3 Standout Ways to Use LinkedIn as a Recent College Graduate
Table of Contents
Do smart Searches to build your Network
LinkedIn is a wonderful search engine. It gives you so many ways to find potential connections! For example, you can narrow your search geographically by region, which might be helpful if you are planning on moving to or working in a specific area.
- You can search by connection to increase the likelihood of having mutual relationships with the people you discover.
- You can even search by university or company and connect with fellow alumni of your school or past workplaces!
LinkedIn’s search function is a tool that you need to get familiar with. It is extremely helpful because they help you to avoid looking like a spammer.
By filtering your search results, it will make it easier on you to approach connections online. You can introduce yourself as a fellow student of someone’s university or as a mutual connection rather than an internet stranger.
we’re all trying to improve our career outcomes and gain as much insight as possible but it’s important to do so tactfully.
This is the same reason you should get in the habit of sending your LinkedIn invitations with a short message explaining your reason for connecting!
Having good manners is such a simple way to make a great impression!
Not only does a message increase the likelihood of someone accepting your invitation but it also demonstrates that you are considerate and have the potential to add value to someones’ network.
2. Get a sense of what experience you might need in order to land the job
After scanning profiles of people who belong to a certain company or even industry for some time, you will start to pick up on some trends.
At a certain job level, people may earn certain accreditations or certificates. They may have earned a specialized degree or taken specific courses.
LinkedIn is also great because you can highlight skills on your profile.
Do your potential connections share skills?
These are all things that you should take note of! Write these observations down and start strategizing!
You may discover that it would be in your best interest to obtain a certain degree or that you don’t need to take out loans for grad school after all!
You may find out that earning a certificate in data analytics or advertising strategy would land you major bonus points during your job hunt process!
LinkedIn gives you these insights for FREE so you should definitely tap in.
3. Gain insight from industry experts!
Another thing that LinkedIn is chock-full of is thought leadership.
This is one place (aside from Twitter) that people with tons of experience in their fields go to share what they know. take it in!
Thought leaders do not have to be part of your network. You can follow people with large audiences and keep up with what they post!
You never know what opportunity or knowledge can come to you by staying in the loop in your industry.
Perhaps your favorite thought leader will engage with what you comment on their posts or you may learn of a new industry trend that allows you to shine during your next interview.
You definitely have a lot to gain by keeping your nose to the streets (of LinkedIn)!
