• Assessment item 3
LinkedIn profile
Value: 25%
Due date: 20-Sep-2015
Return date: 11-Oct-2015
Length: 1,500
Submission method options
Alternative submission method
Task
You must complete all sections
Theory
1. What is LinkedIn and why has it become so popular? Your answer must include the following:
- Brief history of LinkedIn
- Growth and projected growth
2. Discuss at least 3 advantages of using LinkedIn for you at your current career stage
3. Why are some people/businesses not using LinkedIn?
4. Detail at least 3 common mistakes people make developing their profile
5. Give at least 3 piece of advice as to how to best leverage your LinkedIn account
Practical application
Develop your own LinkedIn profile.
You must include both a link to your profile and a printout copy of your profile as an appendix. Your profile will be marked on the following:
• Appropriate profile pic
• Attractive presentations
• Headline
• Summary
• Employment
• Recommendations
• Skill & Expertise Endorsements
• Media
• Other sections
Rationale
This assignment is designed to prepare you for graduation and a future career by setting up your LinkedIn profile ready for networking. Specifically this assignment addresses the following learning outcomes:
o be able to identify personal examples of key employability skills, evaluate where personal skills require development and create a plan of action to show how skills will be developed;
o be able to identify personal career and life choices, go on to develop a strategy to achieve these, begin to apply them and appraise their efficacy; and
o be able to modify personal career and life choices according to changes in personal and environmental influences
Marking criteria

Work placement Expectation High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Fail
Skills to be assessed 85-100 75-84.5 65-74.5 50-64.5 0-49.5

Part 1
– Theoretical discussion of LinkedIn

Discussion of LinkedIn and why has it become so popular including the following: brief history of LinkedIn and growth and projected growth. Discussion of advantages of using LinkedIn against why some people/businesses not using LinkedIn. Detail common mistakes people make developing their profile and advice as to how to best leverage your LinkedIn account

(This criteria will assist in understanding modern technology available to assist in job seeking)

10 marks
Clearly described LinkedIn with a precise and high level investigation drawn from multiple academic sources. Deft appraisal of the key drivers of LinkedIn success and popularity. Accurate and detailed discussion of the history of LinkedIn and its current and predicted growth. Precise and astute analysis of more than three advantages of LinkedIn cleverly balanced against why not all individuals and businesses have embraced the technology. Highly perceptive discussion and examples of more than three common LinkedIn profile mistakes. More than three pieces of clear, constructive and insightful advice ably supported with thoughtful examples. Well described LinkedIn with high level investigation drawn from more than three academic sources. Excellent appraisal of the key drivers of LinkedIn success and popularity. A detailed discussion of the history of LinkedIn and its current and predicted growth. Excellent analysis of three advantages of LinkedIn balanced against why not all individuals and businesses have embraced the technology. Perceptive discussion and examples of three common LinkedIn profile mistakes. Three pieces of constructive advice ably supported with practical examples. A good description of LinkedIn with reasonable level investigation drawn from at three academic sources. Useful appraisal of the key drivers of LinkedIn success and popularity. A good discussion of the history of LinkedIn and its current and predicted growth. Good analysis of three advantages of LinkedIn balanced against why not all individuals and businesses have embraced the technology. Good discussion and examples of three common LinkedIn profile mistakes. Three pieces of good advice supported with some examples. Limited description of LinkedIn. Limited investigation of the key drivers of LinkedIn success and popularity. Limited discussion of the history of LinkedIn and its current and predicted growth. Limited analysis of the advantages of LinkedIn. Limited discussion of why not all individuals and businesses have embraced the technology. Limited discussion with no examples of common LinkedIn profile mistakes. Limited advice with no examples. Poor or no description of LinkedIn. Poor or no investigation of the key drivers of LinkedIn success and popularity. No academic sources to support claims. Poor or no discussion of the history of LinkedIn and its current and predicted growth. Poor or no analysis of the advantages of LinkedIn. Poor or no discussion of why not all individuals and businesses have embraced the technology. Poor or no discussion with no examples of common LinkedIn profile mistakes. Poor or no advice with no examples.

