LinkedIn & Beyond: Professional Development Tips You Need to Know

Yes, I know. I've been harping about this whole LinkedIn thing for the last couple of weeks now. Needless to say, I'm not your mother... So, I want to offer a change of pace.

I've curated a list of my top professional development tips. Some will be related to LinkedIn and some won't. There's also featured advice from a few stellar connections I've had the pleasure of connecting with. If you want to purge LinkedIn from your life after this blog, at least take advantage of the other tips. Let's get to it!

Use Canva to create your professional brand

Canva makes it incredibly easy and intuitive to design branded collateral. You can choose templates for resumes, cover letters, social media posts, newsletters, LinkedIn banners, and the list goes on and on. Here's the template for my resume that I designed on Canva. Feel free to use it for yourself or try your shot at creating your own!

Take advantage of LinkedIn Jobs

Job boards like Glassdoor and Indeed have their perks. However, whenever I've used them, the number of spammy job postings is insane. I've had much more success using LinkedIn Jobs. Plus, it has a better user interface (in my humble opinion).

Do research before an interview

"When you get the interview, look up your interviewer on LinkedIn.  See what/who you may have in common.  Let them know you did that research as well as the work you did to learn more about the company." — Bridget Davidson

Leverage being a student 

It's amazing how many people are willing to take time to help a college student out. Use this to your advantage and schedule informational interviews with people who are in roles that you want to be in. I'll write out a short message that you can send to someone via email or LinkedIn below. 

"Hi [NAME]! My name is Alek and I'm a digital marketing student at St. Edward's University. I came across your profile on LinkedIn and was intrigued by your current role at [COMPANY]. I'm interested in working in the same industry and was wondering if you have 30 minutes for a chat over coffee or a phone call. I'd love to ask you some questions and hear any advice you may have. Thank you!"   

Apply for on-campus jobs/internships

Having trouble getting that first internship? A lot of colleges and universities offer their own positions in relevant fields that are specifically for students who are enrolled there. I was able to intern at my university's marketing office the summer after my freshman year with little prior experience.

Ask your professors for ins 

You'd be surprised at how well-connected professors are within their field. If you did a good job in his/her course, ask them if they know of any opportunities or people they can introduce you to. Professors want to help, but they aren't going to chase you.

Like actually complete your LinkedIn profile 

I'm sorry. I had to include this. There is nothing more sketchy than a photoless profile when an employer is looking you up (which they do). It doesn't have to be perfect, however, you need to have your headline, summary, experience, and education sections completed at the very least. C'mon, I'm not asking for much here. Check out my profile to see what I've included. 

Dust off your public speaking skills

"I would encourage college students and young professionals to focus on improving public speaking/oral communication skills. Excellent verbal and nonverbal skills reflect a level of confidence and a desire to engage with others to meet shared goals. I believe a good person speaking well can position themselves favorably for career success in a job market where lots of people may have the subject matter knowledge - in business, accounting, finance or whatever field. What sets someone apart in the crowd may well be their communication savvy." — Phyllis Duggan

Publish on LinkedIn 

"Publish! Where else are you going to find a platform to display your talent and ability to people who recognize quality? I see wannabe writers who have no examples of their writing, or wannabe scholars and analysts who haven't told me what or how they think. If people are given a chance to hire based on what you SAY you want to do or what you've DONE... which would you choose? Make art! Tell stories! Analyze! Get validation and feedback. Don't wait... publish!" — Mike Roach

Don't make a mountain out of a molehill

"Don't let your fear of being wrong stop you from speaking in class. Don't let your fear that you have nothing to offer stop you from getting involved on campus whenever possible. Your fear is wrong. You are valuable. When you make a mistake or things don't go as planned, don't fear and ruminate on the consequences... Learn from them." — Emily Worthen

Visit the career center and network (duh)

"Visit your career center as early as possible! They can help you connect with alums, find internships, practice interviewing, and refine your resume. Network and network early. Get coffee with an alum and nurture the relationship. Don't wait until it's your senior year and you're trying to find work. Networking is relational, not transactional." — Rhayna Kramer

You're relevant right now

"I’m fortunate to spend part of my time teaching undergrads. My best advice from day one is that you must realize you are relevant RIGHT now and do not wait to get started. Look for community and nonprofit opportunities off-campus. Find missions you care about and engage. Start going to 1-2 local networking events that focus on your fields of interest. Have a business card that is easy to share when people still want that version." — Linda Clark

Build your skills and know your worth

"Over the course of your career, you will be overlooked for promotions you deserve; you will be dealt with setbacks and obstacles. Organizations can often hold the key to your career success in the form of salary, promotions, or stretch assignments, but the one thing they can never take from you is your credibility and skillsets. Develop your skillsets and build on your experiences is the number one career advice. If your organization cannot see what you bring to the table, find an organization that can. If you collect skills and build on your experiences, you will have far more control over which direction your career goes." — Sabrina Woodworth

Create a list of references 

Most applications you'll submit will have "optional" sections to complete. References are usually one of them and you should have at least two or three of them. Think of professors, supervisors, and coworkers. I'd stay away from family, however, if you're in a bind, you can also ask classmates who you trust. 

Get certifications 

This is a big one. A lot of reputable organizations offer FREE certification courses that are well-done. Plus, you can add them to your resume and LinkedIn profile. For my marketing friends out there, consider taking courses by HubSpot, Google, and LinkedIn Learning (your school may provide this). 

Design your own portfolio

Designing an online portfolio with Wix is easier than you think. I created my website with relatively no issues. In fact, it's pretty hard to make an ugly website on Wix. They even have ADI (artificial design intelligence) that automatically creates a basic website for you after asking a few questions.

Know how to express yourself

"Many times, we have to make others understand the value of a skill, experience, or knowledge we have. And when they finally understand and realize its worth, we ace some UNIQUE opportunities which never existed before (for others). That's how one builds the door of opportunities. But in those times, clear, concise, and effective expressions is the ONLY key." — Ashi Singhal

Log off every once in a while

Hustle culture can be toxic. I used to feel like there was always something I could be doing. Don't guilt yourself out of self-care and free time. You need time to recharge. No one goes 110% all the time despite what you may see on social media. One of the most important parts of professional development and the job search is celebrating yourself. Take the time to recognize small successes and you'll be where you want to be in no time.

Let me help you!

If you have any questions, I'd love to have a conversation with you. Reach out to me on LinkedIn and we can make a gameplan for your next steps moving forward.