You’ve heard it before, technology has changed the world. Part of that change involves hiring and recruitment, how a candidate at any level gets a job.
You’ve heard it before, technology has changed the world. Part of that change involves hiring and recruitment, how a candidate at any level gets a job. Social media now plays a pivotal role in how recruiters search for candidates. As you start your internship search, now more than ever you need to have a positive social media presence.
Part of that presence is crafting an effective LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a professional networking site and a searchable database of talent and skills. Your LinkedIn profile is visible to everyone looking for something that you might have to offer. It’s important to have a profile that launches you into professional success. Here are a few tips to set the tone:
Once you’ve gone to LinkedIn and created your account, start off by uploading a professional picture of yourself. This picture should really be a headshot. Don’t have anyone else in the picture; not your dog, not your partner. Take a picture where you look happy, but can be taken seriously. It’s different from Instagram and Facebook. No sexy pics and no selfies please!
At the top of your profile, you have a section where you get 120 characters to describe yourself to the world. Most working people put their current job title there. However, since you’re looking for an internship, this is where you need to advertise that you’re available for summer employment. Some suggestions are: “Data Science Guru Searching for Exciting Internship,” “Computer Science Grad Student Looking for Front-end Challenge” or “Business Major Will Work for Marketing Experience.”
This headliner should be catchy while sharing what you do. For now, replace what you do with what you study. Make sure to mention your career ambitions and that you’re searching for an internship.
The next area is a summary section. It’s often overlooked by students who feel they don’t have much to add. You’re wrong to skip it. This is where you put in your elevator pitch (an idea that you could explain to someone while in an elevator). This could correlate to your Objective section in your resume or you could use this space to share what’s not on your resume. This could also be an opportunity to showcase your skills and personality.
If you’re an English major, going for a Social Media internship, showcase your writing ability by penning a poem on your addiction to tweeting. If you’re a CS/EE major, summarize your coding ability and how you recently launched your own website.
Since this is a professional platform, the bulk of everyone’s LinkedIn profile is their experience. Any experience is better than no experience. You can list campus employment, past internships or summer jobs. Like a resume, put your most recent experience first and then work your way backward. Write your title, company name, dates worked and give a brief summary of what you did there (having just one sentence for duties is perfectly acceptable). For the education section list your school name, what degree you’re going for (BA, BS, MA, MS, PhD, etc.), the name of your major and the date you anticipate graduation. This is also where you can add any school associations like sports teams, clubs or Greek affiliations.
A special call out about listing high school information – don’t do it! If you’re in college, we’ll assume you graduated from high school. Leave this off your LinkedIn profile. Under experience and education, though not a requirement, you can upload your projects, postings, or presentations. This gives you an opportunity to display some of your most impressive work.
To round out your perfect LinkedIn profile, join some of the hundreds of thousands of groups available. Some groups to think about joining could be areas that you’re studying like coding, Computer Science, or Six Sigma. You can also follow companies, schools, or news that you’re interested in. You can also follow individuals. Some of these individuals are called Influencers, and they range from CEO’s to authors. These people usually publish articles that are worth reading. A great way to stay current is by following all the companies and their CEOs where you’re applying for an internship.
Now that you have an amazing LinkedIn profile, it’s time to start connecting to the world. Start connecting with people you know from college, a former internship or summer job. The more people you connect with, the more LinkedIn will offer suggestions of additional people to connect with. This is a great way to keep growing your network. Once you’ve got connections, you can start endorsing and recommending those people for their skills and experience you can attest to.
As HAMNIC Solutions' CEO Hamza Kweyu says, “You should give more to your network than take.” Start sharing the love by endorsing and recommending those you know, and they’ll pay you back with endorsements and recommendations of you!
HAMNIC Solutions is here to support your graduate journey. Our professional writing and editing expertise helps you manage your academic workload, reduce stress, and focus on well-being for a balanced academic and personal life. Visit HAMNIC Solutions to learn how we can make your student life easier and healthier, enabling you to achieve your academic ambitions without sacrificing a balanced lifestyle.
