LinkedIn launches a Student App for Freshers! Tips to use it effectively

After Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn, the first major rollout is here! However, LinkedIn for Students seems like a well-polished product that might have been ready for launch long before Microsoft started talks about taking over LinkedIn. Be it MS’ influence or not, this is a great move by the biggest professional network out there.

LinkedIn calls it the app for Students to launch their career and discover career paths they didn’t know existed. It is widely true since most students, even the smart ones never have a clue about what awaits them after graduation. Most are confused about how their major is going to transpire into a job skill that will help them get out their education loans and then support them financially. LinkedIn has been for long a platform for confused job seekers get clarity of what the industry has to offer and now it will extend its services to freshers and students!

This will be a big transition for students who are coming from casual social networking to a professional network. Here are a few tips that I put together to ensure that you get off on the right foot:

Be Professional

The obvious point is to be professional in what you do. This is where hawk-eyed recruiters are going to be on the look-out for talent so make sure what you share and say conveys more of your talent and skills rather than the crazy side of you. Please do not post a selfie as your display picture or use short forms while posting something.

No one expects you to suit up and take a serious-looking picture, though. Keep it casual yet professional without giving a negative impression.

Be thorough with your profile

Recruiters love looking at a complete profile. Try to fill out everything you can whilst being genuine about it. A complete profile also has more weight and LinkedIn ranks it higher making it more visible to employers. Highlight the right skills and mention your intern and training experiences in detail. Check and then double check for error in spellings and grammar. See a number of profiles and get an idea of formatting and presenting your profile well.

Sell your skills

When you do not have experience, you will have to sell your skills! Even if you do not have relevant experience, your part-time job stint at a mall or a fast-food joint would’ve taught you a thing or two! You can mention skills like working as a team or handling pressure provided you justify the same.

For students who have had a lot of intern experience and hands-on training and exposure to related field make sure you showcase everything you learned to have an impact. If you have a positive point to showcase, do it will all your heart.

LinkedIn’s Student App is now available for download both on iOS and Android. It also has internships listed so even if you haven’t completed your course it is worth giving a shot.