By Michael Gabriel SumastreMr. Endicott

Personal Career Planning Class

25 Tips and Resources for New Grads on LinkedIn

You should be willing to give information about yourself, specifically your preferences, achievements and interests, that will help you connect with others.

1. Don’t just create a profile; create a profile that dishes the

most impressive things about you.

If you keep your profile private, you won’t be able to find people to connect with. If you’re concerned about your privacy and safety online, you don’t need to shut out the LinkedIn world, but you do have to practice caution and choose what you share.

2. Open your profile to the

public.

Choose a professional-looking photo. People want to know what you look like. Be sure to use a shot of just yourself, not a group or family photo. Make sure it’s a clear one.

3. Put a face to your profile.

Even if LinkedIn is a professional social network, you should reach out to former classmates and schoolmates – especially your fellow graduates. Many of you will be in the same boat, searching for job opportunities, so connecting with them will help you.

Your professors can advise you as you move about LinkedIn and try to network with as many people as possible.

4. Connect with as many people

as possible.

5. Aside from the people in your

school, you should reach out

to former professors and fellow alumni.

Of course, choose only the ones you know will give you a good review.

Choose those who share your interests and passion. They might have connections that can benefit you later. Additionally, you should act as a connector.

6. If you have previous work

experience, connect with past

employers and co-workers.

7. Look for people you can connect with, even those you barely know and maybe met

through LinkedIn.

LinkedIn’s Introduction feature will help you find an individual, group, organization or company that interests you.

Get in touch or connect with school or college classmates, former professors and mentors, former work colleagues and previous employers. Ask them to give you a recommendation based on the professional skills you indicated in your profile.

8. Get into Groups.

9. When asking someone to connect with you, be sure to

add a personal note.

10. Use introductions to meet people.

11. Throw aside all feelings of shyness and

ask your connections for recommendations.

As much as possible, log in and update your account every day.

Share news about the industry or niche you move in. Post some interesting trivia that your groups might find interesting.

Add keywords to your profile or use interesting, relevant key phrases in your posts and comments. This will make it easier for people to find you.

The Answers Tools can show off your potential. It will make you an authority on your selected niche.

12. Use your LinkedIn account regularly.

13. Post new content every day – or at least

every time that you log in.

14. Use keywords in the best and most natural

way when posting.

15. LinkedIn has an Answers Tool. Use this to

establish yourself as somebody who can be trusted in your area of

interest.

Personalize your profile so you can list all of your accomplishments, honors and awards, the courses you finished, as well as other experiences that might give you some points.

Use the right words and correct grammar. Avoid using slang or writing in phrases. Text speak should be avoided.

16. LinkedIn has resources especially

made for fresh graduates looking to

score a significant job offer.

17. When writing your profile and

posting updates and comments, exercise

professionalism. 18. Make sure your

LinkedIn connections can also

be your friends.

19. Your College Alumni Group. 20. If you want useful discussions

and tips for job-seekers, including tips for nailing job interviews, the New Grad Life Group is an excellent choice.

21. Another group with a similar concept is the College Graduate Job Hunters Group.

22. You can always search for a professional group focused in your interests and skills, like a Fashion Designers Group or a Creative Writers Group.

23. The Student and New Grads Group is perfect because it will connect you with people who can share tips about getting into entry-level jobs.

LinkedIn Groups can

help expand your

connections. Here are some

Groups you should consider

joining.

24. The Creative Portfolio Display can give connections an idea of your work. They’ll get a peek at what you’re capable of doing. It’s an online portfolio of your best work.

25. LinkedIn Student Jobs is a tool that helps new graduates find entry-level jobs.

LinkedIn Tools