This document provides tips for using LinkedIn to aid career exploration and job searching. It outlines how to create a professional LinkedIn profile and use LinkedIn's features to research careers and companies, find relevant jobs, connect with other professionals, and keep your profile and skills visible. Key recommendations include joining industry groups, endorsing others' skills, participating in discussions, and keeping your profile updated. Proper etiquette is also discussed, such as only connecting with people you know and avoiding directly asking for jobs in messages or posts.

1. As a

2. What is LinkedIn?

3. Overview
LinkedIn Profile Tips
Five ways LinkedIn can help with
your career exploration and job
search:
– Research industries and career paths
– Finding relevant jobs
– Connecting with the right people
– Helping people find you
– Keeping visible and “on the mind”

4. LinkedIn Profile – 5 Quick Tips
Clear and professional-looking headshot
Keyword-rich headline
Strong summary
Keep your profile public – privacy
settings
Customize your profile URL
Other important sections:
Education, Experience, Skills & Expertise,
Recommendations & Endorsements,
Location & Industry, Groups

5. 1. Finding the Jobs: Jobs Section
Use advanced search criteria such as keywords, location, industry,
experience, etc.
View the “jobs you may be interested in” section
Saved jobs & Saved searches
*Benefit: shows you who in your network works at that company!

6. 1. Finding the Jobs: Jobs Section
Student & Recent Graduates Portal:
http://www.linkedin.com/studentjobs
Internship and Full Time
*Benefit: shows you who
in your network works at
that company!
* Follow Companies

7. View Jobs: save job, share job, follow company, who you are linked to, similar
jobs, and “those that viewed this job also viewed…”

8. 1. Finding the Jobs: Groups Section
Job tab in groups
Industry groups
- Advertising Professional
Alumni groups
- Columbia Alumni Association
Network, Columbia Athletics
Company groups
- Google Alumni
Location groups
- Sports Business Professionals - NYC
Job groups
- Indeed.com

9. 1. Finding the Jobs: Groups Section
Join Groups – Great way to expand your network
Sample Columbia Specific Alumni groups
- Columbia Alumni Association Network
- IvyLife | Columbia
- Columbia College Young Alumni
- Columbia Engineering Alumni Association
- Columbia Career Connections (supported by CCE)
Sample Columbia Sports Team Groups:
- Columbia Athletics
- Columbia Football Alumni
- Columbia University Rowing
- Columbia University Track and Field Alumni

10. 1. Finding the Jobs: Company Section
Search for target
companies
Find jobs posted on
company page
Follow target companies
Receive email updates re:
new jobs posted
Identify insider connections

11. 2. Finding the People: Group Members
Group Member
Search – find other
members by typing
in keywords:
– Company
– Industry
– Name
– Location
See Advanced
Search for more
criteria
Conduct a
member search
Reach out to 1st
degree connections
Advanced
Search

12. 2. Finding the People: Alumni Portal
Great way to identify Columbia Alumni:
www.linkedin.com/alumni

13. Reaching Out to Others
First connections you will most likely know
For those that are not yet connected to you, can reach
out to them in a few ways through:
– Group membership
– Introduction tool
– Upgrade your account to send InMail
Do not recommend sending a request to connect if
you do not know the person

14. Introductions
“Get introduced”
button
How you are
connected to
individual

15. Reach out to target individual
from informational interview
angle. Highlight how you are
connected and what you would
like to discuss.
Send a brief note to your
connection asking politely
to be introduced to target
individual.

16. Etiquette – Request to connect
What Not to do: What to do:

17. 3. Keeping Visible/In Mind: Groups
Group discussions
– Post questions
– Post responses to others’
questions
– Get to know others
– Reach out to people who
respond to your posts
– Show your knowledge
and build credibility
(i.e., self-branding)

18. Etiquette – Group Discussion
What Not to do:
- Ask for a job
- Share too much or irrelevant information
What to do:
- Share interesting articles
- Ask thought-provoking questions

19. 3. Keeping Visible/In Mind: Skills & Expertise
Endorsement
Skills & Expertise
Endorsement

20. 3. Keeping Visible/In Mind: Skills & Expertise
Endorsement
Great way to identify
professionals and
hidden opportunities!

21. 3. Keeping Visible/In Mind: Status Update
Status and Profile
Updates
– Profile changes
– Tweets
– “Like” an update
– Group postings
– Answer postings
– Recommendations
– Following company
– Status updates: send
article to connections, ask
question

22. 3. Keeping Visible/In Mind: Status Update
What can I share?
LinkedIn Today
Industry related articles
Thought-provoking questions

23. Etiquette – Recommendations
Request recommendations from people who really know you
and your work
– Former bosses, professors, staff members
– It is about quality over quantity!
Customize each request with a polite, gracious and personalized
note
Provide a few words outlining the accomplishments or
qualities this person might mention about you
Thank the person for writing the recommendation

24. Wrap-Up: Job Search and Beyond
LinkedIn is a powerful tool that can help with your job
search!
– View job postings of interest
– Find the “right” people to help you
– Allow recruiters and hiring managers to find
you
– Keep yourself in the forefront of others’ minds
and build a credible reputation in your field

25. Wrap-Up: How to Network on LinkedIn
Good LinkedIn Profile = 40x more opportunities
Add your LinkedIn URL to your resume, email signature
& your website.
You’re more experienced than you think! (However,
don’t oversell your experience)
Get Personal
Join the “In” Crowd
Update your status #early and #often
Do your homework
Step away from the computer!

26. More Help – CCE Resources
Webinars:
– How to Write a Killer LinkedIn Profile
– Get Ahead: Using Social Media in Your Job Search
– LinkedIn 101: Getting to Know the Basics
– LinkedIn and the Job Search: Find the Link to Your Next Job
– Beyond the Basics: Taking LinkedIn to the Next Level
http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/multimedia
Other LinkedIn Resources:
– LinkedIn Profile Development Checklist
– Find a Job – Using Social Media: LinkedIn
– One-on-One Appointment with a Career Counselor

27. Questions!
Any remaining questions?

28. East Campus, Lower Level
(212) 854-5609
careereducation@columbia.edu
www.careereducation.columbia.edu
Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm
Wednesdays (during the semester),
9am-8pm
Quick Questions, 1pm-4pm