How to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job

LinkedIn is an incredible resource and not just for professionals. Most people have heard the phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” For this reason alone, it is almost vital in today’s job market for college students to be on LinkedIn. Stay in touch with the connections you make and you never know who will help you land a job after college.

Here are some tips that will help your make the most of your LinkedIn profile.

• Connect With Classmates: All your peers are future professionals in the industry you want to work in. Help each other out and stay in touch.
• Connect With Professors: Professors often have large networks of people in specific industries. By connecting to them you are opening doors of possibility. Your teachers also have the power to give you a recommendation and tell their colleagues about your work.
• Connect With Industry Professionals: Connect with guest speakers, people you job shadow, and anyone else you come into contact with in your area of interest. These people may not have a job for you, but they know people and can often lead you in the right direction to find a job.
• Use the Job Search: It’s quite possible that companies place openings only on LinkedIn. So, if you don’t browse the site, you may never know of the opening.
• Update Your Profile: Make sure your resume is complete and that your education information is updated so potential employers get a full sense of your qualifications.
• Participate In Discussions: Join groups (in and out of your industry) and actively participate in discussions. Groups are also good places to find more professionals to connect to.
• Recommend Others: Post recommendations for classmates and colleagues and ask them to do the same for you.
• Research Companies: Look at company profiles to learn more about what they do and who they hire. Then tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly.
• Find Places To Apply: Check out the profiles of people with similar backgrounds and education as you to see where they are working: businesses and niche industry areas. This will give you an idea of where you may be most likely to find a job.
• Connect with Interviewers: Once you apply for a job, look to see if you have any common acquaintances. Ask for a recommendation from that person, or just mention during your interview work you may have done with them. You can also use this to narrow down where you want to apply.

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