HPU Career Services Guide to LinkedIN

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Career ServiCeS Guide

Career & Internship ServicesSlane Student Center, Room 325

336.841.9025

Everything you need to know about connecting to the world’s largest professional network.

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CAREER & INTERNSHIP SERVICES | LinkedIN

What is LinkedIn and why do I need a profile?

“It is no longer enough to simply have a solid resume ...students now need a professional online presence.”

(Holly Paul, US Recruiting Coordinator, PwC)

As the world’s largest professional network, LinkedIn can help you to:

Clearly define your skills and experienceBuild your professional “brand” and showcase your experienceTurn relationships into opportunities by finding out how you arepersonally connected to any employerHelp you prepare for interviews when you land themCheck out the career paths that people with your interests have pursued

Prospective employers WILL check you out online:

70% of employers have rejected a candidate because of information they found about them online85% of employers say that a positive online “reputation” influences theirhiring decisionFACT: 70-85% of jobs today are found through networking!

The people you know can help you with:

IntroductionsIncreased access to opportunitiesObtaining informational interviewsAdvice, support, mentoring

“Its not about WHAT you know but WHO you know...”

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Getting Started

Go to www.linkedin.com and follow the instructions for setting up an account

Select a professional, appropriate pictureOnly youNeutral backgroundProfessional attire

Create the right “headline” that describes YOU!

Write a “keyword-rich summary” that sells your skills and experience, being concise, specific, and typo-free

Complete the education section

List your professional experience, including all internships and paid employment, in reverse chronological order (most recent first)

Create bullet points to highlight your accomplishments and duties for each of these positions, in a similar format to your resume

Obtain recommendations from your professors, employers, advisors, and internship supervisors

Ask people who have served as references for you in the past and are active on LinkedInIf possible, obtain one strong recommendation for each place of employment, internship, or school

LinkedIn will let you know how to improve your profile…

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Building Your Network

Establish your Connections:

People you already know family membersfriendsfriends’ parentsneighbors

HPU AlumniAdd new connections using “Contacts” tab

Join Groups

Establish HPU groups: Alumni (seniors only) Career and Internship Group Parent and Alumni Mentor Network

TIP: Look at groups that other Linkedin members with similar interests have joined.

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1. Be honest Explain why you want to connect with the person; honesty is the bestpolicy, especially if you are looking to do some serious networking.

2. Tell Them How You Know ThemPeople get lots of requests to connect – taking the extra step to briefly mention why you want to connect will usually get your invitation accepted.

3. Find Something in CommonHow did you find this person? Do you have a mutual career field orinterest? Do you have connections in common? Are you connected through LinkedIn Groups? Find the common thread and use it to your advantage when sending your connection request.

4. Make It PersonalAlways personalize your invitation toconnect in some way; mention a shared group membership, note a common contact, or point out similar backgrounds, education or experience.

5. Be EnthusiasticIf you’re approaching the CEO/founder of a startup on LinkedIn, as part of a job search, you want to start and end by showing your enthusiasm. Your expertise, background, and skill set should take a backseat to your enthusiasm and passion for their business.

6. Reference Their ProfileTake a moment to look at this potential connections profile and reference something in it. This will show that you took the time to know who you’re attempting to connect with before sending the invitation.

7. Thank ThemIt’s important to thank the person in advance before agreeing to connect. Also, you want to offer help in any way possible and encourage them to call on you. That way, your potential contact feels like they can benefit from the connection.

7 Tips for Writing a Great LinkedIn Invitation

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Turning your LinkedIn Connections into Opportunities

“In the same way that you find out what people are doing socially on Facebook, you can find out what people are doing professionally on

LinkedIn!”

Reach out to the connections you have made to ask for introductions to their connections

Use the “Advanced Search” tab and enter High Point University in the “School” section to search for HPU alumni

Always connect with people on LinkedIn once you have met them in person

Regularly check the “Jobs” tab for opportunities you might be interested in, searching by zip code, company name, type of position, or keyword

LinkedIn will also tell you which of your connections is already connected tothe company that is hiring!

When you find a job posting somewhere other than through LinkedIn, use your LinkedIn account to search for people you may know or potential connections you may have at that company

Remember to thank the person who connects you with someone at aparticular company, using email, a personal LinkedIn message or a written note.

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Researching and Preparing for Interviews

Demonstrating knowledge about a company is one of the most important factors in landing a job offer. What you need to know before your interview:

General company information Mission statementRecent news/company updates

Research each person with whom you will be meeting:Educational backgroundCareer pathRecent tweets, news articles, etc. Shared connections on LinkedIn

Industry/Competitive knowledge

“insider secrets”Company cultureTraits most valued in employeesLeaders you must know aboutPublications and blogs that are “must reads” for this company

TIP: Utilize the “Company Buzz” application under the “More” tab to keep current on company news, especially in the days immediately preceding your interview!

Additional Tips

Always use appropriate, professional business etiquette when using LinkedIn to network:

Send personal messages when asking to make a connection instead of using the generic message provided

Always make a connection request as soon as possible after meeting

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someone new in person, through email correspondence, or on the phone

Google yourself on a regular basis to see if your LinkedIn profile is the first search result!

Use LinkedIn to look at the educational backgrounds and career paths of professionals who work in your areas of interest Within the groups that you join, take advantage of discussion boards, event announcements, and news articles to which you will now have access

Using the “Groups” tab, use the drop-down feature to view suggested groups for you to consider joining

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does my LinkedIn profile differ from my resume?

A: Your experience and credentials can be written as you would present them on a resume or cover letter, but you can be a little less formal. LinkedIn offers the added bonus of allowing you to create your own customized “Headline,” which should be unique to you! Use this feature to brand yourself, highlight your skills, and differentiate yourself from other students. Always be truthful and don’t stretch the facts!

Q: How do I approach people for recommendations?

A: Asking someone to “recommend” you on LinkedIn is similar to asking someone to serve as a reference or to write you a letter of recommendation. Do not be shy about asking someone who has complimented you on your work or has agreed to be a reference.

Q: How do I find a connection’s profile?

A: There are two ways to access a connection’s profile. Using the “Contacts” tab, you can select “Your Connections” and look for your

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connection. Alternatively, you can use the “Search” box on the right hand side of your LinkedIn toolbar and enter a person’s name (be sure that you have selected “People” just left of the search box).

Q: How do I edit/update my profile as I add new experiences?

A: You can add, change, or remove any information on your profile using the “Edit Profile” feature. To get there, click on the “Profile” tab at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “Edit Profile.” You will find a prompt (in blue ink) in each of your sections that you can click on to make changes.

For additional information, please refer to: www.learn.linkedin.com/student

Career & Internship ServicesSlane Student Center, Room 325

336.841.9025

HPU Career Services Guide to LinkedIN

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