A few weeks ago, I received a message on LinkedIn, and as I opened the app on my phone, I discovered that I was being recruited for an internship at the New York Times. An avid reader of the Times, I was in shock and awe because this was not a position that I had applied for. I quickly responded and was interviewed for the position three days later; it turns out they found me due to my LinkedIn profile. While this position did not end up working out, the networking opportunities I received from this experience are greater than I could have ever imagined.
This professional social media platform is something that every college student needs to download. Not only does it help with networking, but it allows you to apply for jobs and keep your resume updated. Creating a LinkedIn is a simple action you can take now that will have a greater payoff in the long run. Here are four reasons why every college student should have a LinkedIn:
1. It helps with networking
LinkedIn is an incredible app for networking. Not only can you connect with people that you already know, but you can also connect with others that have mutual connections. It is almost like building a friends list on Facebook, but it can actually help find you a career instead of clogging up your newsfeed.
2. It helps you to keep an organized and updated online resume
We all have a standard resume saved as a word document ready to be sent at any given moment; however, with LinkedIn potential employers can find your resume before you even apply for a job. LinkedIn also will notify you about how strong your profile is and if there is anything you should add.
3. It can remind you of things you may have forgotten to mention on your resume
A great thing about LinkedIn is that it tells you what kinds of things to include in your online resume. All you have to do is fill it in and LinkedIn will do the rest for you.
4. You can apply for jobs and internships on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is constantly posting job listings and will notify you of ones that you could be a potential candidate for. It does the work of job hunting for you.
Making the transition from college student to working adult can be intimidating, but with the help of LinkedIn, it does not have to be quite as scary. If you do not already have a profile, take the next step and download LinkedIn.
Abby Goss is a fourth-year student majoring in English with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at AG826189@wcupa.edu and on Twitter @AbbyGoss.