Serving Up Success on LinkedIn: 4 Lessons from a Navy Chef

Paul Maloney served in the Navy as a chef. When Paul left the service, he started exploring job options in DC kitchens. To showcase his talent and demonstrate his commitment to beautiful presentation in his cooking, Paul added photos to his LinkedIn profile. Immediately, he saw his profile views go through the roof.

Paul continues to use LinkedIn successfully. Here are four lessons based on his experience:

1. Develop your professional identity with a strong profile and updates

Adding engaging content like Paul did with photos and videos is one way to improve your profile and build up a professional brand. In addition to a strong profile, posting what you are reading and thinking as updates on LinkedIn will remind your network of your professional interests.

2. Expand your professional network by searching for colleagues and joining groups

If you just left the military, you want to maintain the relationships you developed there while also expanding into new communities in the civilian work force. Start by searching on the names of the men and woman from your troop and then everyone else you worked with on projects, the people who know you and are familiar with your skills and experience. The Veteran Mentor Network is a great place to start. Also consider joining groups that focus on an area of interest or industry you are pursuing. For example, the Aviation & Aerospace Professionals group and the Information Technology: Networking, Forum and Jobs group, are both great options to explore, depending on your interests.

3. Connect with future career opportunities via Company Pages

As you explore LinkedIn, you’ll come across new people and companies. Follow the companies that interest you so you can signal your interest in their work and be the first to hear about their job openings.

4. Take advantage of your free job seeker subscription

Plus, don’t forget that as a US veteran you are eligible for a free one year Job Seeker Subscription which will increase your visibility on the site, provide you with InMails, and highlight your profile in the list of candidates for the job openings you pursue.

This site is our new home for career tools as well as stories and advice of military to civilian career transitions. Review the tip sheet, join the Veteran Mentor Network, and redeem your one year free Job Seeker Subscription. And please let us know how we can make the site better for you in any way.