Just imagine Facebook for professionals: that is LinkedIn. You can browse newsfeeds, make connections, share and comment on posts, and view profiles for both individuals and businesses.

On the other hand, you can follow the LinkedIn profiles of many different businesses and veterinary practices. You can view their most current announcements (maybe a new CT machine?), job openings, and staff publications or accomplishments. It means you can begin establishing a connection with them through actions such as liking or commenting on their posts, or by introducing yourself privately by sending them a message.

Begin with a "spring clean" and some self-research before you dive in. The internet can be a massive archive for everything you have ever uploaded, commented on, or liked. Click through a few search pages to see if there is any content you do not want future employers to see (for example, commenting in a forum with foul language about a parking ticket issued a few years ago!). You will be able to see what is lurking in the background that still appears when you search, and you can then delete or hide the sites.

• Profile Picture - This should be a professional-looking headshot. You want to appear approachable, so smile! Avoid taking selfies or group photos that are cropped. You can even have a colleague photograph one of you in your scrubs holding your stethoscope.

• About - This is where first impressions matter, and you can brag! Here, you can briefly describe your industry success and progression, as well as your career highlights, passions, and professional goals.

• Featured - Here you can share a few links to documents you have written or presented, as well as photos of your work. It's a visual showcase.

• Background - This is similar to a CV in that it lists previous employment and the tasks performed. To help with the wording, refer to your previous job descriptions. This is also where you can include information about your education and volunteer experiences. There are often alumni pages for educational institutions, which can help you connect with people you previously studied with.

• Skills and Endorsements - In this section, you list your skills, which can be endorsed by colleagues or former coworkers. Consider them as referees on your CV; they are vouching for you! Skills could include customer service, surgical nursing, and anaesthesia.

• Accomplishments - This is similar to the featured section, but this lists everything you have achieved. This might include things like the languages you speak, the projects you have worked on, the publications you have, and the awards you have received. Veterinary, animal, pet, vet, RVN, SVN, RCVS, and a plethora of other keywords should be used liberally in this section in order to boost your profile's visibility in search results.

• Permalink - To make the link to your website more legible and easier to remember, you can use the "Permalink" feature. www.linkedin.com/yournameRVN

Getting in touch with companies is just part of it. When you follow other organisations and charities on LinkedIn, it shows that you share their values and helps spread the word about what they stand for.