Feature: How Can Students Use LinkedIn Effectively?

With the Winter Graduation ceremonies at St Mary’s University, Twickenham only a week away, students in their final year will soon be turning their attentions to finding their first job as a graduate. Today’s job market is very competitive, so it’s a good idea to make yourself as accessible and attractive to potential employers as possible. In addition to the usual CVs and covering letters, many people also use online platforms, such as LinkedIn, to market themselves. But if you find yourself confused by the social network, we’ve compiled a list of useful tips on how you can make the most of your profile, increase your chances of being spotted by recruiters and, ultimately, be offered a job or internship. 1. Make your headline interesting LinkedIn gives each of its members an opportunity to grab the attention of recruiters and peers with a 120-character headline. While most users simply use their current job title, those without work have an opportunity to sell themselves by writing in detail about their studies and their ambitions for work. This has the added bonus of being more searchable. 2. Mention any extra-curricular activities Make sure that you include any societies that you are part of and any courses that you have completed during your time at university. Employers are looking for individuals with a range of skills and experiences and will value any extra training or involvement in clubs. 3. Connect with people you know Always start by linking up with professionals that you know, whether they are your peers, tutors, parents, or family friends. This will help build a solid foundation for your network and will ensure that you will have a few people to endorse your skills. In addition, the more contacts you know, the more likely that you will find somebody in a field that interests you to give you advice. 4. Take inspiration from others Don’t be afraid to look at other profiles to find out effective ways of displaying your work experience or writing about yourself. Taking inspiration from successful professionals can help you understand what kind of skills companies are looking for, as well as the types of training that they value. 5. Join Groups There are a huge number of groups available to join on LinkedIn. No matter which university you go to, or what field you would like your career to be in, there will be a group for you to join and network with people with similar interests or backgrounds. Each group also includes a discussion board, which you can use to find out about networking events, job opportunities, or simply impress people with your knowledge of a certain subject. Make a start by joining St Mary’s University Alumni’s LinkedIn page and the St Mary's International Students group. 6. Ask contacts to recommend you The ‘recommendations’ feature is a good way of backing up your claims in your profile section. If you can get people from your academic background or previous role to write a short statement about your abilities, then this will increase your attractiveness to recruiters. 7. Get in touch with employers By joining groups and expanding your network of connections, you will gain access to a wider range of company pages. Take advantage of this by sending messages to companies that you’re interested in, stating your interest in them and their business. This will help you stand out from the crowd. Even if LinkedIn doesn’t directly get you a job, following the advice above will ensure that you find companies and lines of work that you may not have been aware of before, which will help inform your decision on what path you want your career to take. For further advice regarding searching for jobs, or how to use social media to your advantage while looking for work, please visit the Careers Service or contact them at careers@stmarys.ac.uk.