Alright, so before I begin this post, I’d like to make a small announcement:
I found out who, or rather what, I am today. During a break at work, I impulsively decided to look for my name on Urban Dictionary. There, for all the world to see, was the meaning:
So there you have it; you’re reading the literary output of a locomotive. Apparently 993 people can’t accept the plain and obvious fact that every Thomas they know is a coal-burning transportational construct made of iron; however, I will not be included in that ignorant minority. It’s on the Internet, and we all know that things on the Internet are true. With that established, let’s derail from this subject…
(Get it? GET IT? GET IT????? Hahahaha…. I’m so lonely)
Let’s Talk About LinkedIn.
I read in Entrepreneur Magazine 25% of all recruiting is done through LinkedIn today. While I don’t know if that statistic is completely accurate, it does paint a very clear picture: if you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re missing opportunities.
LinkedIn is more than just another social network; it’s your online professional presence. To recruiters, it’s the foundation of your personal brand. Think of it as your online resume; it’s a place where anyone can go and find out if you’d be right for a certain job or opportunity. Paper resumes are outdated, boring, static, and can only be distributed locally. Even if you have your paper resume online somewhere, it still won’t be as full featured and easy to use.
The best part about this site is that you stand to lose nothing if you use it. Not even your time. Honestly, I put less than five minutes a week into LinkedIn, and those five minutes are mostly spent promoting content in Groups; if you’re not a blogger, you don’t even have to do that.
Basically, you just need to create an account and flesh it out. LinkedIn recently introduced some very student-centric features, so you shouldn’t have a problem representing yourself well even if you don’t have a lot of real-world experience. Add your classes, honors and scholarships, clubs, goals, and objectives. Try to get recommendations from peers and superiors. And, for God’s sake, use a picture of yourself. I saw someone the other day using a picture of Ren and Stimpy as their profile picture – this is not the social network for that kind of thing.
LinkedIn is simply another opportunity. Be smart and take it! When you do, you can connect with me here.