How to Create a Professional
    Profile on LinkedIn
    For Students & Graduates
Overview
•   LinkedIn vs. Facebook
•   Why you need a LinkedIn profile
•   Creating a LinkedIn profile
•   Adding profile sections
•   Customizing your LinkedIn profile URL
•   Basic profile checklist
LinkedIn vs. Facebook
• LinkedIn                   • Facebook
  – Professional social        – A social network to
    network                      connect with your
  – Focused on job seekers       friends
    and recruitment            – Focused on sharing your
                                 personal content with
                                 your friends
Why You Need a LinkedIn Profile
• It’s your professional online presence
• Opportunity to connect with other students,
  alumni, and local employers
• Research companies/career paths
• Explore opportunities with local employers
  that may not recruit on campus
• Learn professional networking etiquette
Creating Your LinkedIn Profile
Creating a Profile
• Fill in all sections (or as much as you can)
• LinkedIn gives you the ability to upload your
  resume, however it’s best to manually fill this
  information in yourself
• Completing your profile is essential:
  – Shows employers that you’re knowledgeable
  – Makes your profile more credible
  – Gives employers and hiring managers a chance to find you
Creating a Profile (cont.)
• Headline: Appears directly underneath your name
  and is one of the most important pieces of your
  LinkedIn profile
   • This affects how people will find and classify you
   • Include keywords so you can easily be found
• Photo: A photo gives you more credibility. It also
  allows people you have networked with in the past
  to quickly identify you. It is important that your
  photo is appropriate. Make it look as professional
  as you can.
Creating a Profile (cont.)
• Summary: By stating your professional experience and
  goals, others can learn quickly about your background.
• Specialties: List your areas of expertise. Use keywords
  in this area.
• Experience: This section is listed in chronological order.
  Your position descriptions should briefly explain your
  main responsibilities and accomplishments.
• Education: This area is also listed in chronological order.
  Be sure to list Bryant & Stratton College. This area can
  open up valuable connections.
Adding Profile Sections
• Showcase your college accomplishments
  – Projects
  – Awards & Honors
  – Organizations
  – Courses
  – Test Scores
  – Etc.
Adding Profile Sections (cont.)

• From the top navigation
  select “Edit Profile”
• From your profile, click
  “Add Sections”
Adding Profile Sections (cont.)
                 • Select the section(s)
                   you would like to add to
                   your profile
                    – You can add as many as
                      you want
                    – You will need to select
                      them one by one
                 • Once you have the
                   section selected, click
                   “Add to Profile”
Customizing Your LinkedIn Profile URL

• From the “Edit Profile”
  tab, select “Edit” directly
  next to your current
  LinkedIn URL
• Select “Customize your
  public profile URL”
• From there you can
  change it to your first and
  last name
   – If that is already taken, try
     adding in your middle
     initial
Your Completed Profile
           • Users with 100% complete
             profiles are 40 times more
             likely to receive
             opportunities through
             LinkedIn
           • You can’t build connections
             if people don’t know you
             exist or see what you have
             to offer
           • Think of your LinkedIn
             profile as your online
             business card, your
             resume, and letters of
             recommendation all in one
LinkedIn Basic Checklist
Headline
Profile Photo
Education
Summary
Specialties
Profile Sections
Custom URL

How to Create a LinkedIn Profile - Bryant & Stratton College

  • 1.
    How to Createa Professional Profile on LinkedIn For Students & Graduates
  • 2.
    Overview • LinkedIn vs. Facebook • Why you need a LinkedIn profile • Creating a LinkedIn profile • Adding profile sections • Customizing your LinkedIn profile URL • Basic profile checklist
  • 3.
    LinkedIn vs. Facebook •LinkedIn • Facebook – Professional social – A social network to network connect with your – Focused on job seekers friends and recruitment – Focused on sharing your personal content with your friends
  • 4.
    Why You Needa LinkedIn Profile • It’s your professional online presence • Opportunity to connect with other students, alumni, and local employers • Research companies/career paths • Explore opportunities with local employers that may not recruit on campus • Learn professional networking etiquette
  • 5.
  • 6.
    Creating a Profile •Fill in all sections (or as much as you can) • LinkedIn gives you the ability to upload your resume, however it’s best to manually fill this information in yourself • Completing your profile is essential: – Shows employers that you’re knowledgeable – Makes your profile more credible – Gives employers and hiring managers a chance to find you
  • 7.
    Creating a Profile(cont.) • Headline: Appears directly underneath your name and is one of the most important pieces of your LinkedIn profile • This affects how people will find and classify you • Include keywords so you can easily be found • Photo: A photo gives you more credibility. It also allows people you have networked with in the past to quickly identify you. It is important that your photo is appropriate. Make it look as professional as you can.
  • 8.
    Creating a Profile(cont.) • Summary: By stating your professional experience and goals, others can learn quickly about your background. • Specialties: List your areas of expertise. Use keywords in this area. • Experience: This section is listed in chronological order. Your position descriptions should briefly explain your main responsibilities and accomplishments. • Education: This area is also listed in chronological order. Be sure to list Bryant & Stratton College. This area can open up valuable connections.
  • 9.
    Adding Profile Sections •Showcase your college accomplishments – Projects – Awards & Honors – Organizations – Courses – Test Scores – Etc.
  • 10.
    Adding Profile Sections(cont.) • From the top navigation select “Edit Profile” • From your profile, click “Add Sections”
  • 11.
    Adding Profile Sections(cont.) • Select the section(s) you would like to add to your profile – You can add as many as you want – You will need to select them one by one • Once you have the section selected, click “Add to Profile”
  • 12.
    Customizing Your LinkedInProfile URL • From the “Edit Profile” tab, select “Edit” directly next to your current LinkedIn URL • Select “Customize your public profile URL” • From there you can change it to your first and last name – If that is already taken, try adding in your middle initial
  • 13.
    Your Completed Profile • Users with 100% complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn • You can’t build connections if people don’t know you exist or see what you have to offer • Think of your LinkedIn profile as your online business card, your resume, and letters of recommendation all in one
  • 14.
    LinkedIn Basic Checklist Headline ProfilePhoto Education Summary Specialties Profile Sections Custom URL