8 tips for using LinkedIn to stay connected and get ahead fast

As a university student or young professional, you’re focusing on networking, networking, and more networking. As the hiring process becomes more digital for many companies, social media platforms such as LinkedIn are becoming a vital part of finding a job. If you’re more of a Facebook or Instagram fan, you’re probably asking why you should use LinkedIn.

The platform has over 500 million users, and over 3 million active job postings. If you’re on the hunt for a job, or just looking to build up a network, LinkedIn is a good place to start! All young professionals should be actively networking and promoting themselves.

Here are 8 things you can do to make the most of LinkedIn:

Maximize your summary

A good LinkedIn summary is essential for any profile. Your summary is the first thing many recruiters, connections and potential employers will see. Make the most of it and include the important things about yourself. Briefly describe your professional or academic trajectory, and mention your key skills.

Showcase your accomplishments

Every good LinkedIn summary should focus on your specific accomplishments, either academic or professional. Are you the founder of a club on campus? Make sure to include the steps you took to get there, the mission, number of members etc. Don’t be afraid to use numbers. Employers want to see tangible successes. If you increased your company’s social media reach by 150% – use it in your summary.

Utilize additional sections

Regardless of industry or country, recruiters and employers want to see well-rounded applicants. Take advantage of the optional sections on your LinkedIn profile to speak about your hobbies, interests and skills, even those that aren’t related to your career field. Highlight activities that showcase your adaptability, and if you have international experience, make sure to put it at the top!

Stay Active

Just like on any other platform, to get noticed on LinkedIn you need to be active. Make sure your profile is up to date, and that you actively share and engage with other people’s posts and updates. LinkedIn is a great way to explore the professional world, and connect with some of the most successful people in your industry. Articles, studies and news reports are great ways to keep your professional audience engaged.

Use Keywords

If you want employers and recruiters to find your profile out of the millions of profiles on LinkedIn, you need keywords that they’ll be searching for. These keywords will be different depending on your industry, so start by taking a look at words that show up in the job descriptions you read. Think about the types of things a recruiter searches for and use them to build a good LinkedIn summary and title.

Make the connection

If you meet someone at a conference or event, don’t just put their business card in your wallet and never look at it again. Reach out to them with a personalized message on LinkedIn within 48 hours, with a quick reminder about how you met. Be sure to engage with their posts and content, and to share your own.

Share your profile

Encourage people to connect with you on LinkedIn by including the link to your profile on your professional website and Twitter page. Anywhere you share your professional work is a good platform to connect to LinkedIn.

Nail the headshot

In addition to your summary, your picture is right at the top of your profile, so it’s important to make a good first impression.Choose a photo that shows a clear image of your face, with a clean background.

A version of this article was first published by Golden Key partner The Intern Group.

The Intern Group is an award-winning, social enterprise that takes top applicants and significantly improves their skills and employability via our international internship programs. Their global team understands deeply how important international professional experience is in today´s job market. We are a global leader in the international internship area: one of the fastest growing segments of the international education industry.