When talking about the daunting idea of post graduate-plans, or getting internships, one of the first things recommended is creating a LinkedIn account. As a senior, I know of so many people who say that it’s a waste of time to make one, while others swear by it, having landed internships because of their profiles. You might be asking yourself, would LinkedIn work for me?
The best answer that I can give is that it depends on the field you want to go into. For some broader fields, such as business or science, there is usually a recruitment process or similar opportunities that lend themselves to jobs. While LinkedIn can be a great tool for them, it is not one of the only ways to find a job. On the other hand, for some other fields it can be harder to find those types of opportunities. In my experience, the old adage “It’s about who you know” really comes into play for my chosen field. The best way to get a job in the arts is through networking and meeting people through internships and volunteering, as in most cities there is not a large network of people seeking recent graduates specifically.
If you are debating getting a LinkedIn account, it is helpful to know the different tactics your field uses to approach recent graduates as new hires. If there are people actively recruiting on campus or advertising specifically to college seniors, then it may not be a big platform for you, although useful. If you have to actively find companies who are hiring, then it will probably be beneficial to find the connections you need.
In an article on Forbes, Michelle Kedem, a partner at search firm On-Ramps, said, “If you want to be found by recruiters and have recruiters know who you are, you should be on LinkedIn.”
From my experience, I have never gotten an internship or a job offer from LinkedIn directly, but it has helped in various other ways. One of the most important things I was told about the website was to use it to figure out my desired career path. You do this by looking up people who have the job you want in the future, for example, 10 years down the road. Look at what jobs they had to get to where they are, and figure out how you can tailor your path to get there. There is also a large number of job listings, so there is a chance to see what jobs require from their applicants.
Despite what you are aiming for with your career, LinkedIn can offer some beneficial tools to you. Whether it results directly in a job or just gives you an idea for the career you want, it is a good idea to at least create a profile. You never know what could happen, and as long as you present yourself professionally, there is not much that could go wrong.
