Handshake is ‘handy’ for networking abilities with other WSU Coug Alum, as well as registering for any events happening in or around campus. LinkedIn will provide even more opportunities for you to network and ‘link’ with other employers and employees as you search for possible internships and jobs.
See below for 8 LinkedIn steps to start building your profile! Check out our Instagram post or Facebook post for helpful images with each step.
1. Write an Informative Headline
Keep your headline short, professional and to the point. Perhaps a professional slogan such as, “Mechanical Engineering Student Seeking Internship”. Inform the employers/viewers on your profile page who you are and what you are looking for.
2. Upload a Professional Photo
Upload a high-quality, professional headshot photo of yourself being presentable. Try to stray away from full body images that seem too casual. Especially if there are distracting objects in the background or there are more than one person in the image.
3. Show Off Your Education
List all of your educational experiences from the most recent to the least, starting off with your college experience(s). These experiences should include your major, degree, expected graduation date, extracurricular activities and many more. Be detailed in stating your role/position in these experiences and what you did.
4. Professional Summary
Similar to writing an informative headline, you want to also be concise and confident when writing out your qualifications and goals in this section. Who are you? What skills and abilities can you offer to employers? What are you looking to gain from a job/internship? Quickly describe what motivates you, what you are skill in and your future goals.
5. “Skills and Expertise” Section
Pick and choose keywords and phrases that best describe you that recruiters would be highly interested in. You can also find relevant keywords and phrases in job listings that appeal to you.
6. Update Your Status
Be active and always post updates on your accounts. This will assist in keeping your profile active on your networks radar and build up a professional image. These updates could consist of projects that you are currently working on, professional books or articles you have read, or even events that you will be attending.
7. Making Connections
Creating a LinkedIn account is best utilized when you are networking with other employers/employees/WSU alum. Do not be afraid to reach out and step outside of your comfort zone. You can also join groups and collect diverse recommendations when browsing and networking through LinkedIn.
8. Get a Unique LinkedIn URL
When adding your LinkedIn account to your resume or employers are going through your profile, it is distracting when there are a large amount of unnecessary numbers at the end of your LinkedIn URL. To increase professional results that appear online, set your LinkedIn profile to ‘Public’ and edit your LinkedIn URL from ‘www.linkedin.com/in/JohnSmit123456789’ to ‘www.linkedin.com/in/JohnSmith’. This makes it appear cleaner and more professional.