LinkedIn: More Than Just Digital Handshakes and Business Cards

Is LinkedIn just another social media platform for careerists, or is it the Swiss Army knife you didn’t know you needed?

Silhouettes of people connecting dots between them, representing making valuable contacts.

Unfolding the Swiss Army Knife

Okay, we’ve all been there-getting LinkedIn invites from that high school friend you haven’t talked to in years or endorsements for “Microsoft Word” skills from your Aunt Carol.

But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. LinkedIn can be a multi-tool in your personal and professional growth toolbox, just like a Swiss Army knife. Let’s dig in, shall we?

Networking, But Make It Personal

We all know LinkedIn is fantastic for networking. You know, shaking those digital hands and exchanging virtual business cards. But how about making your LinkedIn network a little bit more like your group of friends rather than a room full of stuffy suits?

Take the time to actually chat with people, get to know them beyond their job titles, and-gasp-maybe even talk about non-work stuff. One time, I started a conversation with someone about our shared love for hiking, and guess what?