LinkedIn is a social media platform that focuses on professional networking, work search and recruitment. In our Employment Survey of 2016 Â鶹ÊÓƵ graduates, LinkedIn was one of the top work strategies that lead to an interview or job offer. A LinkedIn profile can help you build your professional network, share your accomplishments and look for work.
With a basic LinkedIn account, you can create a profile, search and view profiles and save up to three different searches. There are also functions to explore groups, news and job postings.
LinkedIn Basics
When creating a LinkedIn profile, consider the following:
- Profile photo: Select a current photo that ideally does not include other people.
- Headline: Include relevant keywords and concise text for recruiters or potential connections to scan.
- About: Write in the first person about your accomplishments or goals.
- Experience: Add your work experience and a concise description about your transferable skills.
- Skills: Optimize keyword use in this section:
- Recruiters often search profiles based on skills.
- Skills influence how students appear in LinkedIn job recommendations.
- Endorsements can build credibility, especially when they come from supervisors or colleagues in relevant fields.
It’s up to you how much or how little information you share on LinkedIn. For help creating a polished, professional profile, book an advising appointment for a LinkedIn profile review or attend a LinkedIn presentation.
Developing Your Profile
There are several reasons to develop a LinkedIn profile, each with tailored strategies. If you’re applying to opportunities on LinkedIn, your profile should look more like a resume with an About section crafted like a cover letter.
- Learn how to create a targeted resume and cover letter.
- Apply those principles to the content and wording of your LinkedIn profile.
- Look at profiles in your industry for guidance. A LinkedIn profile for a personal trainer will look different from a Java programmer’s profile.
- Ask for one-on-one advice on your profile from an advisor who can consider your occupational goals and interests.
LinkedIn Job Search
- Use “LinkedIn Company Search” to look for known companies that you’re interested in, and check “Pages people also viewed” to find additional, related organizations who may be hiring.
- You can maintain or refresh contacts with organizations that you previously worked for or volunteered with by referencing your own personal contacts on your email or phone to find profiles on LinkedIn. If a person has moved on in their career to a new job, gone back to school or are taking a break for personal reasons, LinkedIn offers you an avenue to re-establish contact.
- You can apply directly to many job postings through LinkedIn.
- If you don’t feel comfortable or have access to networking through family or friends, LinkedIn is an option to build and maintain professional connections.
- You can use the College, University and Alumni search filters on LinkedIn to research opportunities related to your postsecondary experience.
None of these methods require a fully developed LinkedIn profile — only an email/username and password. Consider developing your LinkedIn profile further if:
- You decide to apply to job postings that have an “Apply on LinkedIn” option. In that case, consider a Career Centre resume and cover letter advising appointment.
- Your LinkedIn profile should not be vastly different from your resume.
- Creating a targeted LinkedIn profile based on your goals improves your chances of attracting an employer.
- Your resume, your LinkedIn profile and your in-person presentation should be consistent. Align your networking goals with your profile.
- You are using your LinkedIn profile for networking or relocation. Create a profile that establishes why you are reaching out to people on LinkedIn to facilitate those goals.
- For example, use your About section to explain why you are looking to interview civil engineers and architects about your future career options as a first-year engineering student.
- If you want to relocate, create as many connections as possible in your target region before you relocate. This improves your LinkedIn Search results for jobs and networking connections in those regions.