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LinkedIn often gets overlooked by students’ as it can be seen as a resource for people already working in their chosen industry or profession. LinkedIn is a great resource for students, and can help you gain a keener insight into the industry or profession you are aiming for a career in. Below are some tips to help you get started.
Use the right profile picture
We all know the benefits and importance of having a profile picture for our social media accounts, and LinkedIn is no different. However, it is important to remember that LinkedIn is a network for professionals, so choosing the right profile picture can be tricky.
Here are some helpful tips for choosing the right picture:
- Choose a recent photograph that is easily recognizable as you.
- Make sure your face takes up around 60% of the frame – long distance shots don’t work well as profile pictures on LinkedIn
- Make sure the picture quality is good – you don’t necessarily need a professional headshot but the picture should be of good quality.
Use your headline
When you sign up for LinkedIn as a student, your headline automatically defaults to student. What many students don’t realise, is that it can be edited. Your headline is important as you can use it to reflect your area of study. Don’t be afraid to edit your headline to include your college and course. For example if you are studying a BA in Early Childhood Care & Education, you could use the following as your headline:
BA in Early Childhood Care & Education student at Mary Immaculate College
If you are particularly interested in a certain area of study you can always include this too, for example:
BA in Early Childhood Care & Education student at Mary Immaculate College, with a keen interest in Educational Psychology
Your summary is your story
A LinkedIn summary is the most effective piece of content marketing on your profile, as it gives you a chance to tell your story. Don’t just list your work experience and skills, use your summary to explain why these skills matter and try to use real world examples of how you developed them.
Try to avoid overusing LinkedIn buzzwords
LinkedIn buzzwords are words that appear so often on LinkedIn profiles, that prospective employers lose interest quickly. Words like ‘specialised’ ‘leadership’ ‘focused’ ‘passionate’ ‘creative’ etc. are overused so much that they begin to lose meaning. While it’s perfectly ok to use these words, try to lend meaning to them by linking back to your experience. For example if you have stated that you are passionate about film, try to give an example of how you are passionate about film. Maybe you have made a short film, or written an article for a publication. Just using the words isn’t enough, demonstrate them as well.
List your relevant core skills
LinkedIn provides a pre-made list of skills that members can scroll through. Use this list to identify the skills that are relevant to you. This helps to confirm the description in your headline and summary. You can also take a skills assessment to demonstrate the level of your skills with a verified skills badge on your profile. Displaying proof of your abilities strengthens your profile, but displaying the results of skills assessments is entirely voluntary.
Follow companies that interest you
Many companies use LinkedIn, and will have a company page. Here you can find out more information about the company, if they currently have any positions available, connect with people who work here and view any video content the company may have.
Research people in positions that interest you
Make use of the LinkedIn search function, and search for people in positions that interest you. For example if you are studying a BA in Liberal Arts and majoring in media, you may have a particular interest in film, and be considering a career in film production. You can begin your journey by researching people who are already in these positions. This will give you an indication of the skills required for the position. To search for people in positions that interest you, follow the below steps:
- Search for the position that interests you
- People results for the position are the second results that appear
- Select see all at the top right of the listings
- Select a profile for the results that you would like to view
Create Job alerts
While you may not be ready to start applying for jobs, job alerts are a great way to keep up to date with the positions that are available in your chosen industry. Research these positions, and see what qualifications and skills are required by employers for these positions. To create a job alert, follow the below steps:
- Search for a position that interests you
- Job results for the position are the first results that appear
- Select see all at the top right of the listings
- All results will then appear in a column on the left side of the screen
- Above the first result, in the top right corner you will find the job alert button. It is automatically sent to off.
- Set the Job alert button to on, and select whether you would like to receive alerts daily or weekly, and whether you would like to receive your alerts by email, notification or email and notification
Connect with people
Connect with people in the industry or profession that you are interested in. Most people are open to growing their network in LinkedIn and are happy to connect with people, at any professional level. Connecting with people in the industry or profession that you are interested in, is a great way to keep up to date with industry and professional trends.
Engage with your connections
While LinkedIn is a network for professionals, it is still a network and the best way to stay involved is to engage with your connections. Engagement can take the form of sharing relevant content to your LinkedIn network, adding comments to articles or using the publications section to share content you have created.
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- Category: Recruitment Resources
Now that you have an interview scheduled, it’s time to prepare. Read below for 12 tips to get you interview ready as well as additional tips for a virtual interview.
Research the company
One of the most popular interview questions is what do you know about our company. Looking through the company’s website, social media accounts and press section can give you an understanding of the company and help you answer this question with confidence. Researching the company in advance can also help you tie in your skills and experience to your answer.
