LinkedIn is a social media platform that encourages professional networking. It provides you with the tools to build your professional brand and begin exploring your career directions for when you graduate!
There are a number of benefits for creating a LinkedIn profile for yourself.
Here is a short list of a few key advantages:
- Build a Professional Network.
LinkedIn allows you to network with industry professionals who you may be interested in learning more about. Networking is a highly beneficial strategy in enhancing your opportunities when you graduate. By getting to know people within the industry, you can learn things such as what you can do to progress in the direction that benefits your career upon graduation.
- A professional profile.
Whilst LinkedIn allows you to connect and learn more about industry professionals, it also allows those same professionals to learn more about you. Having a LinkedIn profile can become extremely beneficial due to the common occurrence of social media checks being conducted by employers. LinkedIn allows you to display the following on your profile; your education, previous work experience, skills and endorsements from past and present colleagues/employers. This information could be the factor that sways an employer to give you a chance!
- Research resource.
LinkedIn, aside from being a social networking site, is also useful when it comes to researching an organisation. By visiting an organisation’s LinkedIn page, you can determine more about the company such as location, company size, interests, achievements and more. Whether you are researching an organisation prior to an interview or before applying to an organisation job post, conducting your own research can help you feel more prepared or confident with your decisions.
- Be the first to see Job and Internship Opportunities.
Many businesses within the communications industry utilise LinkedIn to post job and internship advertisements. LinkedIn has a section that allows you to get alerts when certain jobs are posted which will give you first access to areas that you are interested in! Connect with industry professionals who you would consider working for or with, it will help with learning about their organisation which might give you leverage in job opportunities.
- Shows Your Dedication.
Having a well developed LinkedIn profile will display to industry professionals that you are actively investing your time into career opportunities, and are engaging with the industry of your future career and the latest news and updates within said industry. We recommend using a headshot or image of a professional nature, this does not have to be one taken by a professional photographer! Just ensure you have a mobile phone, adequate lighting and a plain background (a plain wall for example). Remember first impressions are important! Additionally, we recommend enhancing your profile by adding information that is encouraged by LinkedIn. Information such as; education, skills, interests and contact information.
These five points are just some of the many reasons why you should be on LinkedIn! Feel free to drop any other points you think are important in the comments!