LinkedIn is an online platform designed to help professionals network and share content. With 550 million users, it is a very useful tool you should utilize while in school and as a working professional, not just during a job search. Your profile is not just a duplicate of your resume; it gives you an opportunity to showcase so much more of your background, interests, recommendations, and accomplishments. It’s your avenue for reaching others to network, especially in times like the pandemic when physical networking events are virtual.
Here are five ways LinkedIn can benefit you and your professional endeavors:
- Gather information about industries that interest you. Once you have created a LinkedIn profile and started building a network of friends, colleagues and acquaintances, LinkedIn is a great resource for learning about organizations, potential employers, and trends in your industry.
- Get notified of open positions quickly. LinkedIn will do some of the work for you by allowing you to set job alerts that search for key titles in your desired locations and send you automated phone or email alerts when your filters hit on a new opportunity.
- Showcase your skills. The LinkedIn platform allows you to upload attachments that exhibit your projects and accomplishments through visual images, PDFs, and web links like your own mini website.
- Reconnect and develop new connections. By being present on LinkedIn, you are easily located by acquaintances from past work or projects. By connecting with others, you gain credibility when reaching out to next level connections (people you don’t know) as your existing contacts are visible to others. Most organizations and employers also have their own page on LinkedIn where you may follow their posts, connect with their staff, or find alumni from your school who already work there!
- Help recruiters find you there. Recruiters often use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates prior to even seeing their resume. They also use it to head hunt candidates who are already employed. Being visible is important in your growth and development as a professional. The creative features on LinkedIn allow you to customize your background banner and add or drop some features. Not all LinkedIn profiles will look alike. Look at profiles from professionals you admire to see all the options on the LinkedIn profile format.
Recent graduates often comment on the value of networking as they begin to realize that most jobs are gained through someone we know. Be sure you are present and engaged on LinkedIn.
See you there!