The Ultimate Guide To LinkedIn

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Written by Olivia Peters, Culture Staff Writer

Finding a job after graduation is a shared concern for all students, no matter their focus or area of study. As a student in the business school, I’m required to learn how to write a resume, draft cover letters and develop an online professional presence. I assumed this was the norm in all majors—eventually we all have to secure jobs after all.

My roommates majoring in science, psychology and political science informed me that the resources the business school provided me to aid in job placement are unique. They explained that unless they seek out a career counselor or a student development event, they’re on their own to navigate finding a job. This struck me as odd—learning how to approach the recruiting process is a life skill, not just a business skill.

I then asked them if they had a LinkedIn, and all five of them said no. My mind was blown, I couldn’t imagine looking for a job without LinkedIn. Today 90% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn for recruiting (Osman, 2020). I’d describe LinkedIn as my most valuable professional asset, so far it has allowed me to schedule informational interviews with experienced marketers, apply to internships and connect with alumni.

Essentially, it’s social media for professionals. However, once you make an account and add some connections you don’t have to frequently engage with the platform as you would with Instagram or Facebook. You only need to login for occasional maintenance or when you’re searching for opportunities. LinkedIn allows you to search for companies, people or specific job titles. Companies use key-word searches to recruit, and if a word in your profile matches their search they will send you a message.

To make and maintain a good LinkedIn account, there are three simple things that you need to focus on.

1. Fill Out All Fields

Start with your name, schooling and byline. Your byline should say something such as “Incoming Intern at XYZ” or “Journalism Student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”

You need a profile pic, and it’s essential that this picture is in business professional attire. An account that uses a personal picture sticks out like a sore thumb. Add a header photo that’s relevant to your education or work experience, such as Bascom Hill.

Thoroughly fill out your work and educational experiences. Sometimes you can just borrow the bulleted points from your resume for this section. Be thorough!

2. Build Your Network

A LinkedIn network should not focus on quantity, but instead quality. Your network should include past or present coworkers, people you’re in clubs with as well as anyone else you’ve professionally interacted with.

Additionally, if there’s a company you’re interested in working for, you should follow them so you can receive notifications when they post new job openings. LinkedIn will also show if there are any alumni from your college working at that company and provides their profiles so that you can connect with them to ask questions.

3. Attach Relevant Documents

In either the About or Featured section of your profile, attach a copy of your current resume. Your resume allows you to expand on your accomplishments further than your profile does.

Next, attach any relevant writing or design samples. Finally, add a video or document talking about the University or specific school within a University you’re attending. Recruiters from out-of-state may not be familiar with your program or it’s level of rigor. Adding this information speaks to the training you’ve received and shows you’re the real deal.

Think of your profile as a portfolio. Only attach things you’d feel comfortable handing an interviewer at a job interview.

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If you’re looking for a job or preparing for the future, LinkedIn is the first place you should go. It’s free, user friendly and puts students in the driver’s seat of their job search. All you need is a laptop and an hour to start tapping into this resource and reaping the unending benefits.

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