirit of  “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus….” –  Yes, you can do this too.

Some Tips:

Recognize that you have a much greater chance of being found if you have completed your profile, and if you demonstrate that you are worth being found (and contacted).  I don’t mean that you have to be a super-guru in your field, but you do have to show that you’re involved in your work, that you have a genuine interest/knowledge in it, and that you are “approachable.”

Have contact information on your profile.

Remember that networking can include giving as well as getting. Only some of the authors above were searching for success, or trying to make something happen for themselves.  Some of them were found because someone else was searching for them, and some of them were doing something altruistic.

It seems most fitting to end with a quote, the last sentences in the first story —-

“You can find almost anyone on LinkedIn. A great question to ask when you get connected with someone on LinkedIn is: What can I do to help you?” – quote by Cari Levy