LinkedIn makes absorbing the knowledge of your network super easy. Read on to discover a wealth of opportunities that could be sitting right under your nose.
As a student sizing up your ideal career, do you ever have an inkling you might not be making the most
of the abundant networking and learning opportunities all around you?
If you’ve been following our series you’ll already be familiar with the many small actions that can
help you to get the most out of LinkedIn.
In Topic 1 we looked at the importance of having a fully fleshed out profile, listing
your accomplishments, so that you can easily be found by others.
In Topic 2 we looked at why relationships matter when it comes to building a great career.
We learned that the secret is to start with your immediate network and watch your connections
grow, based on who they know.
Topic 3 looked at how to leverage LinkedIn to find a job. We saw that it’s all about optimising your profile, asking your connections for assistance and making the most of
all the many ways you can search for jobs and info about companies on Linkedin’s central database.
Here in Topic 4, we’re going to explore the many ways you can use LinkedIn now and in the future.
You can share advice and gather insights that will help you succeed in your career.
Step 1: Learn from
your network
Have you recently graduated or are you still in university? If so, you have an excellent
pool of people who can help you on your job hunt - your fellow students and alumni.
They can give you the benefit of their own experience, and point you in the direction
of great opportunities.
They might even be able to offer you sound career advice too.
One great place to find alumni and classmates is by exploring your university’s
Alumni on LinkedIn.
Just go to your University Page to explore the careers of those who graduated from your university
and your course.
You can see where they now work, and the career path they took to
get there.
You can check their profiles and even get in touch with them – most
alumni are happy to share help and insights with students from
their old university.
Alumni aren’t your only networking priority. Why not follow companies too?
You can learn lots from best-in-class brands.Many companies post inspiring information related
to job opportunities, events, and more, so follow them and get updates directly to your feed.
You might also learn about new roles this way!
Ever heard that
old saying: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you
miss, you’ll land among the stars”?Whether you spend your nights dreaming
about working as a data analyst for Capgemini or a marketing exec at L’Oreal, there are a wide
variety of industry trendsetters you can learn from on LinkedIn. Why not have a search for
your favourite brands today?
When it comes to carving your perfect career, it can
help to get advice from the big guns.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
Of course LinkedIn is also a platform for publishing great content – one where top industry trailblazers light up your screen with brilliant advice,
hints, tips and thought-provoking posts. Why not challenge your thinking and the status quo by following great Influencers – like Richard Branson.
Whatever industry you’re looking to get into, groups
enable you to stay connected with those who matter.
Groups are the perfect way for those with like-minded interests to share content, find
answers, post jobs and make contacts.
You can also grab great insights from others to take with you to job interviews and meetings.
Thinking you need to join some groups pronto? Well, handily, LinkedIn gives you suggestions of groups you
might find interesting based on your profile - or simply
type a few keywords into the search bar for more
specific results.Why not join a group and ask more experienced members what skills you need to rise to
the top?
And when you join a group you’re also growing your network. You can see the full profile of those
in your group, even if you’re not connected – if they’re in a relevant field, that could
be a great bonus!
Step 2: Share insights and
engage with your network
Want to establish your reputation further? Sharing ideas, questions,
articles and website links will put you at the forefront of your industry –
whatever level of your career.
Sharing great content regularly proves that you possess the qualities of a top employee.
So why not show you’re passionate, knowledgeable
and collaborative by sharing an interesting post, news or
video today?
It can take a little courage to showcase your vision –
but the pay-offs are worth it.
We may have all come from different ships, but we’re in the same boat.
Forward standout job listings onto your fellows because it’s nice to help others. And who knows?
They might return the favour someday.
Taking action keeps the conversation going and builds your reputation as an excellent
LinkedIn contact. If you want to be remembered,
take the time to like, comment and share other people’s updates.
And there you have it! A 4 step guide to learning and sharing career knowledge on LinkedIn.
Remember these key points and you’ll be growing your network, profile views and opportunities in no time at all:
Make sure you connect with your alumni
Follow companies and Influencers to stay on top of industry trends and insights
Get involved with relevant groups to share knowledge with like-minded people
Share status updates and insights with your network on a regular basis to demonstrate passion and enthusiasm