MAKE THAT CONNECTION COUNT!

I am a product of The Universities at Shady Grove (USG). I first started at USG as a student in the Political Science program at UMBC. During that time, I became a student worker for the Center for Academic Success (CAS). I was the receptionist and first point of contact for students looking to schedule appointments with a writing coach. Fast forward two years and I’m now working as a Career Services Coordinator in the Career & Internship Services Center (CISC). One of the most fulfilling parts of my job is spreading awareness about resources that are available to students that can help further their professional development.

One thing that I emphasize with students, is the importance of networking and creating a LinkedIn profile. Having your LinkedIn profile up-to-date and active is highly recommended. What’s even better is knowing how to use LinkedIn to your advantage. One tip that I like to offer students is to connect with people who visit your LinkedIn profile. When you see someone from an awesome company in the «Who’s viewed my Profile » section, reach out to them ! That is what networking is all about.

You can also research companies to see if they’re currently hiring for any positions that fall in line with your experience. If you find one, pull the required documents together and apply! Then, head back to that person’s profile and send a personalized connection request. Here is an example:

Hi Jen,

Great to connect with you here!

I see you work as an Account Executive at Company X. I recently submitted my application for an open Sales Representative position there, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about the opportunity—it seems like an awesome place to work!

Best,

Joe

Another good tip is to see if you have anything in common with the person, like going to the same school or volunteering for the same cause, and feel free to mention it. LinkedIn can be bring you great results in your job search if you put in a little bit of work. Plus, people are always impressed by personal touches. Now head over to LinkedIn, create your profile, start making those connections and don’t forget to connect with The Universities at Shady Grove on LinkedIn!

To learn more about LinkedIn attend the upcoming CISC LinkedIn Workshop: