Are you ‘Linked-In’?
Chances are, you’ve heard the phrase, “It’s not about what you know. Rather, It’s who you know.” At our first Speaker Series event of the year, Suzanne Gauron – Head of Launch with Goldman Sachs – discussed the importance of networking and getting started as a college student. Sending cold emails, connecting with alumni from interested industries, and attending as many networking events as possible are just a few of the points Gauron emphasized – all of which are made easier through LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is the largest professional network on the internet, and it’s often used by college students to establish connections with those in interested fields. People familiarize themselves with companies and organizations, as well as opportunities, through the platform. For college students, it’s a great way to meet people who don’t necessarily live around your area. Even more, it’s a great way to find internships and build networks through common interests. Needless to say, it’s incredibly beneficial for those looking to dip their toes into the professional world.
When I first started my LinkedIn, it seemed incredibly overwhelming. What do I need to put on my profile? Do I really need endorsements? How much information is too much information? How do I present myself? Simply put, LinkedIn works differently with each person; depending on your career goals, it may be helpful to attach supplemental documents. For others, it may be critical to include certifications and proclaimed skill-sets.
I haven’t been in college for that long, so I think it’s safe to say that I’m still trying to figure out the formula for the perfect LinkedIn account and what makes posts so popular. Nonetheless, it’s still important to develop a LinkedIn profile at the start of your college career. Below are a few points
1. Create an objective
Who are you? What are you passionate about? What is your goal? Developing a short and direct sentence that encapsulates your values and interests will provide employers with a glimpse of how you would fit in their company.
“Highly self-motivated and detail-oriented Vanderbilt student seeking a position as a Financial Analyst to apply quantitative and analytical skills, financial modeling, planning, metric reporting, forecasting, and other related skills in alignment with the company's financial goals."
2. Develop your resume
Sometimes short and sweet is the way to go, but when developing your LinkedIn profile, make sure to share some points of achievement or responsibilities during those experiences. Show off your work, whether it be developing a marketing strategy or building a company’s website. It’s important to be specific about what you do, whether that means underlining the quantitative impact of a specific project or sharing companies you’ve collaborated with. Employers like to see both breadth and depth!
3. Finish setting up your profile
Make sure all the spots you’re able to fill are filled! Did you include your education? Did you include interests? Organizations you’re a part of? Is everything accurate? Once you’ve finished your read-through, make sure to set up a profile picture and a cover photo! You’ve probably seen the clean, professional headshots on every LinkedIn profile, but whatever portrait works! I know some who have used their senior photos, and others who have asked their friends to take a photo against a blank wall. Hopefully, you stopped by the Wyatt steps this past week to get a headshot taken by our marketing team member, Lily!
4. Connect with peers and alumni
A lot of people make the mistake of connecting with only people you know personally. LinkedIn is the place to expand; that means networking with those you may not have even met in person. It’s not awkward – it’s just business! This doesn’t necessarily mean connecting with everyone. Rather, make intentional connections with people that have commonalities with you. If they’re peers from a class or alumni from a consulting firm you applied to, perhaps it’s worth a shot to connect on LinkedIn to develop – at the least – a face-to-name link to who you are.
5. Interact!
Once you’ve connected with people, be active in your exchanges. Send cold messages to recruiters or professors whose research interests you. Like and comment on a contact’s accomplishments. Whatever you decide, make sure to do it consistently. During the event with Gauron, she discussed her experiences with effective networking and mentioned the power of small but frequent interactions. This builds cordial relationships and makes favors less awkward.
As long as you utilize the platform intentionally, success is sure to follow. From landing an interview for the internship of your dreams to something as simple as class registration, it seems networking and being ‘Linked-In’ has become more crucial than ever.