Part 2
- Develop your LinkedIn profile
Develop a complete LinkedIn profile

(This criteria will assist inidentifying personal examples of key employability skills, evaluate where personal skills require development and further use this information in all three WPL subjects to create a plan of action to show how skills will be developed be able to identify personal career and life choices, go on to develop a strategy to achieve these, begin to apply them and appraise their efficacy)

12.5 marks A highly engaging first impression with an attractive and appealing profile picture, an interesting and captivating headline and accompanying graphics. The summary is detailed, concise and offers an instant and enticing snapshot of the individual’s aims and ambitions without being too long or immodest. Employments is thorough and complete. Has connected to more than 100 others. Chosen highly appropriate areas for endorsements and has gained peer endorsements for these skills and expertise. Excellent use of media to embed appropriate links, conversations, logos, photos and other relevant material. Strong evidence of activity and insightful leveraging including sharing material and membership to potentially useful networks which may assist in gaining employment. Free of grammatical and spelling errors and written in captivating and likable manner.
An appealing first impression with an attractive and interesting profile picture, an inviting headline and accompanying graphics. The summary is detailed and offers a practical snapshot of the individual’s aims and ambitions although maybe be a little short or long. Employments is complete. Has connected to more than 50 others. Chosen appropriate areas for endorsements and has gained peer endorsements for these skills and expertise. Very good use of media to embed appropriate links, conversations, logos, photos and other relevant material. Clear evidence of activity and leveraging including sharing material and membership to potentially useful networks which may assist in gaining employment. Free of grammatical and spelling errors and written in an interesting manner. A good first impression with an appropriate profile picture. Headline has been developed and some accompanying graphics. The summary is complete and offers something of a snapshot of the individual’s aims and ambitions although maybe be too short, long or lacking in clarity. Employments is complete. Has connected to more than 25 others. Has chosen mostly appropriate areas for endorsements and has gained some peer endorsements for these skills and expertise. Some use of media to embed appropriate links, conversations, logos, photos and other relevant material. Some evidence of activity and leveraging including sharing material and membership to potentially useful networks which may assist in gaining employment. Some grammatical and spelling errors although overall written in appropriate manner. A weak first impression with an inappropriate profile picture. Poor development of headline and accompanying graphics. The summary does not read well and does not give a favourable overview of the individual. Gaps exist in employments history. Has connected to fewer than 10 others. Has not chosen appropriate areas for endorsements and has not gained peer endorsements for skills and expertise. No use of media to embed appropriate links, conversations, logos, photos and other relevant material. Poor evidence activity and leveraging the site. Has not shared any material and has not joined any potentially useful networks which may assist in gaining employment. Noticeable lack of attention to proofreading and written in a dull and uninviting manner. A poor first impression with an inappropriate profile picture. No development of headline and accompanying graphics. The summary has not been attempted. Employments is empty. Has not connected to others. Has not chosen areas for endorsements and has not gained peer endorsements for skills and expertise. No use of media to embed appropriate links, conversations, logos, photos and other relevant material. No evidence of activity or leveraging the site by joining potentially useful networks which may assist in gaining employment. Very poor proofreading and poorly written.

Communication

General presentation of the work including: report structure, formatting, grammar, writing style and proofreading.

1.25 marks Professionally presented report. All key elements evident, each used effectively to enhance report and of a consistently high standard. Creative approach. Polished document showing attention to detail Free of grammatical and spelling errors. Exemplary report structure with accurate and consistent formatting. Organisation of concepts clear and logical. Sentences were well constructed, and language was concise, engaging and academic. Well-crafted report. All key elements evident and well utilised. Graphics/figures/tables etc. used and well integrated. Document proofed. Clear and logical structure.
Free of grammatical and spelling errors. Report structure, and format were effective and clear. Organisation of concepts clear Sentences were well constructed, and language was clear Correct report format employed. All elements evident e.g. graphics/figures/tables etc. used and well integrated. Document proofed. Logical structure.

Minor grammatical and/or spelling errors, sentences were mostly clear and complete. Report structure missing some elements. Organisation of concepts mostly clear. Format used to aid the reader Elements of report format evident but some not well developed/used. (E.g. limited executive summary, tables included but not referenced/discussed etc.) Shows some attempt to organise in a logical manner.

Some grammatical and/or spelling errors, inappropriate use of slang or colloquial language, sentences were not always clear. Report structure not adhered to with poor structure and formatting. Under or over word length. Report format not evident/missing key components.
Poor grammar, spelling, punctuation, concepts were not clear, no organisation of concepts paragraphing or formatting.

Referencing
1.25 marks Present, accurate in text citations. Attention to detail. Detailed reference list. Significant research apparent. Correct APA 6th format.
Used more than six references. Present, accurate in text citations. Correct and accurate reference list. Significant research apparent. Correct APA 6th format. Used three references.

Mostly accurate in text citations. Reference list mostly correct in APA 6th format.
Used two references.

Used in text citations - mostly in correct manner. Reference list completed.
Correct APA 6th format in most cases. Used only one reference. Did not use in- text citations.
Reference list missing or not correct APA 6th formatting.

General comments
Total mark /25

Presentation
Provide a URL link to you LinkedIn profile and submit a report including a hard copy of your LinkedIn profile.