When You Join a LinkedIn Group

LinkedIn groups offer new and potentially powerful options for connecting with others with whom you share a personal, educational, or professional bond. The proliferation of such groups poses challenges for individuals who wish to take full advantage of all they have to offer.

As the former manager of two LinkedIn groups for University of San Francisco MBA and Brandeis University alumni, staff, and friends, here's what I advise group members do to derive maximum value from their experience:

• Keep your LinkedIn profile current by including your latest academic and professional achievements.
• Let group members know what you're doing by taking advantage of the "What are you working on?" feature.
• Be as specific as you can if you need help or can offer it. For example, if you're looking for a job in sales, let us know what kind of sales, in what industry, and in what geographic location.
• Initiate and contribute to discussions on group-related issues, business topics, and whatever you feel might interest other group members.

The bottom line: LinkedIn groups can be valuable, but like with other social media require constant effort to reap maximum rewards.