LinkedIn
A HILLSDALE COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES GUIDE
PURPOSE
IN THIS GUIDE
You’ve heard it a million times (so it wouldn’t hurt to hear it again): “Success is not
just about what you know; it’s about who you know.” With LinkedIn, the world’s
easy steps to get connected now—and to turn those connections into opportunities.
Key Pointers
“Active participation on LinkedIn is the best way to say, ‘Look at me!’ without saying ‘Look at me!’”
— Bobby Darnell
Interactive Business Card and Summary of Experience
Key pointers .........................1
Build a professional
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Hillsdale College Career Services
Old Knorr Student Center
33 E. College St.
Hillsdale, MI 49242
(517) 607-2457
careerservices@hillsdale.edu
or write a recommendation for a
your generosity is always rewarded
(and, of course, it feels really good to
help someone!).
6.
Get noticed. Post regular status
updates so that your network sees
you at the top of their news feed.
Every time you read an article in your
field, post it to your network along
with a short, valuable comment. You
will begin to pop up more oen in
your network's feeds, which will help
ensure that they know who you are
and can see what you've been reading.
7. Do your homework. Before an
informational interview, a job inte
rview,
1. 100
% complete = 100% more
likely to get noticed. You can only
build connections if people know you
business card, resume, and letters of
recommendation all in one. Don’t be
through LinkedIn. Employers search
may also check LinkedIn to learn more
about a candidate who has already
applied for a position.
2. You’re more experienced than
you think.
so important because the more
information you provide, the more
your experience, including summer
jobs, internships, volunteer work, and
student organizations. You never know
what might catch someone’s eye.
3. Use your inbox. Networking
doesn’t mean reaching out to
with trusted connections and then
grow based on personal referrals.
Start building your LinkedIn network
by uploading your online address
book and connecting to friends,
relatives, internship colleagues, and
professionals you know in the “real
world.” Connect only to people who
can speak to your professional work
abilities and whose professional work
4. Join the “in” crowd. One way to
form new online relationships is to join
LinkedIn Groups. Start with the
Hillsdale College Alumni Network—
alums love to connect with former
students—and then find volunteer or
professional organizations you
already belong to. as a member, you
can comment on discussions, find
excluxive job listings, and meet
people who share common interests.
5. Lend a (virtual) hand. As you build
connections and group memberships,
think about what you can do to
support other people. Comment on a
classmate’s status update, forward a job
adapted from university.linkedin.com
or a networking get-together, use
LinkedIn to research the background
and interests of the people you’re
scheduled to meet. Access company
pages to learn about organizations and
their employees, and use Advanced
common with people you’re meeting or
identify potential employers.
8. Now step away from the computer.
are only comfortable communicating
online, so be sure to support your
online networking with real human
contact. Set up phone calls, attend live
events, and send snail mail notes to
people you interact with on LinkedIn.
Remember that online methods
should supplement, not replace, in-
person relationship-building.
capabilities that is designed to attract the attention of important people who are searching for you online—recruiters, networking
the larger industry groups related to
the career they want to pursue.
8. Collect diverse recommendations.
Nothing builds credibility like
recommendation associated with each
about soliciting recommendations
from professors, internship
coordinators, and colleagues,
employers, and professional mentors.
9. Claim your unique LinkedIn URL.
To increase the professional results that
appear when people type your name
into a search engine, set your LinkedIn
easier to include your LinkedIn URL
in your e-mail signature—a great way
to demonstrate your professionalism.
10. Share your work.
add examples of your writing, design
work, or other accomplishments by
displaying URLs or adding LinkedIn
Applications. By including URLs, you
can direct people to your professional
website, blog, or online portfolio.
a PowerPoint or store a downloadable
version of your resume.
headline.
gives people a short, memorable
way to understand who you are in a
slogan for your professional brand:
“Student, National University,” or
“Recent honors grad seeking marketing
students and recent alums you admire
for ideas and inspiration.
2. Display an appropriate photo.
LinkedIn is not Facebook or MySpace.
If you choose to post a photograph—
and we recommend that you do—
select a professional, high-quality
head shot of you alone. Party photos,
cartoon avatars, and cute pics of your
puppy are inappropriate.
Mention
all institutions you’ve attended.
Include your major and minor if you
have one, as well as highlights of
your activities. It’s also appropriate
to include study abroad and summer
programs. Don’t be shy: your LinkedIn
strong GPA and any honors or awards.
4. Develop a professional summary
statement. Your summary statement
of your best-written cover letter:
internships, volunteer work, and
extracurriculars. Present your summary
statement in short blocks of text for
easy reading. Bullet points are great, too.
5. Fill your “Specialties” section with
keywords. “Specialties” is the place
to include key words and phrases that
a recruiter might type into a search
are job listings that appeal to you and
the kinds of positions you want.
6. Update your status weekly. A great
way to stay on other people’s radar and
enhance your professional image is
to update your status weekly or more.
Post about events you attend, projects
you complete, professional books you
read, or other news that you would tell
someone at a networking reception or
on a quick catch-up phone call.
7. Show your connectedness with
LinkedIn Group badges. Joining
Groups and displaying the group
to connect to people with whom
you have something in common.
Most students start by joining their
university’s LinkedIn group as well as
Updated Fall 2016
