In the Case of a Strike: Do Not Panic — Strike Survival Guide from LinkedIn Offers a Lifeline

Business Wire,  July 2, 2008  

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Networking Tips to Keep Entertainment Industry Professionals Afloat

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Contact information should read: LinkedIn, Kay Luo, 650-687-3560, press@linkedin.com.

The corrected release reads:

IN THE CASE OF A STRIKE: DO NOT PANIC -- STRIKE SURVIVAL GUIDE FROM LINKEDIN OFFERS A LIFELINE

Networking Tips to Keep Entertainment Industry Professionals Afloat

With Hollywood still feeling the effects from a Writers Guild strike that ended just months ago, the entertainment industry is bracing for yet another strike as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) weighs a potential walkout. LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, has a solution. Capitalizing on the experience of more than 24 million professionals worldwide, LinkedIn has created a practical guide to help writers, actors, producers, and everyone else stay in the picture during difficult industry downtime. The 'LinkedIn Strike Survival Guide' can be found at: http://learn.linkedin.com/strike/.

The 'LinkedIn Strike Survival Guide' offers essential guidance on how to keep profiles high and contacts close -- even if the industry grinds to a standstill. Reminding LinkedIn members, "You are equipped to survive a strike," the leading professional network encourages them to "assume strike positions and reach out" to their people through the unique networking tools available on the site.

"Industry strikes such as the proposed SAG walkout can cripple the entertainment industry, but LinkedIn members should remain calm and connected," said Rob Getzschman, Entertainment Market Manager, LinkedIn. "Staying up-to-date with your network and building new contacts on LinkedIn enables entertainment professionals - from best boys to producers - to remain visible and find new ways to interact and exchange knowledge, opportunities and advice."

Some tips from the 'LinkedIn Strike Survival Guide':

* Polish your profile. An up-to-date profile can be a lifeline. Clarify your professional brand with a summary of your career, experience and skill set. Update your recent positions and education to help people find you by company, job title, expertise keywords or university. And upload a photo for quick face recognition.

* Import your address book. Whether you have an Outlook address book, a webmail account or a tower of business cards, your contacts are key. Upload your address book to find out who's already on LinkedIn, and reconnect with former colleagues and classmates to grow your opportunities.

* Update your "Status." Tell your network that you're looking for work, seeking collaborators for a new project, or traveling. Share "What you're working on" regularly to communicate it to your network. Your connections will see these in their Network Updates and help meet your needs.

* Represent your accomplishments. Direct people to your work on the Internet: hyperlink to IMDb, iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, a blog, or your own website. Nothing beats a credible recommendation from a trusted source -- display them on your LinkedIn profile. Forward your profile and put your LinkedIn URL in your email signature for people to check out.

* Discover an inside connection. Get on the inside track for your dream gig. Search LinkedIn to find connections within your network and get introduced to build relationships before an interview. Research the people you're interviewing with to find a perfect ice-breaker.

* Ask questions, answer questions. Share your expertise and raise your profile by answering questions on LinkedIn Answers. Then find a new perspective on your own challenges by asking questions. Your network has the answers.

LinkedIn's network of global professionals represents more than 170 industries and includes executives from each of the Fortune 500 companies. In the entertainment industry alone, there are over 250,000 professionals on LinkedIn, including writers, producers, directors, actors, and all manner of personnel above and below the line. This robust user base makes LinkedIn an ideal resource to serve both rising stars and seasoned professionals in a volatile industry.

About LinkedIn

LinkedIn takes your personal business network online, giving you access to people, jobs and opportunities like never before. Built upon trusted connections and relationships, LinkedIn has established the world's largest and most powerful business network. Currently, more than 24 million professionals are on LinkedIn, representing all five hundred of the Fortune 500 companies, as well as a wide range of household names in technology, financial services, media, consumer packaged goods, entertainment, fashion, and numerous other industries.

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