As you enter the professional world, you may often hear LinkedIn referenced in talks of networking. If you’re unfamiliar with LinkedIn, they define themselves as
“the world’s largest professional network on the internet. You can use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career.”
According to their website, LinkedIn is an online social network like Facebook or Twitter but dedicated to professional networking and communication. A LinkedIn user’s profile page is similar to an online resume. Users can share their contact information, career summary, complete work history, professional skills, formal education details, and more. LinkedIn is primarily used to network with professional connections but has evolved over time into a job search platform. Recruiters use LinkedIn to look for candidates for their open positions and job applicants browse available positions.
Why you should join
LinkedIn is a great tool to network and connect with those around the country and the world in your professional field.
To date, LinkedIn has approximately 690 million users in countries across the globe. It is one of the most widely utilized tools used by professional recruiters to find potential employees. You may not be actively searching for a new job, but LinkedIn allows for recruiters to seek YOU out.
How to Create a LinkedIn Profile
Head to the LinkedIn website at https://www.linkedin.com
At the top of the first page you will see a ‘Join LinkedIn Today’ section. You will be prompted step by step to make an account.
Picking a Profile Picture
Although this is a small step, it is one of the most important. If you leave your profile photo blank, your profile is more likely to get skipped over by recruiters.
When choosing your photo, less is more. You want to stand out, while still looking professional. Don’t choose a picture from a beach vacation of you in your swimsuit. Choose a photo (preferably no selfies) in natural light, where you’re dressed in what you would wear to an interview. Photos from the shoulders up (headshots) work best.
If you want to go above and beyond, try having professional headshots taken.
Headline
Located next to your profile picture, your headline offers a minimal 120 characters to allow you to highlight who you are. This is your chance to create an eye-catching, attention-grabbing bio.
You do not need to fill in your headline, as LinkedIn will assign your job title and your employer as your headline. However, you should always fill this section in and keep it up to date. It is just another way to grab the attention of potential recruiters and employers.
Experience
This section will look very similar to your resume. However, it is acceptable to write in paragraph format on your LinkedIn profile, compared to your resume that will contain bullet points and highlights of your career.
You can even use this space to acknowledge your achievements in your past work history.
Education
In the education section of your profile, make sure to include graduate and undergraduate details, certifications, and awards earned while attending those institutions. Again, leave out what is not relevant.
Recommendations
This is where you’ll find recommendations from your LinkedIn connections. Try to get at least one, if not two, recommendations. Below is LinkedIn’s guide to requesting a recommendation:
Head to your profile and click the down arrow to the right of the button near your profile picture.
- Click Ask to be recommended from the drop-down menu.
- Follow the prompts to request the recommendation.
- Click Send.
Skills
In this part of your account. You will select skills from a prewritten list. Make sure to only select skills that are actually applicable to you. Try to focus on your career history and the job you want and work from there. Don’t make your list too long, it will look like you did not take the time to select carefully.
Now You’re Ready!
Now that you’re all set up and ready to go, it’s time to utilize LinkedIn as much or as little as you would like. I would recommend checking in at least once a week to stay up to date with who contacts you and what job opportunities are available. Good luck and happy job hunting!