When I was a sophomore in college, one of my professors made it a homework assignment for us all to set up a LinkedIn account and "connect" with her. At the time, it was at the bottom of my to-do list. LinkedIn? As a sophomore? Why do I need that? But then I realized that it's never too early. And it's better to learn it while you're young than to suddenly become a senior and struggle to teach yourself the ins and outs while balancing the 1938 other things you have to do. My point? Do it now, and thank me later. DO create a LinkedIn profile even if you don’t know what you want to do with your life after graduation. It never hurts. DON’T neglect yourself and all the accomplishments and achievements of your professional or academic life. Take time to fill in the profile sections with your current activities and your past ones too, with descriptions to help employers understand all of your capabilities. DO use it as a networking tool to develop contacts in certain industries, corporations, or even within your school’s alumni community. DON’T just accept any Joe Schmo random middle-aged man who wants to connect with you. You don’t get bonus points for having a ton of connections, sometimes you only really need one to make it worth it. DO research companies and executives that you would benefit from connecting with, or follow them for tips and inspiration. DON’T treat it like Facebook. Don’t look up the profile of that random senior guy on the baseball team you’re crushing on because LinkedIn has a feature that allows people to see who’s been viewing their profile. Unlike social media, where the only indication that you’ve been stalking someone’s page comes if you accidentally “like” something from weeks ago, LinkedIn will give notifications every time you view someone’s page. So, to make a long story short, don’t. DO utilize your alumni networks. Last summer, I was able to find a recent Marist grad who worked in the HR department of a company I was considering interning for. Though I didn’t end up applying, the opportunity to pick her brain gave me a huge insight into what they were looking for and what kind of atmosphere prevails within the company. DON’T badger people. Be respectful, just like you would if you were emailing or calling someone about a job/internship opportunity. Make sure they know you don’t expect them to give you a job, but could just really use some advice. If you build a good enough relationship, then who knows – the job offer may come somewhere down the line. Lastly, DO sign up for our LinkedIn events next week: Tuesday, November 15, 2016 @ 11-12 in LB 342 the Mair Room: “Level Up Your Brand: What You Need to Know About LinkedIn & Business Cards” @ Noon-3 pm in LB 332: “LinkedIn Photo booth” – where you can get your professional picture taken but make sure you bring a flash drive and wear professional attire!! Thursday, November 17, 2016 LinkedIn speaker Erin Cook comes in to discuss more of the best LinkedIn practices, with TWO different sessions to choose from: @11-12 in SC 3105 OR @ 2-3 in SC 3105 And DON’T forget to RSVP now and show up at the time you registered for, and in preparation watch our new video providing LinkedIn starter tips:
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