The Missing Link

Some college students no longer feel the missing link between education and their future career paths with LinkedIn.

Because there is more pressure for upperclassmen to find a job as they near graduation, many decide to create a LinkedIn profile.

“I do have a LinkedIn,” said senior Victoria Salvatore. “As a graduating senior, I am looking for jobs at the moment, and I find this is a great way to keep an eye out for these opportunities.”

According to Business Insider, “LinkedIn is a social network that focuses on professional networking and career development. You can use LinkedIn to display your resume, search for jobs, and enhance your professional reputation by posting updates and interacting with other people.”

Although some students have not created an account, they still see the importance of establishing professional connections with potential employers.

“I do not have a LinkedIn, but it’s definitely something I will look into over the coming time,” said freshman Olliver Persson. “I believe that all the knowledge is in the connections. If you want to succeed, it’s really important to make connections along the way.”

Regardless of experience level, college-aged students comprise a significant part of LinkedIn’s statistics.

According to Oberlo, a computer software company, in 2019, “LinkedIn boasted over 660 million users in more than 200 countries and territories across the globe. As it stands, 18- to 24-year-olds make up a quarter of LinkedIn’s overall advertising audience.”

Nonetheless, LinkedIn is still a social media platform revolving around the user and the content within their profiles.

“Think of it as a professional Facebook – individuals have the opportunity to build a personal profile showcasing experiences and connect with others for career advice,” said Keith Hassell, Executive Director for Career & Professional Development. “Additionally, 95% of recruiters use the site to source candidates for their open roles.”

Each individual profile can be customized to gain the attention of a potential employer.

“LinkedIn has a bunch of information in one place that job recruiters can look at from my education, interests, people I’ve worked with, and my past and current jobs,” said junior Andrea Toth.

By granting employers access to this information, it is important for users to update their profiles.

“It’s essential to grow and keep up your professional network. No one knows when they are going to need a record of people they know professionally,” said senior Andrew Kannally.

Some students regularly update their LinkedIn profiles for higher rates of success.

“I try to update it whenever something changes in either my education or professional life. For example, I recently posted an update about being accepted into Sacred Heart’s Occupational Therapy Graduate program,” said senior Grace Anneser.

Regardless of major or year, LinkedIn can be used to help students make the most of their college experience.

“Every student should have a complete LinkedIn profile by the time of graduation. To be honest, I would encourage you to set up a profile freshman year and use the site almost as an e-portfolio of your experiences throughout your time here at SHU,” said Hassell.

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