Five Reasons Why Every Student Should Be on LinkedIn

These days, when you apply for a job, your prospective employer will no doubt conduct an internet search into you. Students often get a bad rap over their social media presence, so by having a LinkedIn account as a student, you can show an entirely different (and more professional!) side to yourself. Having a LinkedIn account allow companies to find you with ease and, most importantly, to find the information that you want them to find.

Interviews are always nerve-wracking but by having an account on LinkedIn, you can conduct your own research into the company, and the employer, so that you can go into your interview feeling as prepared as possible.

Having a LinkedIn account as a student proves that you are dedicated to pursuing a career. By being specific in your summary and connecting with people in the field that you’d like to end up in, you prove that you’re putting in the time and effort required to succeed in your chosen career.

• Use a professional profile picture.
• Join groups and follow companies that you share an interest in.
• Don’t forget to complete your profile! Use it as an extended CV and include as much information as you can to prove to employers that you are a well-rounded individual with a multitude of skills that you could put to good use in the workplace.
• Join LinkedIn in your first year of university so that you can show a progression across your three years of studying.
• Begin building up a strong network as soon as you have completed your profile. Don’t just leave your account sitting dormant, make the most of it and start building those all-important connections!

Shannon Clark writes for Inspiring Interns, which specializes in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs. You can find more of her work at www.shannonlclark.com and www.sweetserendipityblog.co.uk.