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Brand Yourself on LinkedIn: A Professional Networking Site

Who Uses LinkedIn?

Over 200 million professionals in over 200 countries. LinkedIn adds over two new users per second! More than 2 million companies have LinkedIn pages and executives from every Fortune 500 firm are members. Millions of students use LinkedIn and most college and university alumni groups are represented including Illinois Wesleyan University.

By using LinkedIn, every call is a “warm call,” not a “cold call.”

LinkedIn helps students to help themselves by:

1. Building a professional online presence
2. Connecting in a meaningful way with alumni and other “warm” contacts
3. Researching companies and career paths
4. Finding opportunities with organizations that don’t recruit on campus
5. Learning lifelong networking skills

The 5 Golden Rules of Student LinkedIn Profiles

1. Professional photo of you alone
2. Headline with area of study and/or career ambitions
3. Keyword-rich summary that includes type of positions you are seeking
4. Include volunteer activities, internships and extra-curriculars
5. Recommendations from professors, advisors, internship supervisors

Visit the LinkedIn Learning Center to learn more and watch quick training videos:

Visit the LinkedIn Learning Center or see a Career Center staff member if you need assistance setting up your LinkedIn profile at LinkedIn.com.

Think you don’t know anyone. Think again. Consider connecting to the following individuals…

  • Alumni
  • Career Center Staff
  • Parents and other relatives
  • Friends — Peers and a few years older
  • Internship managers and colleagues
  • Former bosses
  • Connections from volunteer involvement
  • Professional association members

LinkedIn Networking Etiquette Tips for Students

  • Use proper grammar and spelling — no txt msg speak!! LOL!! :)
  • Join groups (including the IWU Alumni group) and follow organizations of interest
  • Always customize LinkedIn connection emails to explain who you are and why you’d like to connect. (But do not ask directly for a job.)

Sara,
I am a junior at Illinois Wesleyan University. In reading your LinkedIn profile, I discovered
that you graduated recently from Illinois Wesleyan and have had a number of international
assignments. Your career path looks really exciting. Could we set up a time to discuss what
it takes to be successful outside the U.S. and what I should be doing in school to prepare for
working abroad? I would be grateful for any advice that you’d be willing to provide. Thank you
for considering my request.
Yolanda Smith

  • Respond to all connection requests and messages within one week.
  • Help others!