The Benefits of Using LinkedIn

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If you are not familiar with LinkedIn, it is a program that allows people in the professional world to connect and network, that can lead to landing interviews for internships and careers. LinkedIn can be accessed through their website or through their app, and it is a free service!

It is a very popular tool that many utilize. However, there are a lot of young people who don’t have an account or are not familiar with it. I created an account during my first year of college, to try and understand, familiarize, and browse internship options to prep myself for the future, when I would need to complete an internship. Having an established presence on this app may be useful when trying to acquire various positions. Creating an account is easy and you can even upload a copy of your resume to your profile and “easy apply” to jobs using that document. Easy apply is one of the many great features on LinkedIn. It’s an option on some companies’ profiles that allow you to just tap and apply for a position. Your resume and profile are then sent to the company to allow hiring personnel to view your information and come to a decision.

LinkedIn is mainly useful for networking with established individuals whose “connection” with your profile can help to improve the chances of securing an internship/job. Companies are constantly updating their profiles and adding opportunities every day for potential candidates to view and apply for. This is a reliable and secure app that opens doors for millions of users and employers. According to Oberlo, there are over 660 million users on LinkedIn in more than 200 countries! There is an incredible amount of opportunity in that number, whether someone is looking to land a career overseas or locally. The best way to establish yourself on this platform would be to upload a professional photo for your profile icon. Don’t be afraid to follow or request to be friends with users, request to be friends with people in the field you are interested in, and always provide up-to-date and current information on your profile. Another tip is to respond to direct messages promptly, especially when discussing an opportunity that you are extremely interested in. Doing this proves to your potential superior that you are serious and reliable, increasing your chances to meet or interview with hiring personnel.

Being an active member of the LinkedIn community is also a good skill to have. You should be checking your inbox and friend requests constantly and building your network. Keep in mind that things do not happen overnight. Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t hearing back from potential employers/positions you’ve applied for. Continue to apply and search for positions no matter how small they are. The experience is tremendously important to have, so it doesn’t matter if you land an internship at a small business. The experience you gain at “small” internships will pay off and help you land a reputable and secure position. The whole idea of completing internships is that the experience someone learns from their internship gives them an advantage over a candidate who has not completed any internships. When applying for internships, note that they should be relevant to what you are studying or the career you are trying to secure. For example, if you are interested/studying something related to the medical field, you should complete medical-related internships.

It is very difficult to find a job that is related to the industry you are trying to enter and something you truly love to do, without having any prior experience or connections. On LinkedIn, you can list almost everything about yourself and achievements/skills that is helpful for potential employers to view. Things like your college name, degrees, language skills, experience with Microsoft Office or Google Suite, volunteer work, public-speaking skills, jobs, etc. are all assets that can be listed on your profile. You want to list off as much as you can, and show off what you know and what you have achieved while keeping it relevant and current to who you are today. Listing some volunteer work you did when you were 14 might not be the best choice over listing some volunteer work you did when you were 18. Avoid listing skills or experience that might be considered out of date, like the example above. Keep things clear and current. When describing what each skill or job experience entails on your profile, be sure to steer clear of wordiness and “fluff” in what you’re writing!

Ultimately, LinkedIn helps many motivated individuals connect and build a network with thousands of people and acquire positions that are of interest to them.