How to Use LinkedIn in Your Internship Search
About the Presenter
Betsy Bishop Internship Specialist, UCS 6+ years in Higher Education Career Services Manages 3 Groups on LinkedIn!
Objectives Gain more knowledge of LinkedIn and its use in your internship search Understand how to find networking contacts Learn how to effectively communicate with contacts Develop a plan for utilizing LinkedIn (from casual use to an internship in only a few months)
What is LinkedIn? LinkedIn is a Professional Networking Online Site Originally created as a way to find “experts� 30+ million users from 150 countries; 27% of users are HR Recruiters or Managers Average age of users is 40 Average income of users is $110,000.00
Why Use LinkedIn Job and Internship Search Discover Inside Connections – for jobs Researching Companies Get Introduced to other Professionals through the People You Know Business Opportunities – for all the Entrepreneurs out there!
LinkedIn is NOT Facebook Facebook Connect with Friends to stay in touch while at different Universities
LinkedIn Connect with professionals for career and industry advice
Post as many pictures as possible and remember to tag your friends and family
Post one headshot-only picture (optional)
“People You May Know” Join as many Groups and Fan Pages to show others your unique and fun hobbies or favorites
“Degrees of Separation”
Join only Groups you’re interested in because of career interests or networking
Before we go any further…Networking What is it?- Establishing professional or personal connections with others – To develop a mutual support system – To tap into a hidden employment market – To interact with members of your target field – To explore career options – To market yourself to potential employers Networking can be a very Under-used Search Technique and Resource
Get Started at www.LinkedIn.com
Your Profile (well mine actually)
Include Details within Your Experience
Education & Recommendations
Add Additional Info & Contact Settings
The Do’s and Don’ts for Your LinkedIn Profile
Complete to as close to 100% as possible Create a Summary and add Interests and Hobbies Add a professional looking head-shot only photo Include details of your past Work Experience or Education in “Resume Language”
Have errors or spellings mistakes Make up or Embellish your Summary or Specialties Include personal information you do not want employers to know about (i.e. martial status, birthday)
LinkedIn and Northwestern
Recommended Groups to Join: – Northwestern Alumni Group (over 13,500 members) – Northwestern University Career Services Group (over 560 members) – Others include Linked n Chicago, Young Professionals of Chicago – Special Interest Groups
The Advantages: – Access to jobs and internships – Networking possibilities – Learn about events and programs
LinkedIn Groups- UCS
LinkedIn Groups- NAA
Advanced Search of Members
If you Keyword Search… Look what you Find!
Understanding Degrees of Separation
Neighbors
Family
Alumni
Co-Workers
YOU Friends/ Roommates
Religious Orgs Student/ Professional Orgs
Being in a Shared Group‌ Allows You to Send a Message
Writing an In-Message (1) Introduce yourself Hi, my name is Holly Jacobs. I am currently a student at Northwestern University pursuing a degree in communications.
(2) Identify interest – organization, position, etc‌ research on learn of organizations.
I came across your LinkedIn profile when I was conducting NU alumni working in my chosen industry. I was very excited to your niche in providing advertising consulting to green
(3) Introduce skills
This past year, I served as the promotions director for a campus student organization called Green Initiatives. In this role, I was able to increase awareness of our programs in campus residences.
(4) Inquire I was reaching out to you because I wanted to request to join your network in order to better communicate with you. My ultimate goal would be to ask you for an opportunity to discuss your career path.
How to Begin Networking on LinkedIn
Request Informational Interviews An interview YOU conduct with a person who currently does a job you think you might want, or who has specific knowledge about an occupation or career in which you are interested. Prepare and Ask Questions Be Tactful about asking if employment opportunities exist Be Genuine and show your Passion for the Work they do
One out of every 12 informational interviews results in a job offer
UCS Recommendations for Networking on LinkedIn Use Proper Etiquette – Avoid contacting people you do not know without any connection or introduction – Create a well thought-out and error free message when communicating – If requesting a meeting…Remember YOU are the one who must be flexible, not your contact
Keep in the back of your mind… – Networking should be organic and a part of your everyday life to truly be effective- on-line and not
Maintain Your Network – Avoid long lengths of non communication – Show Appreciation- Thank You Messages – Profile/Resume Updates = Perfect time to send an Email
Tips for Increasing your Marketability on LinkedIn Add as Many Relevant Connections as Possible Use the Answers Section to Post Questions or Answer Questions Add Key Words recognized by your industry to your Profile Add Substance to your Summary in your Profile Request Recommendations from Professors or past Supervisors Include a custom profile link (with your name) in your Email Signature Change your setting to Full View if you want your Profile to show up in Google Searches If you have a Blog consider linking to it on your Profile
Northwestern Student Testimonial
“LinkedIn was an incredibly useful internship search resource for me. I had less than a month to secure an internship. Not only did I have no time but I was looking for an internship in LA while in Chicago. Desperate, I created a thread on LinkedIn in the Northwestern Alumni Group requesting advice on how I could find an industry specific internship in LA. Within the next few days, I had five responses in my Inbox with suggestions and personal contacts looking for interns.�
Resources for further help with LinkedIn Comprehensive List of Resources for LinkedIn: http://www.linkedintelligence.com/smart-ways-to-uselinkedin/ LinkedIn Learning Center: http://learn.linkedin.com/ Blogs: – http://www.Candidateschair.com – http://www.Guykawasaki.com – http://applicant.com/the-dont-do-it-guide-to-usinglinkedin/
Questions Main Office 620 Lincoln Street 847-491-3700 CareerLab Core Reserve Main Library, 2nd Floor Web www.northwestern.edu/careers Email internship@northwestern.edu Facebook www.facebook.com/northwesternuncs Twitter http://twitter.com/northwesternucs LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1926036