Friday, October 28, 2011

Linkedin: A Must for Any Aspiring Professional

As I near the end of my college career, I am realizing the importance of building relationships and establishing connections for future employment. The more people you know, the better you will fare in the professional world. I was well aware of media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. But this semester I have been made aware of the value of Linkedin, a social networking site that allows you to share yourself with other professionals. So what is the value of Linkedin? Here are eight reasons why YOU should be using this social tool:

1) More Money/Job Opportunities
2) Communication with Industry Leaders
3) Stay In Touch With Other Professionals
4) Receive Recommendations by Other Professionals - INVALUABLE
5) Ask Questions/Receive Feedback by Other Professionals
6) Functions as an Online Resume
7) Operates as a Personal Website
8) No SPAM

For anybody hoping to receive employment directly out of college, I highly recommend creating and maintaing a Linkedin account. More and more companies are utilizing this growing community

2 comments:

  1. I definitely agree with your view on Linked In. It's a great way to network and reach out to professionals and stay updated on the industry. I like how you pointed out the benefits of LinkedIn vs. other Social Media web sites.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linked In offers young professionals such a great opportunity for networking. Many HR directors have admitted to turning to this site now as a primary investigative tool when looking at job candidates.

    Young professionals and job seekers can really use it their advantage when looking to network. Some of the best advice I was given was to make a list of the top 20 companies I wanted to work for and then reach out via Linked In to entry level employees in that company. Set up coffee dates and ask them face to face questions you really want to know about the company. I was reminded that everyone starts at the bottom, so everyone understands the want to help others get started in their career.

    ReplyDelete