LinkedIn for students: Get noticed and get ahead
In a world increasingly online, having a presence can make the difference when it comes to landing your dream job. Why wait until you graduate before documenting your experience and building contacts? Unlike other social networks, LinkedIn is entirely career-centred, allowing you to network online and market yourself to prospective employers.
Keep in the loop with your industry
One of the easiest and most effective ways of using LinkedIn is to follow relevant industry groups and keep tabs on the news in that area. You’ll create more opportunities if you follow companies that you would be interested in working for, while also actively browsing job ads. If you do find a position you wish to apply for, LinkedIn can save time when it comes to applying — it can fill out entire forms for you based on what you’ve included in your profile.
Make connections
It’s a good idea to connect with people that you’ve had a positive experience with at work or during your education. When making connections, it doesn't hurt to send a personalised message to ensure you catch the person's attention.
Establish a personal brand
When you’re just starting out in a new industry, your experience is limited. However, establishing a professional online presence could be just the thing that gets you noticed. It’s standard practice for employers to Google your name and check social media platforms to get a sense of who you are. If you google a person’s name and city, you’ll find that their LinkedIn profile is often the first thing that comes up.
Tips for making a good student profile
It’s hard to make a detail-rich profile when you’re a student with minimal experience or qualifications. But there are certain tweaks that can help your profile stand out amongst other candidates. Pay attention to the following:
Your profile picture — if possible, have it taken professionally or by a friend who knows what they’re doing.
The headline, summary and your experience – this doesn’t have to be strictly work; any volunteering or relevant skills can go here.
Recommendations – try include at least one on your profile; this automatically shows you have people who can support you when you go for that dream job.
All of this will help you in the long run! A profile that shows active posting and care for detail can do a lot for you.
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