With over 600 million users across the globe, LinkedIn is the go-to resource for professional networking. Use LinkedIn to:
- See where others with your major are now working, explore their career paths, and find and connect with alumni using the UC Berkeley alumni pages
- Find job leads using LinkedIn’s jobs and jobs for recent grads
- Research companies and connect with their employees using the company directory
- Participate in career-specific groups with others sharing your interests
- Explore and develop new work skills via LinkedIn’s learning module.
The First Step: A LinkedIn Profile
You’ll need your own to build your personal LinkedIn network and gain visibility with employers and professionals. Create your profile using guidance from a video or course on LinkedIn Learning’s Career Hub.
Use this worksheet to help you write the “About” section of your LinkedIn profile.
Further Important Steps
- First impressions count! Be sure your photo looks professional…no sunglasses or party photos.
- To help your profile stand out, create a headline that highlights a unique personal strength or skill.
- Include recommendations from your supervisors, instructors, and colleagues in your profile. This will impress potential employers.
- Use professional courtesy when messaging new contacts. Use a concise 5-point message for connecting and requesting interviews.
- Include a few people with large LinkedIn networks among your connections – you’ll have access to a larger pool of people for networking.
- Create status updates to share personal career news and items of career interest.
- Join groups in your career field and contribute to discussions that interest you to build rapport with other professionals.