Finding a Graduate Job: Things You’re Doing Right and Wrong on LinkedIn

Love it or loathe it, there’s no denying that LinkedIn has changed the graduate job application scene forever.

The social media platform allows people to connect on a professional level in ways they simply would never have had the opportunity to do before. But LinkedIn is a tool that requires careful handling to be of actual use to young professionals. Here’s a breakdown of everything you’re doing right – and wrong – on LinkedIn.

Right: Taking the time to polish up your profile

A profile that’s full of typos, mistakes, and inaccurate information is one of the biggest LinkedIn red flags out there. Although it’s technically social media, it needs to be treated quite differently from your Twitter and Facebook pages. This is a place where you need to craft a careful image of yourself – so make sure you’re checking and double-checking your information before hitting publish.

Wrong: No profile picture (or one suitable for a graduate job application)

Sure, it can be hard to find the right LinkedIn profile picture for you. You want something that looks professional, yet also approachable and real. Many of us decide the balance is too tricky to strike, and opt out altogether. But not having a profile picture on LinkedIn is one of the top ways to make sure your profile is ignored – and hinders your chance of finding a graduate job. It’s annoying, but it’s well worth taking the time to get the profile picture right.

Right: Adding connections to help you find a graduate job

If you know the field you want to work in, LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool for getting ahead. If you’re gathering experience in different fields, make sure when you move on from a graduate job or internship, you add anyone you worked with on LinkedIn. Keeping in contact with people in your field means you’re far more likely to be able to use the platform to advance your career.

Wrong: Adding your friends

It can be tempting to expand your LinkedIn connections list by any means necessary. You might want to keep around your best friend who works in a totally different industry to you. But honestly, this isn’t the best idea. Not only will it means your page will end up looking more cluttered, but it’ll end up diluting the valuable information and job prospects that you could be finding. Try to keep your friendships on your other social media platforms and ensure LinkedIn remains entirely professional.

Right: Filling out your summary to secure the ideal graduate job

There’s no denying that filling in your LinkedIn page isn’t the most fun use of your time. But if you create one then refuse to fill in any information, you really may as well not have an account at all. Make sure you don’t end up missing out by focusing on the most important aspects. Your name and URL are fairly obvious, but it’s also essential that you have the summary box filled. This means that when people search your name, they immediately can see what you’re working as and where. It’s a tiny thing that can make a huge amount of difference.

Wrong: Not taking advantage of the different types Of media

Something some people don’t realize about LinkedIn is that it has the capacity for you to upload all manner of rich media. This means you can fill out your profile without actually having to input every little bit of information. The platform allows you to bring up photos, videos, hyperlinks, and even presentations – meaning you can quite quickly and easily have a far more impressive-looking page.

If you’re still on the lookout for your dream graduate job or internship, check out Inspiring Interns’ job board today and register to apply!