Ultimate LinkedIn Guide
How to use LinkedIn to discover new opportunities
LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool and definitely worth having if you're a student. The key to getting the most out of this platform is staying active on it and engaging with other people's content. You might be thinking:
What can I get out of LinkedIn? I'm not a professional, I'm just a student. Is it really that helpful?
Yes it is! As a student, you can:
Meet other students interested in the same areas you are
See exciting opportunities while scrolling through your feed
Have people message you directly about opportunities
Interact with those in positions you aspire too (for example, students at universities you want to apply to or those in graduate roles)
If you have a business idea you want to develop, you'll have access to a network of people willing to help
You'll be familiar with the platform by the time you look for jobs - 90% of employers use LinkedIn when searching for new employees
Here are some tips for getting noticed on LinkedIn and building your network:
Update your Profile
Have a recent, professional looking profile photo.
Profiles with photos are reportedly 11 times more likely to get looked at.
Personalise your profile URL.
The first sentence of your summary should be attention-grabbing as it's the first thing people will read on your profile
It's great to put what you're looking for in your summary, e.g. "currently seeking work experience opportunities" in addition to the skills you have.
Make use of the featured section to add content that you want people to see. If you have a blog, YouTube channel, podcast, personal website, GitHub repo - share it here!
Follow companies that you're interested to stay commercially aware.
Build Connections
Connect with interesting people you don't know - LinkedIn is about expanding your network
Include in your summary that you're open to connect!
You're more likely to be accepted if you use a personalised invitation message. For example, saying what you liked about their post(s), something specific you liked in their profile or the reason for connecting (e.g. met at the Student Summer Sprint event).
Feel free to ask your connections for advice - they're often very willing to help!
If you want to connect with people who have a large following, follow them first. Do your research about their work by engaging with their content before sending a connection message, and be specific about what information you want from them.
Be Active
The more active you are, the more connection requests you'll get and the more you'll get recognised by the right people.
Post regularly
Don't only post on LinkedIn about your achievements. Share any interesting news, articles, blog posts, social media posts that you've found. Talk about your thoughts on careers related subjects. Try to keep it relevant to your brand and goals - do you want to be known as a leader, an enthusiastic programmer, an aspiring entrepreneur? Share your thoughts on these topics on LinkedIn.
Include hashtags in your posts so more people see it - if you're lucky, your post might be trending!
Make sure the content that you're sharing is professional. Anyone can see it, so don't talk negatively about people or organisations.
Engage with content
React to posts but also comment! If you comment on posts you're more likely to be noticed on the platform.
Check up on your connections to see how they're doing. This shows that you value them, and can make someone's day!
As a student you have so much to offer other people, so asking to get involved with opportunities on LinkedIn is a great way to learn new skills and build your network. The more you give, the more you'll get in return!
As always, stay safe online! Not everyone online has good intentions, so make sure that you set your privacy settings to provide you with a level of comfort, and don't give out personal details to people that you meet online!
While we are happy to share advice for using LinkedIn, Hackathons for Schools does not take any responsibility for the actions of people outside of the event.
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