You’ve heard plenty about it—for years—and the question lingers: Do I need to be on LinkedIn? The answer, plain and simple, is Yes. As a college student and soon-to-be graduate of Brigham Young University (BYU), the networking power of LinkedIn can’t be overstated. Consider that 92 percent of BYU recruiters still look at a LinkedIn profile before making a hiring decision (we’ll talk more about this idea in a future newsletter).
LinkedIn is a powerful online platform that provides a medium to connect with like-minded people in a professional environment. When we talk “like-minded,” we’re talking about common connections that link us together. Things like: where we went to school, what we do professionally, what skills and competencies we have, etc. In this way, LinkedIn is a tool that is unlike any other in connecting to people that can help you make plans beyond BYU.
To get started: the first thing you need to do is create a profile. Here’s how to begin:
- Choose a Profile Pic & Cover Photo: this should be a professional headshot. Dress the part—professional. Profiles with photos get significantly more clicks (you can have a headshot taken at just about any BYU career fair event on campus).
- Write a Headline: what taglines make you stand out in your field? Get Creative! For ideas, look at headlines of people that have jobs that are interesting to you.
- Create a Summary Statement: the first three lines of your summary statement show up as part of your profile automatically, so make it count.
- Personalize your URL: You can customize your URL to your name. It is more memorable and noticeable.
- Survey What Others Have Done: For inspiration on expanding beyond your resume and what information to include, look at the profiles of people already doing what you want to do.
- Build Your Network: Try to connect with at least 50 people; these can be previous coworkers, bosses, friends, family, or anyone you feel can help you grow professionally.
- Stay Active: Create posts and follow employers, companies, and hashtags that interest you. Keep building and creating connections. If you plan to apply for a position, make sure you are following them on LinkedIn. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it!
Want more details? Reach Out.
Michael Elrod
Director
Careers and Experiential Learning
McKay School of Education
michael_elrod@byu.edu