5 Reasons College Students Should Join LinkedIn
If you’re a college student, you might wonder how to build your professional network and gain exposure to the tech industry. LinkedIn is an excellent resource for achieving both goals. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of using LinkedIn as a college student.
LinkedIn is a social networking platform designed specifically for professionals. It’s an incredibly powerful tool for anyone looking to establish a strong professional network, build a personal brand, and find new opportunities in their career.
Here are five career-launching benefits college students can get out of LinkedIn (without even leaving home).
1.Build a Professional Network
Networking is crucial in any industry, but in tech, it can be your “in” at a startup that could become the next “Big Thing”. Building a strong network of connections on LinkedIn is a surprisingly easy path toward real-life connections with industry leaders, potential employers, and other professionals in your field. You can also follow companies you are interested in working for and connect with current employees to learn about their experiences and determine whether a path you were considering is the right one for you.
2. Find Job and Internship Opportunities
LinkedIn is a popular destination for recruiters and hiring managers looking for qualified job and internship candidates. A college student, with a strong profile and active presence on the platform, benefits from boosted visibility to potential employers. Set up job and internship alerts aligned with your interests, and you’ll be among the first to hear when opportunities arise.
3. Establish Your Personal Brand
Considering becoming an entrepreneur? LinkedIn is also an excellent platform for building your personal brand. Creating a strong profile is simple enough. Then, share valuable content, and engage with peers and leaders in your industry. Over time, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and an expert in your field. It’s a great way to stand out from the competition when it comes to career advancement opportunities.
4. Learn About Industry Trends
Staying up-to-date on industry news and trends is important preparation for interviews, makes it easier to start a conversation with someone in your industry, or just for knowing what you need to do to keep the skills of your trade sharp. LinkedIn’s newsfeed and “follow” feature automates the process of keeping up with companies, organizations, and thought leaders of interest in your field. LinkedIn groups offer yet another avenue for observing or engaging directly with others you can learn from.
5. Showcase Your Skills and Projects
Highlighting your skills and projects may or may not come easy to you—but it is a necessary piece of marketing yourself to potential employers or clients. Add in detailed information about your coursework, research projects, and extracurricular activities on your LinkedIn profile. You can also link to a portfolio (or build one directly into your profile) or personal website (or create a LinkedIn company page, if you consult or freelance). Each of these tactics can help potential employers get a better sense of your skills and interests.
Perhaps more effective than any other networking method available today, LinkedIn is a resource college students need to build their professional network and gain exposure to their industry. When you actively use the platform strategically, you’ll position yourself for success and take your career to the next level without ever leaving home.
If you are or know a community college student pursuing a career in cybersecurity, learn about our partnership with Microsoft. This program offers a free LinkedIn Premium annual membership valued at $300+, unlocking 15,000+ expert-led learning courses to sharpen skills, gain competitive insights into job and internship opportunities, and more.