LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools students have at their disposal today. It’s the perfect place to look for jobs, make connections and share your accomplishments.
Making your first post can be daunting, but with help from the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management Center for Industry Engagement (CIE), the process is easy! Here is a guide to posting to LinkedIn.
Why should you post?
Posting to LinkedIn makes you more visible to employers and cohorts. You can share things about yourself that a resume or cover letter won’t show off. Your LinkedIn profile is a living document of your past, present and future goals. Talk about your experiences and grow your professional relationships all in the same place!
What should you post?
You can post (almost) anything you want! LinkedIn is the perfect place to announce your new leadership position in your SPO, your acceptance of a new job or any events that you recently checked out. All experience is good experience, so make sure you talk about it!
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Dos and Don’ts of posting to LinkedIn
DO: Make a custom URL
Making a custom URL is one of the most important parts of making a profile. It increases visibility from a search engine and makes it easier for employers to find you. Customizing your URL also makes it so your LinkedIn pops up before any other social media you might have attached to your name.
DON’T: Treat it like other social media
LinkedIn is not the place for you to show off photos from your night out or to share that weird thought you had at 3 a.m. Keep in mind who is looking at your posts and what you want them to think about you. LinkedIn is a great networking tool for building your professional brand.
DO: Use it to make connections
When making connections with recruiters or alumni, you should create a custom message to go along with it. Take a second to introduce yourself, explain your reason for connecting and finish off with a call to action. For a more thorough guide to connection messages, check out the Undergraduate and Graduate canvas sites, as well as this guide on How to Network in College.
DON’T: Leave your profile unfinished
Make sure to fill out as much as you can on your profile including your “about me” section and updated work experience. You want your profile to show off the most accurate representation of you and your skill set. An unfinished profile leads to an unfinished personal brand. Use this LinkedIn profile checklist to keep yourself on track.
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Need more help building your profile?
Check out three ways to get started on LinkedIn.