Professional networking: writing effective LinkedIn posts
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Think about these questions before reading. Share your ideas with a partner.
- Besides meeting in person, how do people in your profession or country connect with each other for work?
- Think about professional social media like LinkedIn. What kind of information do you think is useful to share about your career, and what should you keep private?
- Imagine you want to find a new job or learn a new skill for your career. How could using a professional networking site help you achieve that goal?
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Networking on LinkedIn
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
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Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the article.
01According to the article, why is it better to use strong action verbs in professional writing?
Sample answerIt says that using strong verbs makes your experience sound more impressive. It's a more dynamic way to write than just saying 'I was responsible for...'.
02What are some of the key vocabulary terms the article mentions for business communication?
Sample answerThe article lists a few important words like 'engagement', 'visibility', 'call to action', 'showcase', and 'reach'.
03What different kinds of posts does the article suggest writing on LinkedIn?
Sample answerIt suggests you should vary your posts. For example, you can share an achievement, ask a question, or share an interesting article you found.
04In what way can using the right vocabulary and grammar improve your professional networking on LinkedIn?
Sample answerI think it helps you look more professional. Using strong verbs makes your skills sound better, and using words like 'engagement' shows you understand how the platform works, which can help you connect with more people.
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Key vocabulary for professional networking
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more effectively about building your career.
Examples
Build a network — to create and develop a group of professional contacts who can help with your career.
Usage note: This is a key activity for career development. Common phrases are 'build a strong network' or 'expand your network'.
Reach out to (someone) — to contact a person, often for the first time, to ask for information or help.
Usage note: This is a friendly but professional phrasal verb. For example, 'You should reach out to alumni from your university on LinkedIn'.
Stay on someone's radar — to make sure an important person continues to notice you and think about you.
Usage note: This is a common business idiom. Sharing useful content is a good way to stay on your network's radar.
Personal brand — the professional image or impression you create of yourself for others.
Usage note: Your LinkedIn profile is a very important part of your personal brand. We often use verbs like 'build', 'develop', or 'manage' with it.
Touch base (with someone) — to talk to someone for a short time to get an update or maintain your connection.
Usage note: This is a common, slightly informal phrase in business communication. For example, 'Let's touch base next week to discuss progress'.
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Networking vocabulary
Do you know these useful words for professional networking?
Match each term with its correct definition.
Drag or click to match
Definitions
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Grammar: Present perfect for professional experience
Grammar
We use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) to talk about past actions or experiences when the exact time is not important. It's perfect for describing your professional achievements on a platform like LinkedIn because it connects your past accomplishments to your present career.
Examples
I have managed several international projects.
Use this to talk about an experience at an unspecified time in your past. It shows you have this skill now.
She has just updated her LinkedIn profile with a new certificate.
We often use 'just', 'already', or 'yet' with the present perfect for recent actions that are relevant now.
They have worked in digital marketing for ten years.
Use 'for' and 'since' to talk about the duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
Key points
- Use for past experiences when the specific time is not important.
- Form it with 'have' or 'has' + the past participle (e.g., written, managed, seen).
- Common mistake: Don't use it with specific past time words like 'yesterday' or 'last year'. Use the past simple instead (e.g., 'I managed a project last year.')
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Find the mistake
Each sentence contains one error. Find and correct it.
01I have updated my LinkedIn profile yesterday to add my new job.
Corrected version
I have updated my LinkedIn profile yesterday to add my new job.
02You should try to reach out for new people in your industry.
Corrected version
You should try to reach out for to new people in your industry.
03Having a professional photo on your profile is very importance.
Corrected version
Having a professional photo on your profile is very importance. important.
04The advice in the article are very useful for building a network.
Corrected version
The advice in the article are is very useful for building a network.
05A good post with a clear call to action gets more engagament.
Corrected version
A good post with a clear call to action gets more engagament. engagement.
06She wrote an post about her recent achievements at work.
Corrected version
She wrote an a post about her recent achievements at work.
07My manager has never wrote a recommendation for anyone before.
Corrected version
My manager has never wrote written a recommendation for anyone before.
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Useful phrases: commenting on a LinkedIn post
Vocabulary
Leaving a thoughtful comment is a great way to build your network on LinkedIn. It shows you're engaged and helps you stay visible. Here are some phrases to help you write comments that go beyond a simple 'congrats' or 'great post'.
Examples
That's a great point. I'd also add that... — use this to agree with the post and contribute your own idea.
Register: Neutral/Professional. This makes your comment more valuable than just agreeing. It shows you have your own thoughts on the subject.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm curious, what are your thoughts on...? — use this to ask a follow-up question.
Register: Neutral/Professional. This is a polite way to start a deeper conversation and shows you have a genuine interest in the topic.
This really resonates with me. In my experience,... — use this to connect the post to your own professional life.
Register: Neutral. A great way to build a personal connection by sharing a relevant, brief story or example from your own career.
Huge congratulations on the new role! I'm sure you'll do great things. — use this to congratulate someone in a warm, specific way.
Register: Neutral/Warm. This sounds more personal and sincere than a simple 'Congrats!'. Mentioning the specific achievement makes it better.
Great insights! For anyone interested, this article also covers... — use this to share a helpful resource.
Register: Neutral/Professional. This positions you as a helpful person in your field. Make sure the resource you share is relevant and high-quality.
This is a fantastic summary. I think @[colleague's name] would find this really interesting. — use this to tag someone who would benefit from the post.
Register: Neutral. This helps expand the post's reach and connects people in your network. Only tag people who you genuinely think will be interested.
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Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.
Word bank
01Attending industry events is a great way to build your professional and meet new people.
02Think carefully about the image you want to create for your personal online.
03I sent a request to with the hiring manager on LinkedIn after the interview.
04She posted a quick to let her connections know she had started a new role.
05It's a good idea to have a professional photo for your online .
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Networking in action
Read the passage below, then answer the comprehension questions.
Maria, a marketing manager, felt stuck in her job. She knew she needed to build a network outside her current company. First, she updated her LinkedIn profile to showcase her skills and create a stronger personal brand. For the past month, she has actively shared articles and commented on posts from industry leaders. This strategy helped her stay on their radar. Last week, she saw an interesting job opening. Instead of just applying online, she reached out to the hiring manager directly. Because she had seen his recent posts, she had a good reason to touch base with him. He remembered her from a comment she had made. They have scheduled an interview for next week. Maria has learned that networking isn't just about collecting contacts; it's about building genuine connections.
01What was the first step Maria took to manage her career?
Sample answerShe updated her LinkedIn profile to create a stronger personal brand and showcase her skills.
02How did Maria make sure important people in her industry noticed her?
Sample answerShe shared articles and commented on posts from industry leaders to stay on their radar.
03Why was the hiring manager willing to speak with Maria?
Sample answerHe remembered her from a comment she had made on one of his posts.
04What does the passage suggest is the main difference between 'collecting contacts' and 'building connections'?
Sample answerThe passage suggests that building connections is more active and genuine. It involves engaging with people and their content, not just adding them to your network.
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- In your country, is it more common to build a network by reaching out to new people online, or is it better to have a personal introduction first? Explain the professional culture.
- To create a strong personal brand, is it better to only post about work, or should you also share some personal interests to increase engagement? What are the pros and cons of each approach?
- Imagine you want to stay on the radar of a company you hope to work for one day. What specific actions could you take on a site like LinkedIn to improve your visibility with them?