Skip to main content

LinkedIn Jobs: It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know


Guest blog by the LinkedIn Careers Team
Your soon-to-be awarded degree is likely a requirement for your dream job. But what is going to set you apart from everyone else who just graduated college with the same qualification? Your network! 

Harness the power of your network, providing you an edge in your career search

Do I even have a network?

LinkedIn is helping soon-to-be grads from around the country tap into their professional community—whether they realize they have one already or not.  LinkedIn has the power to uncover 1st and 2nd degree connections that will boost your chances of getting hired for highly sought-after jobs in a competitive market.  We found that 70% of people were hired at a company where they had a connection. 

One of the easiest ways for students to make connections is through the LinkedInAlumni tool. It’s a simple way to explore and create alumni connections from your school.  You can lean in on where they work now and in what cities. Simply search for your school and select “see alumni” to get started. You can access career paths for more than 23,000 colleges and universities worldwide.

Your First Job is a First Step!

Even if you land your dream job right out of college, the most successful professionals will warn you about complacency and how it may negatively affect your earning potential over time.  Searching for jobs can seem like a daunting task, especially right after you've just landed one. It’s ideal to continue interviewing and keep an open mind for your next career move.  LinkedIn has made it easier than ever to keep your options open even when you’re not actively seeking alternative employment.  It’s called OpenCandidates and it’s as easy as updating your LinkedIn career interest preferences.  By flipping the switch, you privately signal to recruiters that you’re interested in new opportunities.

What Now?

Create or update your LinkedIn profile today.  There is no other place where you can access such a wide range of knowledge, skills and resources to help you reach your goals!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DEI & The Workplace

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is a broad term that covers the issues of equality in the United States. It existed throughout the years, trying to advocate for equality amongst individuals regardless of their race, sex, or religion. Thi helps foster respect and equality in every sector of the society, ensuring that as long as a person is a citizen of the United States, they are allowed to receive the same benefits as others. In the workplace, DEI is very essential as it ensures that people are hired based on the fact that they meet the qualifications of the position they applied for, and not discriminated against by not qualifying them for unknown reasons even if they reach all other qualifications. Below are a few important reasons for DEI in the workplace:  1. The Workplace Should Reflect Today’s Emerging Workforce: Social change has historically often led to backlash, but that isn’t necessarily a good reason to retreat or pivot away from one’s DEI mandate. Today’s emerg...

How to Network in College

College isnt just about classes, late night study sessions, and finding the best coffee on campus its also one of the best opportunities to build meaningful connections that can shape your career. Networking in college might sound intimidating or like something only business majors do, but the truth is, no matter your major or future goals, relationships are the secret to long term success . Whether its making friends with classmates, or connecting with alumni, networking opens doors to jobs that you didnt even know existed. Tips For Networking in College Attend Campus Events & Career Fairs: These are built in opportunities to meet employers, alumni, and other students. Make a habit of going to events even ones outside your major to expand your circle. Join Clubs, Organizations, and Student Groups: Shared interests naturally lead to strong connections. Leadership roles in clubs also give you visibility and demonstrate your initiative. Get to Know Your Professors: Professors often...

Career Roadmap

  A career roadmap is a strategic plan and long-term approach to career planning that provides an outline for an individual's career goals, steps needed to achieve them, and ways to manage your achievement. Creating a career roadmap has a lot of benefits, as it shows an outline that helps you navigate your professional journey, including the necessary skills, experiences and milestones to progress. Below are a few benefits of creating a career map, both to the individual and to an organization. For individuals: 1. Clarity and Direction: A career roadmap provides a clear path forward, outlining your aspirations and the steps needed to achieve them.  2. Goal Setting and Motivation: It helps you set concrete, measurable goals, keeping you motivated and focused on your professional development.  3. Skill Development: By identifying skills and competencies needed for desired roles, it helps you focus your learning and development efforts, enhancing your marketability.  4...