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As students, we have always been told that LinkedIn is the best networking platform and that we must use it to get a job.

But do you really know what it is and how to use this powerful tool?

Well, let me help you.

LinkedIn is a dominant social media platform used by professionals seeking employment opportunities. It is the world’s largest professional networking platform, with around 1 billion members in over 200 countries. It is a powerful tool that allows access to many potential hiring, networking and company profiles. Using LinkedIn is the best decision you could ever make to look for your first job, do practicums or even change your career path.

The benefits of using LinkedIn for job hunting are unlimited. Let’s talk about the main five:

Networking: This world is all about networking. Connect with professors, classmates, industry professionals and coworkers to increase your network. Join groups in the industry you are interested in to become familiar with it, join discussions and communicate with other professionals. By doing that, you will expand your visibility.
Showcase your soft skills: Recruiters can check the companies you have worked for, who you have worked with, comments from people, your connections and contributions. It can lead to building trust.
Virtual events: At LinkedIn, you can attend virtual/in-person events in your industry to learn more about it and check the job openings, updates and potential recruiters.
More exposure to recruiters: Everybody can see your profile and recruiters can contact you if they consider you a perfect fit for the role. Make sure to include all your experience from previous jobs and sell yourself to have more chances.
“Looking for a job” tool: Filter jobs by category, province, workplace model and position. Turn on the notifications to receive new job openings in your area of interest.

You will never realize how useful and straightforward LinkedIn is for finding job opportunities; that’s why I want to discuss how to use LinkedIn for job hunting with you.

Profile creation: Signing up is the first step to starting at LinkedIn. Summarize your professional experience. Always in “your profile section,” add all your professional achievements, interests and skills. All your contacts and hires will read that information.
Build your network: The most crucial part is to follow only people who align with your “prospectus” of life, people currently working in your desired industry and people you want to learn from. Pay attention to your professional circle since they will first tell you what is happening in the industry and give tips on landing a job at your dream company. You can now follow your classmates, colleagues and professors. Remember, you can join events as well.
Time to take action: Look and apply for a job right away. Discover all the companies and contact the hiring managers and people currently working there. Be persistent by messaging everyone to get help.
Join conversations: Give your opinion about relevant topics. Recommend videos, articles and books you found interesting about a particular subject to people. Connect with people who share interests, passions and dreams to help each other.
Be proactive: Millions and millions of people spend time on LinkedIn to learn something new. And by sharing inspiring content, you can teach and connect with people.