Benefits of LinkedIn For Students

For those of you who are unfamiliar with LinkedIn, it is a professional social networking site. Users can build their professional profile outlining their employment and education history, qualifications, skills and achievements (almost like a virtual CV). LinkedIn also allows you to add connections (a bit like Facebook friends or Twitter followers) and follow organisations.

LinkedIn is a valuable resource for students and here is why.

Find and apply for jobs 

One of LinkedIn’s greatest features is the job search function which allows you to search for and apply for jobs. As well as viewing jobs that match your profile you can tailor your search to look for jobs in a specific location, industry or company. 

You’ll be able to review the job description, see the company profile and, if you are interested, be directed to the company website to apply for the job. LinkedIn also has an Easy Apply feature which allows you to apply using your LinkedIn profile. Some employers actually invite you to apply for a job using LinkedIn. 

Plus many employers will look for potential employees on LinkedIn to get an understanding of your background, employment/education history and skills. It’s always a good idea to include a link to your LinkedIn profile on your CV. This makes the employer’s life a bit easier as it saves them having to search for you).  

If you have LinkedIn Premium you will be able to access some information about the other applicants including their location, skills and whether they are entry-level, manager, director etc candidates. 

Keep in contact with your fellow students and professors 

LinkedIn is a major tool when it comes to professional networking. Start building up your connections as quickly as possible to create a strong professional network whilst at university. A good place to start is your fellow students and professors. After all, they know you and your skills and experience best. Plus they may introduce you to people in their network. 

Another way to build your network is by attending physical events. Whether it be a careers event, guest lecture, Q&A with an industry expert, book signing or university networking event there are lots of events that students can go along to. Use these as an opportunity to meet new people from your industry or perhaps people who work for companies you are interested in joining in the future. Follow up on these meetings by connecting with the person later on LinkedIn. 

Having a strong LinkedIn network can introduce you to people who can help you find a job, teach you new skills or even learn more about your industry. 

You never know when your network may come in handy in the future. 

Network with people from your industry 

LinkedIn allows you to connect with other people working or studying in the same industry as you. This includes fellow students, academics, graduates and industry professionals with years of experience. Don’t be afraid of connecting with these individuals to ask questions, share ideas, learn about their careers and gain their advice.

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Showcase your skills and experience 

When creating your LinkedIn profile you can add your skills thus showing your connections what your key areas of expertise are. Be sure to focus on the skills that are relevant to your industry and that will be attractive to employers. Plus your connections can offer endorsements and recommendations which are displayed on your profile. 

You can also add any certificates, awards or professional training you have achieved to your profile. These can be added either under ‘Licences and Certifications’ or ‘Honours and Awards’. This is another area of your profile that potential employers will be interested in as this sets you apart from the other candidates. 

If you are a content creator be sure to share your creations on LinkedIn. Even if content creation is not your thing, you could still write and publish an article on LinkedIn. For example, you could write about an event, a paper you have written or a reaction to industry news. Anything you publish can be shared by others and will appear on your profile.  This helps you build a strong online presence which will look good in the eyes of potential employers. 

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