Importance of LinkedIn

Customizing your LinkedIn experience

BY MOISES ALHAMBRA, JR.

Anyone can create a profle to any site and be done with it. Creating a well-defned LinkedIn account can take a bit more time and efort. The Help menu in LinkedIn is a good starting point. However, this article will focus on how you can make your LinkedIn profle work for you.

What is LinkedIn? LinkedIn Help, this service was created for connecting with professionals in the industry of your interest, searching for job postings, and earning certifcations by using the builtin knowledge platforms.

For a typical student looking for internships or entry level jobs, a free account can suffice. Work history, education, certifcations, and licenses (if you have any) are just some of the professional information the site encourages you to share. This information is what makes you visible to potential employers, as no one would look twice at an empty profle.

A LinkedIn profle has a specifc function—to further your career goals. Typically, many people undergo role transitions, which also include changes in positions or companies they work for. The profle serves as an avenue for exploring new career opportunities or building skills in your current role.

LinkedIn builds your professional reputation using a system that vouches for your skills. This is done through your connections, who can be employers, peers, colleagues, managers, and recruiters that can endorse your skills. Another way is passing the skills tests in LinkedIn learning. This is an essential step in creating your personal brand.

Your LinkedIn profle can convey your personal brand. Like with other social media platforms, you can highlight your interests by interacting with companies, people, and posts that align with yours. Many members found their ideal jobs by showing their passions, interests, and aspirations.

As a college student, the skills necessary to land the job of your dreams may require more work from you. LinkedIn Learning is a platform that premium members can use to bridge the skills gap. There is a built-in certifcation system as you complete the lessons, and it automatically updates your profle.

Once you go through creating your LinkedIn profle, there is a cool feature that you can access through the More button. One of the selections lets you build your resume. If you have included job descriptions in your profle, the migration to the resume is seamless. Keep updating your LinkedIn profle and you can update your resume just as easily.