Tips for Creating a Student All-Star LinkedIn Profile

Vickie J. Maris

Search Your Name Like a Recruiter

• How are you represented in searches on your name at major search engines?– Check top 2-3 pages of search– Check the images and videos section of the search

• Search on names of outstanding students in your same discipline

• Search on a names of professionals in your discipline – note keywords used in social media profiles, bios on websites, descriptions in news releases

Establish Your LinkedIn Account

• www.linkedin.com• Start with your name, quality bio photo (head

and shoulders; solid background), and a title• Use creativity with your title– Agricultural communications student and

emerging agrimarketing professional at Purdue University

Summary Can Show Your Personality

• Write a LinkedIn summary that shows your personality

• Sentences should include keywords that recruiters would search for in LinkedIn

• Write your summary as concisely as possible• Keep your summary current – mark your

calendar for monthly or quarterly updates which will help your profile to rank higher in LinkedIn

Claim Your Custom URL

• LinkedIn assigns a URL to your profile• Adjust it as you see fit – use a custom URL

that recruiters would use when they search on your name

• URL and other elements of the profile can be edited when you click the edit icon

List Pertinent Employment

• List only the work experiences that have relevance to the job or internship you are looking to obtain, or the company you plan to start

• Seek leadership roles in organizations or volunteer for activities that will help prepare you for your career and at the same time, strengthen your LinkedIn profile

Skills

• List skills that pertain to your discipline• People who connect with you in LinkedIn can

endorse you for skills you have listed• Reciprocate the favor and endorse your

connections for skills you have seen them exhibit

Ask For and Give Recommendations

• Recommendations on your profile add to your credibility and increase the strength of your profile

• Seek opportunities that will merit a recommendation – then remember to ask for one

• Provide recommendations to others in your field (or outside of your discipline)

Hint: To develop a connection with someone in your field who might become a mentor, provide an unsolicited recommendation for

his/her LinkedIn profile based on a talk you heard the person give, a published paper you read, or a video lecture you watched the person

present.

Be Active in LinkedIn – It’s a Social Network

• Comment on status updates• Add comments to blog posts in LinkedIn• Share blog posts from LinkedIn to groups you

are active in or to your other social media channels

• Be active in groups

Join and Participate In Groups

• Groups showing on your profile strengthen your credibility

• Participate in groups on a weekly basis – read comments and click “like,” post a question or response in the discussion area, upload a file to share

• Start your own group and invite others with similar interests to participate

Take on the Recruiter Role

• Search in LinkedIn for people who would be a good match for the position you would like to hold

• Study the profiles of those who surface in your search and glean ideas for key phrases and words that would strengthen your own profile

Invite People to Connect

• Connect with other students, with instructors, or with guest speakers in your classes or seminars

• Interact with people who could become mentors to you in your field

• When you meet people of similar interests at association meetings and conferences, connect with them in LinkedIn

• Personalize the content of your invitation before sending – Ex., “Hi Vickie – Thanks for visiting with me at the BMES Conference. I’d like to connect with you here in LinkedIn.” Trace

LinkedIn Badge to Promote Your Profile

• Include a link to your LinkedIn profile in your email signature, resume and website (and later, your business card)

• Use a LinkedIn badge on your website, or other appropriate locations, that links to your profile (a variety of badges and the corresponding code to embed is available in the window for editing your profile)

Tips for Creating a Student All-Star LinkedIn Profile

Here’s how you can reach Vickie Maris in her social media channels:

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/vickiemaris

My Blog and Website: http://www.heartsongfit.com

My Heartsong Fit Podcast in iTunes: http://bit.ly/HFPodcast

Instagram: http://instagram.com/vickiemaris

Pinterest Business Account: http://bit.ly/HeartsongFitPinterest

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vickiemarisfitness

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickiemarisGoogle+ Business Page:

https://plus.google.com/+heartsongfit

Google+ Personal Page: https://plus.google.com/+vickiemaris

Slideshare: http://bit.ly/VJMSlideShare

My Social Media First Steps Ebook: http://bit.ly/1stStepsEbook

Email: clientcare@heartsongfit.com