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Finding how to network and build your connections can be difficult when you don’t know where to start. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a first time college student, or experienced professional, a network boost can greatly benefit your professional career. Yet, building and strengthening connections demands considerable time and effort, resources you might not readily have available. Luckily for you, LinkedIn exists. LinkedIn is a social networking platform designed to connect with users and explore job opportunities. But you might be wondering: How do I build my profile? This article is your guide to unraveling the intricacies of LinkedIn and propelling your career.
Navigating the foreign world of LinkedIn as a beginner can feel overwhelming and complicated, but I assure you, it's easier than it seems. Your posts should reflect your passions, interests, and any professional milestones, like job offers you've accepted. Through posting, you can highlight your experience and expand your network, catching the attention of potential employers viewing your profile.
• Engage with posts
• Comment
• Follow companies aligned with your interests
Doing these demonstrates the dedication to your aspirations and community involvement. If you come across an interesting article or report, share it with the LinkedIn community to offer your own perspective on the topic! By continuously offering your advice, help, or opinion through posts, you can engage with your followers and create a mutual connection. Your interactions are visible on your profile, highlighting the importance of staying engaged with relevant companies and interacting with other LinkedIn users.
1. Ensure your profile reflects any new interests, skills, or qualifications you've acquired through past experiences. This allows LinkedIn to prioritize job suggestions best aligned with your abilities and preferences.
2. Tailor your preferences to the specific career you're pursuing, whether it's an internship, remote position, or role at a large company, set your preferences to whatever career you’re looking for. Use the handy search bar filter to narrow down your desired location and explore job offerings within your state.
Once you've found interesting opportunities, you can save them for later review by clicking the save button next to the job description. Saved jobs will be archived in your 'My Jobs' section on your homepage, making them easily accessible for future reference. If you want to go above and beyond, consider investing in LinkedIn premium.
Their premium features include LinkedIn Learning Courses, LinkedIn Events, and Premium Career, to help you become more visible to employers and improve your networking.
Your resume stands as the foundation of your LinkedIn profile, as it allows recruiters to view your unique skill set, background information, and professional experience. LinkedIn provides a dedicated section within your profile where you can upload your current resume or utilize a template for guidance if you're unsure what to include.
• Begin with essential information: your name and contact details (email, phone number, and location)
• Organize a list of your work experiences, education, achievements, and any leadership and activities that best showcase your qualifications
My recommendation is to start with your educational history, like institution history, before providing your work experience and expanding from there.
Finding connections among the plethora of people on this business platform may initially seem overwhelming, but, thankfully, LinkedIn simplifies this process by providing suggestions of people you may know, whether that be through your school, affiliations, or shared interests. Your networking possibilities are endless, ranging from your professors and friends to current or past colleagues. If you’re looking to expand your professional career and gain interests from other companies, LinkedIn offers virtual webinars and events for you to attend.
Participating in these can help grow your connections and foster a deeper understanding of the networking world. Continuously engaging in content and these virtual events will not only showcase your determination to make meaningful connections, but also help you stay visible to other companies you may be interested in. Building a vast network is essential as it opens new doors to professional opportunities, increases engagement with your posts, and helps you stay informed about the latest trends.
