You have a LinkedIn. Now what?
Besides academics, landing a job or internship is one of the main priorities while you're in college. Creating your LinkedIn profile isn't quite enough. Read these 9 tips to learn how to make yourself better prepared when searching for a new opportunity.
Have a strong headline. Get noticed.
Your profile is not the place to be shy! The key is to write a concise but descriptive headline. Some things to potentially include in your headline are your major, current position, what type of role you're seeking, and the value you can add to an organization. An example could be "Finance major seeking investment banking internship" or "XYZ University honors student & aspiring PR associate."
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| My LinkedIn headline |
Include keywords.
Almost all recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates. Use the keywords and phrases they use. Find examples from job descriptions you’re going after, or profiles of people who have the jobs you want, and pepper them throughout the Summary and Skills sections.
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| My LinkedIn summary |
Take advantage of student profile sections.
Be sure to complete the profile sections designed just for students, such as Courses, Projects, Languages, Certifications, and Organizations. Keywords are good here too. According to LinkedIn, complete profiles get 40x more opportunities!
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| My profile sections |
Talk about all your relevant experience.
Experience doesn’t have to be paid or full-time to be on your profile. Your Experience section can include internships, clubs, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or projects that have given you real-world skills. You never know what might catch an employer’s eye.
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| Some of my relevant experience |
Build your network.
Grow your network by sending LinkedIn connection requests to everyone you know — friends, family, neighbors, professors, colleagues, classmates, and more.
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| People I may know from St. Edward's University |
Ask your network for help.
According to LinkedIn, 70% of jobs are found through networking. Once you connect, send customized messages to say you’re job-hunting. Ask for advice, an informational interview, or if they know anyone in your desired field. Connect one-on-one and others will be willing to make the effort for you.
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| LinkedIn Career Advice |
Find “ins” where you want to work.
Heard of LinkedIn Company pages? Visit them for organizations you want to work for and see if you’re connected to anyone who works or has worked there.
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| SXSW's Company Page |
Search the Jobs Portal.
Make use of filters like date posted, job type, location, company, industry, job function, experience level, title, and benefits to refine your search. Apply for positions and the employer will be able to see your full LinkedIn profile.
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| LinkedIn Job filters |
Get gutsy.
Don’t be afraid to reach out directly to a recruiter on LinkedIn. One strategy is to first apply to a position you want and then send a message to the recruiter who posted the opportunity (you can often find this information in the job posting).
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| Job poster |
Want to know more?
LinkedIn has countless resources that are specifically tailored for college students. Click
here to learn more and
connect with me on LinkedIn while you're at it!
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