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Careers, Internships & Employment

How to set up a LinkedIn profile:

www.linkedin.com
Write a clear summary of yourself.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional social network and aims to Ensure it is concise, keyword-rich
connect professionals to make them more productive and successful. and typo-free; be specific about your
LinkedIn does not do the work for you, but it makes it easier to make experience, skills and goals.
connections and leverage those connections to help you get a foot in the
door with potential employers. As 70% of jobs are found through networking, Use a profile picture.
LinkedIn is valuable as it lets you know if there is anyone who is connected to A photo can show your professionalism
an organisation, or is connected to someone who is connected and presentation skills, and allows
to an organisation. This allows recruiters to put a face with a name. A
you to ask your connection for an good profile picture is one where you are
introduction, advice or referral. alone, dressed professionally, smiling and
have an appropriate background.

LinkedIn can be used to document things Connect with colleagues and classmates
such as your qualifications, experience, who are already on LinkedIn.
skills and awards. You can follow Invite those who you wish to join through
companies and organisations, join groups connecting your email address.
of interest, endorse other people’s skills
and monitor degrees of separation. Get your profile up to 100%.
It is not difficult to complete your profile
Follow these tips – the necessary tasks are listed above.
listed below to set up Users with complete profiles are also 40
a Linkedin profile
Opportunity
times more likely to receive opportunities
though their LinkedIn profile.
Create a complete profile that truly
represents you. List your past and current
employment, qualifications, experience,
Create a smart profile headline. Awareness
This headline allows you to
skills and awards. Add a summary of summarise your identity in a short
yourself and a profile picture. So what phrase as people will often see a
makes your profile complete? shortened version of your profile. For
• Your industry and location example, the headline ‘University of
• An up-to-date current position Canterbury Accounting Major’ would be
(with description) preferable to ‘Student’.
• Two past positions
Careers, Internships & Employment
• Your education University of Canterbury
• Your skills (minimum of 3) Telephone: (03) 364 3310, Fax (03) 364 3324
Email: careers@canterbury.ac.nz
• A profile photo Website: www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
• At least 50 connections

CAREERS www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
CRIN4737 opportunity-linkedin
Show off your skills. Contribute to LinkedIn Answers by asking Follow key influencers.
Use LinkedIn to demonstrate your skills, and answering questions. Connect to key leaders and professionals
share a PowerPoint presentation, your This allows you to utilise the expertise in your area of expertise to follow their
CV, artistic portfolio, examples of writing and knowledge within your professional commentary on business trends and links
or anything else that will show your network. Remember networking is a two to relevant information.
experience and talent. way street, get involved in answering
questions in your area of expertise. Follow the University of Canterbury
Connect with professional people online. on LinkedIn.
Once you have met a person you can Tie your LinkedIn profile to your Connect with other UC students, staff
send them an invite to connect with other efforts. and alumni and keep up to day with
you on LinkedIn. If you have not met a
Add your LinkedIn URL to your email UC research successes in the news.
person that you would like to connect
signature line, to other social networking www.linkedin.com/company/university-
with, then it’s best practice to customise
sites and to your CV. of-canterbury
a brief note before you send the request
to explain why you want to connect with Use LinkedIn to explore possible career To find out more
them. LinkedIn also helps you connect, pathways.
degree by degree, with the connections of about LinkedIn and
LinkedIn can be viewed as a database of
your connections for mutual benefit e.g. the career pathways of over 60 million
networking online
job referrals, event announcements and people. Use it to find out what people • Go to YouTube www.youtube.com/ and
discussions on various topics. with similar interests have done by type in the search function: ‘LinkedIn
searching key words. The results will Grad Guide Video Series.’ These videos
Remember to use your manners. show you how to get the most out of
show profiles that match the keywords.
Always thank people who help you You can then click on the profiles of these LinkedIn as a graduate.
through LinkedIn, and keep people people and see how they got to where • Go to http://help.linkedin.com
posted on your progress. LinkedIn is not they are today. Help Center
about amassing a lot of connections,
or immediately asking for favours, Join professional groups that are related to • Read ‘Find a Job Through Social
introductions or jobs, it is about building the careers and interests you have. Networking’ (Chapter 5: Leveraging
and maintaining authentic and mutually LinkedIn’s Power) by Crompton and
Inside groups there is helpful career
beneficial relationships. Sautter. Watch the ‘E-networking
information as well, such as discussions,
for Jobs’ DVD: available for loan
event announcements and news articles.
Create a professional online presence. from Careers.
Be an active community member to
Keep your profile clean and respectful. get noticed.
70% of employers have rejected a job ©
Careers, Internships & Employment,
Explore company pages. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
candidate because of information they
have found about that person online, Find out what divisions and job
and 85% of employers say that a positive opportunities they have, and information
online reputation has influenced their about the company, which is always
hiring decisions. helpful for interviews.
Make use of LinkedIn apps.
These can run on your smart phone and
tablet and help you keep connected from
any location.

CAREERS How to set up a LinkedIn profile 2 of 2