In this era, where apps like Instagram and Facebook are widely used for connecting to our peers, LinkedIn helps us to extend our reach in the professional sphere. This platform is used by professionals all over the world to expand their connections and build their network, paving way for more job/internship opportunities.
As a user, LinkedIn provides you with your customized “feed”, similar to your feed on Facebook, where LinkedIn allows its users to interact with the content as per their preferences. This platform also provides you with an option to connect with people you know or other professionals in the industry, which is essential for building your network.
Using LinkedIn the right way
After finishing the sign-up process, work on transitioning your profile into a professional portfolio. Include your relevant experiences, internships and education. Remember to specify your interests to let the recruiters know about the kind of profile you’re interested in. Your portfolio will also function as your CV, so only provide accurate details of your interests and work experience. Along with your experience, specify your activities as a volunteer as well, if any. Don’t forget to make your profile public – that’s how the recruiters will find you.
Add a 3-5 liner summary to your profile highlighting your skill set and experience. Under your listed experience, summarize your work and the skills that you put to use. Don’t forget the headline – it’s the first thing that will appear on your profile, which will entice people to click, so write a headline specifying your current role and company. Incomplete profiles tend to leave a bad impression so make sure your profile is up to date.
Use keywords while specifying your skill set to make it to the top profiles. It also increases the chances of getting your profile shortlisted by the recruiters. These are some of the commonly used terms – “Motivated”, “Passionate”, “Driven”, “Responsible”, “Team-work”, “Leadership” and “Problem-solving”.
After successfully setting up your profile, work on building your network by connecting with professionals of your chosen field to seek guidance and mentorship. While sending a connection request, you can add a personal touch to the invitation by adding a message to it; it increases the odds of the person accepting your request. You can also look for different opportunities in your chosen field of interest using the search filter. Adding to a very interesting feature, LinkedIn also allows you to post status updates, where you can write about your recent work experience, any books that you recently read or opinion pieces.
LinkedIn also provides a lot of opportunities for budding writers through their regular Campus Editor Programs.
This platform offers diverse range of community groups as per your interests, which will familiarize you with relevant news and articles. Companies also tend to upload their job/internship opportunities directly on LinkedIn, so always keep yourself updated with the latest openings in the companies of your interest.
