LinkedIn—where it’s appropriate to connect with your boss on social media. That being said, your LinkedIn profile should probably be worlds away from your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or whatever other social media you choose to engage in. If you are one to take too many pictures at a drunken date party or tweet questionable things—please do yourself a favor and make sure your LinkedIn page stays separate from your other social media outlets (with a few caveats). Your boss or future employer really doesn’t want to know how awesomely cute your couples costume for Dooley’s Ball was. Really.
Do. Connect to former employers, internship supervisors, HR personnel, intern buddies, etc. These are the people that will help you find jobs in the future, and it’s always good to keep your name in their virtual rolodex incase something comes up that they think you would be a good fit for.
Don’t add people you don’t know. Unlike Twitter where you can follow whoever you want to your heart’s content—that magazine editor you admire, an influential business professional—LinkedIn should mostly be used for personal contacts. If you cannot figure out what category they belong under when LinkedIn asks you “How do you know this person”…you probably shouldn’t be adding them.
Do completely fill out your profile. Add a picture, update your employment information with descriptions, and add skills and specialties. This will help people find you better and maybe offer you a job!
Do join groups relating to the field you want to be in. Many groups will post job opportunities, and it is a good way to network with people you don’t know without having to ‘connect’ with them.
Don’t list over-personal information that you don’t want future or past employers to see. Only link up your personal blog, Twitter, Tumblr or other social media if it relates to your career goals. If you want a career in fashion and you have an awesome fashion blog, then definitely link it! But if your Tumblr is just filled with funny Internet memes of “whatshouldwecallme,” then you might want to skip putting in on. Same goes for your Twitter—if you use it primarily as a networking tool to tweet about your industry then add it, but if you mostly tweet sweet nothings about your weekend, leave it off.
LinkedIn is a great tool that every Collegiette should start using. By connecting with people in your field, it will be that much easier to get a job—which is hard, so every little bit helps!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emory chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.