It’s no secret – LinkedIn is an absolutely invaluable networking tool and a must-have for business students. Think you know everything about LinkedIn? Think again! Read on for some cool tips inspired by Linkedin guru (and UP student) Anna Taylor.
1. Your work is never done.
Just like your resume, think of your Linkedin profile as a “living” document. Your profile should accurately reflect you and your experiences. Still have that freshman year summer job as your most recent experience? Time to update that profile.
2. LinkedIn is like Facebook…kind of.
If you’ve spent any extended period of time on LinkedIn (beyond updating your own profile) you’ve probably noticed that the home page looks eerily similar to your Facebook feed. Enter: the LinkedIn news feed. Similar to Facebook, you have the opportunity to post updates, share insight or external content. That said, let’s keep it “PG” guys. If you don’t want your mom to see it, chances are you don’t want potential employers to either.
3. You can link your profile to just about anything.
LinkedIn has this awesome feature that allows you to add links to your profile. Have you amassed a crazy following on Twitter? Do you blog? Have a kick-butt online portfolio? The contact information section let’s you link to external sources, allowing YOU an opportunity to showcase your skills to future employers.
4. It’s all about the keywords.
Nowadays, recruiters and companies will stalk LinkedIn to scout potential candidates. To quickly weed out the “no’s,” they will often search for keywords, such as skills or interests they desire in a candidate. It is YOUR job to make sure your online presence includes these keywords. Identify people in your field of interest and see what words they use to describe their past experience and see if you can translate any of these keywords into experiences you’ve had.
5. Your profile is a story.
The most important thing to remember about your LinkedIn profile is that it tells a story. YOUR story. You are an individual and your profile should reflect your individual interests, experiences and goals!