Career Services
How can we as college students use LinkedIn to our advantage?
Being in a business program at the university level it is almost certain that one of your professors somewhere down the road is either going to require or suggest that you create a LinkedIn profile.
I know everyone’s experiences are different but when a professor of mine sophomore year made it an assignment to create a LinkedIn account I remember feeling a
little confused with little to no explanation behind why or how it would benefit me. We weren’t given any guidance or in-depth explanation for how making a profile might benefit us in the future. All I remember being told was that “LinkedIn is the Facebook of the professional world” and that is exactly what it is.
I thought that for this blog I would list out some benefits LinkedIn could provide college students, especially those of us who are trying to connect with the professional world as we gear up for graduation in the Spring.
First, by creating a LinkedIn profile this allows you to create a professional network. You can connect with old friends, new friends, professors, old employers, and businesses and professionals you are interested in learning more about.
Second, by connecting with different working professionals this allows you to explore different professions and gain a better understanding for different career paths and jobs in different industries! Having a LinkedIn profile also gives you access to jobs and internships through the search bar. This allows for students or recent grads to open up doors that they may have never had. LinkedIn is just another great resource for getting your name out there for your future.
Third, LinkedIn allows you to identify with and groups you want or are interested in. LinkedIn allows you to create friend groups, Alumni groups, or any other desired groups to help with network building and allowing for like-minded individuals to connect from anywhere around the world.
My fourth and final feature of LinkedIn that I am going to discuss happens to be my favorite. Recently, through my job search I have discovered that a lot of job applications take place onlin
e. When I first learned how to make a resume we were told that your experiences were limited to fit a single page. Well, truth is that is one tall order and super hard. Plus the older you get and the more experience you have the more difficult it is! With LinkedIn you are allowed to expand on your experiences and truly showcase what makes you unique. Here’s the really awesome part… With so many job application processes taking place online they also have working interfaces that actually link up with LinkedIn allowing employers to view your profile as part of your application/resume! How cool is that?!
Here’s a link to my LinkedIn profile! Check it out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-salvatori-287b468b/
LinkedIn can create so many opportunities if utilized correctly! So visit LinkedIn and create a profile. Welcome to the professional world!
Love, Sarah.
What’s the next step?
I feel like this is the ongoing question that just never seems to end… “What do you want to do after you’re done with school?”
If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me that question i’d be… well let’s just stay i’d have a lot more money than I do right now, being a broke college student and all.
Even though friends, family and people I work with always ask me the same variations
of questions, it keeps the process and next step fresh in my head. I’m always thinking about it. I’m always wondering and exploring what kind of fields I might be interested in.
Something I have found is that because I decided to pursue both my degrees in business I have the opportunity to unlock so many different doors. The hard part is finding an industry I can thrive in.
This is where the services and resources of Saint Martin’s can really help! As student’s we are all invited to connect with Ann Adams and Career Services. First of all, she is one kick-butt lady who is hard working and motivational and not to mention A GREAT person to go to for help with resume building.
As a soon to be graduating (again) grad student it is now my turn to utilize the resources that this campus has to offer and she is one of them.
Now, this does not mean that all job are to be found through the help of career services. I encourage you all to also connect with your teachers within your perspective majors. Teachers within your program are great resources since almost all teachers have experience within their field along with contacts who they met along the way.
You never know, those contacts that your teachers have may be looking for some young blood to join their team.
So in conclusion for all of those who ask, over the next several months I plan to work closely with Career Services, perfecting my resume, getting my face out there, apply for jobs and reaching out to my current and previous professors and making new connections. In the business world it’s all about who you know and how far you are willing to go to get it!
Stay tuned to see what happens next!
love, Sarah.
sarahsalsmu 