One skill I’ve had to learn (the hard way) is the ability to network with others. Networking lets you know about opportunities, and share opportunities with individuals so you can fill roles yourself.
In the “old days” there were people who kept a Rolodex of names and phone numbers. Today, we used tools like “LinkedIn”.
LinkedIn is nice because not only does it keep your name and contact information for people to find, especially if you have your account set up correctly, but you can use it as an online resume, and post. People should post business-oriented content (although some are posting more non-business things – don’t be one of those people).
In fact, recruiters and HR personnel are looking closer at your LinkedIn profile than they are your resume, up to 25x longer.
By posting content regularly, it helps you be found easier, as well as establishes you as someone who knows about the topics you post on. Therefore, make sure that not only do you post about business related content, but post about content relevant to what you want to work on.
By finding and posting about topics you want to work on, then you can improve your own knowledge, as well as share it with others. If you improve your own knowledge, then you are better prepared to do that job that you are interested in.
Steps to Follow for Using LinkedIn
Creating Your Account
My recommendation is to create an account as early as possible. Make sure you fill out relative information such as where you go to school, your major, etc. Include a good photo of yourself. I strongly recommend having someone take it for you. Selfies are fine for Instagram, but LinkedIn is where you want to put your best foot forward. Make sure you are facing the camera, and have a smile. Think of your school photo from when you were in elementary school. Keep it as a head and shoulders type of photo.
Make Connections
Then, start making connections with your classmates. i.e. the people who will most likely be in a similar field to you. The more people you know, the more people who will likely see what you post, and the easier it is for people who have jobs for you to find you.
What to Post?
Finally, start posting. I recommend at least once a week as a freshman, twice a week as a sophomore, etc. By the time you are a senior, be looking to post 4 to 5 times a day about the field you want to be looking in.
These posts can be reposting someone else’s comments, with your own thoughts, links to an article you found, and/or a topic you’ve discussed in class.
The Importance of LinkedIn for a Student was originally found on Access 2 Learn
