Every college student knows how important it is to perfect your resume or write a relevant cover letter. But increasingly, recruiters look to social networks to find candidates. And more are doing so than ever before—as many as 77% of companies (source). You might be thinking: I’m a college student. Why do I need a LinkedIn? Well, professionals like Mark Babbitt say that it’s super important for college students to not only have a profile, but to make it work for them. We’ve gathered some of Babbitt’s tips, along with many others, to help you figure out how you can be engaging on LinkedIn right now.
At A Glance
Have a professional, solo pic. This, along with your name, is the first thing a potential employer will see. Have a picture of just you, preferably a head shot where you are smiling. Studies show you’re twice as likely to be clicked on when you’re smiling!
Make headline news. Your headline should be concise, professional and memorable. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to be noticed for that work. For example, Donna Serdula, a LinkedIn consultant, offers this headline for a CEO: “Chief Operating Officer & Managing Director – Building High Performing Sales Teams that Align with Corporate Vision.” (source & other examples)
Get your unique URL. It’s easy to customize your URL on LinkedIn, and doing so will make it easier for employers to find you (for example, on your business card or another online profile). It’s also another opportunity to market your unique personal brand.
Content You & Others Post
Have a strong summary. The summary is another chance for you to build your personal brand. Pick an industry and act like you belong there; skip qualifiers like “aspiring” or “soon-to-be.” Find a specific niche within your industry and cite the soft, technical and professional skills that would make you an asset. Then, illustrate instances when you’ve used those skills. Be specific about what you’ve acquired in your internships and job experience; this helps back up claims you make about your personality and work ethic. Aside from content, make sure you use full sentences, proper grammar and appropriate punctuation. No slang or exclamation points! You’re aiming for a blend of personable and professional.
Know your “brand.” Your personal and professional brand is what makes you distinct. What is it that sets you apart from your peers with the same major or experience? Is it your innovative energy? Your ability to think out-of-the-box? Figure out what narrative you want to represent you and weave it through all the aspects of your profile. You’ll be hard to forget. For more information on building a personal brand, try William Arruda’s book Career Distinctions: Stand Out by Building Your Brand.
Make the most of Groups. Join a Group relevant to your industry and be an active participant. When commenting, avoid letting loose your most controversial opinions and opt instead for thoughtful analysis. This is a great way to get noticed and assert yourself as a valuable and legitimate source of information in your field.
Stay interesting, my friends. On LinkedIn, there’s less content for you to compete with than Facebook or Twitter—so make it count. Post interesting, relevant and insightful content, like a photo or article about a hot-button issue in your industry.
Show off. Don’t be afraid to cite your achievements, whether it be recognition at work, school awards (academic or extracurricular), or scholarships won. List special courses and study abroad programs you participated in. You can even brag about your GPA and test scores. Experts also recommend attaching any design work or publications to your profile so recruiters can see examples of the work you’ve done.
Make Meaningful Connections
Stalk your networks. Read the feeds of companies you follow and Influencers you admire. You’ll know what the buzz in your industry is, which can give you great talking points in a job interview. Set email alerts for job postings in your industry.
Reach out to your favorite Group’s top contributors. If someone in your Group inspires you, connect—but delete the generic message and make it personal. Find something you have in common with him or her and include it in your request. Also, include a reason to connect with you (aside from hunting for a job). Mashable’s Jess Flee recommends that you “engage him or her with a request for career advice, a personal question, or offer up a skill that could be of service” to get on his or her radar.
Get recommendations. Seek out former mentors and keep them up-to-date with your achievements. When asking for a recommendation, ask them to speak specifically on your communication skills, attitude, work ethic and other high-demand characteristics. It doesn’t just have to be your boss; professors and advisers can write recs, too. Anyone who knows you personally and professionally can speak to your work ethic and achievements, and having someone in your field put in a good word can be especially helpful. Remember to keep your “brand” in mind and mention it to whoever is writing your recommendation. LinkedIn experts think 3 recommendations is the magic number.
Write recommendations. Though it’s not a guarantee, often when you write a recommendation you’ll get one in return. Write a recommendation for a guest speaker you enjoyed or a favorite professor whose class you loved. Even if they don’t return the favor, you’ll be helping them build their profile, too.
Connect to your dream job. Follow all your I’d-die-to-work-here companies and stay informed. Use profiles of top executives to beef up your own profile. For example, see which keywords match up with your own skills and add them to your Skills & Expertise section. You can even ask to connect to those higher-ups. Mark Babbitt recommends sending a short, professional message asking for 15 minutes to learn more about them—it could be in the form of an informational interview. Says Babbitt, “Amazing connections are made this way!” You never know who could write back.
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