Practice answering common interview questions
Practicing answering common interview questions, can help boost your confidence before the interview. Common interview questions include;
- Tell me about yourself?
- What interests you about this role?
- Can you tell me about a difficult work situation and how you overcame it?
- Tell me about your work experience?
Reread the job description
Read through the job description again in advance of the interview. Think about the requirements for the position and how your past experience links in with these requirements. Match your experience to the role i.e. what skills do you have that are relevant to the role?
Prepare examples of your work
You may be asked to provide specific examples of your past work that relate to the position you’ve applied for. Think about the past experience you have and how it can relate to the position you are applying for. E.g. If you are applying for a Summer Camp leadership position and you have previously volunteered at a camp or club, then use this as an example of how your past work relates to the position.
Prepare a list of references
You will most likely be asked to provide references, either before or after the interview. Having a prepared list of references can help advance the process. This can be daunting for a student starting out, but don’t forget that references don’t necessarily have to come from past employers. They can come from the organisation you volunteer with, your lecturers or past work placements.
Prepare a list of questions you may have about the position
Think about the position and any questions you may have that are not answered in the job description. For example, if the job description requires a team player, ask how the team and/or departments collaborate?
Arrive early
For an in-person interview, try to arrive 10-15 minutes before your interview. While you most likely will not be seen until your allocated time, arriving early makes a great impression. For a virtual interview, be ready and connected to join the interview no less than 5 minutes before your allocated start time.
Make a great first impression – don’t forget the little things
The little things can make all the difference and more often then not we are so focused on the interview, that we forget about them. Some little things to take note of are:
- Check your clothes for stains or stray pet hair
- Make sure your hands and nails are clean
- Make sure to shine your shoes
Link your answers back to your skills and experience
Try to link as many of your answers back to your skills and experience as possible. This allows you to use every opportunity to show that you meet the requirements of the position by highlighting your experience.
Keep your answers concise and to the point
Most interviews are allocated a specific amount of time, make the most of that time by keeping your answers concise and to the point. Of course, this can be easier said than done, if you are feeling nervous about the interview. A great way to combat nerves is to practice before the interview, have a friend or family member run through a few questions with you or maybe practice a few answers in front of a mirror.
Ask about the next steps and thank your interviewer for their time
Once the interview is finished it is perfectly ok to enquire about the next steps. This usually takes the form of a follow up contact whether by email or phone, advising of your interview result and whether there will be any additional requirements. Make sure to thank your interviewer for their time, if there are multiple interviewers thank each one individually.
Follow up after the interview
Most interviewers will advise you of the timeframe that they will be in contact by. If you have not heard from the interviewer within the timeframe then you can follow up with an email. Most interviewers will take the time to respond to your follow up. If it is a case that you have been unsuccessful, you should once again thank the interviewer for their time. Just because you have been unsuccessful on this occasion, does not mean you will be unsuccessful should you apply to the company again at a later date.
While COVID-19 continues to have an impact on everyday life, many companies still need to hire employees. Virtual interviews are becoming more common as a solution to this problem. While all the above tips still apply to virtual interviews, below are five tips that apply specifically to virtual interviews.
Check your technology before the interview
Many virtual interviews take place online through video conferencing software like Zoom or Google hangouts. You will be provided with a link to sign into a meeting by the interviewer. Before the interview it is really important that you check that your camera and microphone work effectively. It is also a good idea to familiarise yourself with the software if you have not used it before. If you are using a portable device, such as a laptop, tablet or phone, for the interview, ensure that they are fully charged. It is also a good idea to check your internet connection, to ensure that it is strong enough for the interview.
Choose a quiet, comfortable space
The best place to take your interview is in a quiet space that you are comfortable in. Ensure that the space you choose is clean and free from clutter, you want the interviewer to focus on you, not what is around you. If using a portable device, such as a laptop, tablet or phone, try to place the device on a table or stand, rather than on your lap or chair.
Limit distractions
As many of us are working and studying from home, you may not have access to a completely separate space. Explain to your family or housemates, that you have a virtual interview. Give them the time the interview is taking place, the expected length of the interview, and where you will be taking the interview. Explain that this space will be off limits during the interview, and respectfully ask for quietness during the interview. If you have pets in the house, you may also consider placing them in a separate area for the duration of the interview.
Use professional body language
While communicating through video limits the use of body language, there are a few simple things you can do to combat this. Sit up straight and try to ensure that the camera is placed so that your face is in the middle of the screen. Try to maintain eye contact, and if you get asked an unexpected question, make sure to take a moment to collect your thoughts. You can also display enthusiasm for the interview by smiling or giving a confident wave.
Dress Appropriately
Although the interview is virtual, it is still important that you dress appropriately. Dress as if you were attending for the interview in-person.