LinkedIn is a great resource for students looking for an additional edge as they network and search for full-time jobs, internships, summer jobs, or externships, or for those just needing to gather information. It’s easy to sign up for an account, but new users often ask “what next?” Simply opening an account isn’t enough, so here are a few tips for students on getting started with LinkedIn.
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a professional network with over 70 million members from 150 different industries, including executives from every Fortune 500 firm, and it continues to grow rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to trusted contacts and helps to exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.
To help you understand how to set up your profile and learn how to use LinkedIn to its fullest advantage, here are some helpful links:
Once you get set up in LinkedIn there are other helpful guides to help you with job seeking, entrepreneurship, business development, consulting, venture capital, and others.
What Can You Do On LinkedIn?
- Establish a professional profile
- Build relationships
- Find experts and ideas
- Research industries and organizations
- Explore opportunities
- Join relevant groups
What LinkedIn Is Not
LinkedIn is not another Facebook where you post information about what you did over the weekend and photos of you and your friends. It is not where you let people know what your every move is through any given day or week. LinkedIn is used by professionals, so it should be approached with a professional attitude. LinkedIn is where you’ll introduce yourself to alumni, colleagues, and CEOs, so you want to present yourself just how you would introduce yourself during a job interview or at a professional networking event.