Getting Started

with LinkedIn
How to set up a professional profile and use the platform as a tool
 Caroline Colgate
Outreach Intern at Colgate Career Services
Syracuse, NY Area | Public Relations and Communications Use a current title or a catchy
descriptor
Current Colgate Career Services, Delta Delta • Student at Colgate
Delta Sorority • Social Media Intern
Previous The Citizen’s Voice • Creative Graphic Designer
Education Colgate University • Diligent Data Analyst
Headshot
• Dress professionally
• Include only yourself
• More formal than Facebook 110

www.linkedin.com/yourname/
Customize Your URL
• Make it easier for recruiters to find you
• Add your URL to your resume or email signature

Summary

High energy, polished young professional, highly capable of balancing multiple projects with time- Introduce Yourself
sensitive deadlines. I infuse strong interpersonal skills with a creative ability that drives teams to • Grab the reader’s attention
succeed. Professional interests in marketing, advertising, social media, public relations, and graphic • Use first-person pronouns
design.
• Keep it short
• Consider buzzwords—
Experience your profile is searchable
by keyword
Outreach Intern
Colgate Career Services
May 2014 - Present (4 months) | Colgate University

• Promote Career Services’ events and career tips using the email platform Constant Contact Experience
• Manage social media platforms: Facebook,Twitter, & Instagram to promote Career Services to the • List current and previous
Colgate community. Grew followership by 10% in four months. jobs, internships, and
• Research various industries for Colgate’s job and internship portal, naviGATE leadership positions
(similar to your resume)
• Explain what you did, how
Volunteer Experiences & Causes you did it, and the results

Sidekicks
Colgate Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, & Education
October 2012 - Present ( 2 years) | Colgate University
Volunteering
• Foster a relationship with a student at Hamilton Central School and serve as her mentor • COVE groups
• Service days
• Community volunteerism

Organizations Organizations
• Campus involvement
• Affiliations (Greek, religious)
Advocates
LGBTQ Initiatives, Colgate University
September 2013 - Present (10 months) | Colgate University
 Honors & Awards
• Dean’s Award for Academic
Honors and Awards Excellence
• Honor societies
• Scholarships
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014) • Colgate awards

Education

Colgate University
Bachelor of Arts (BA), English Literature & Studio Art
2012-2016 (expected)

Activities and Societies: Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Colgate Admission Tour Guide

Courses
Courses
Colgate University • List courses that demonstrate your
• Literary Journalism experience relevant to your career
• Digital Studio Art aspirations

Projects
Projects • Upload digital samples of your work that demonstrate your skills
• Link directly to collaborators’ profiles
The Student-Athlete’s Advatange • Tip: Utilize Dropbox or Google Drive to create a project URL
July 2014

• Refreshed and edited content for career-oriented publications aimed at

student-athletes
• Utilized Adobe InDesign to layout content and graphics
2 team members, including
Jane Smith Joe Jones
Student at Colgate University Athletics Administrator

The Student-Athlete’s Advantage

Endorsements
Endorsements • Build up endorsements from your
connections for the skills listed on your profile
Social Media • Include skills pertinent to your field of
Event Planning interest that will garner results in keyword
InDesign searches

Groups
• Join and participate in group discussions
• Become known by adding to the
conversation through sharing articles and
commenting
Alumni

Hide updates from your connections

when making small changes to profile
in your edit settings.
Using LinkedIn as a Tool
Start Here
Join the Official Colgate University Group:
1. Complete your profile’s education and experience sections
2. Upload a photo
3. Request access by clicking join

Build Your Network

Locate Alumni
It is appropriate for you to connect with people you do know Note that other users can see if
AND do not know, but with whom you share interests or a you view their profile unless you
commonality. change your user settings.
• Find and connect with alumni by specific employer, location,
industry, or major using LinkedIn’s alumni filtering:
www.linkedin/alumni.
• ALWAYS personalize messages when connecting! You are unable to send personalized invitations
from your mobile device, so connect using a computer.
• LinkedIn restricts characters in an initial contact message; be concise and directed.

To connect with someone you do not know To connect with someone after meeting

Hello Mr./Ms./Dr. _____, Hi ______,

I am a (class year) at Colgate University It was so nice to meet you at _______.

studying ______. I notice that you are In looking at your profile, I see we share
working in the _____ industry. I would _____________ in common. I would
like to add you to my professional appreciate it if we can stay in touch.
network to discuss this field in more Best,
detail. I look forward to __________________
connecting with you.
Best,
__________________

Next Steps
Find Jobs
Some employers post openings strictly on LinkedIn.
• Utilize the search filters on www.linkedin.com/studentjobs.
Research Employers
LinkedIn is your best tool for pre-interview research. Know your interviewer, the employer’s influential
employees, and latest news.
• Join groups on LinkedIn that you can join based on your professional interests or affiliations.
• Follow perspective employers to learn the inside track on recruiting.

Be Found
LinkedIn is a recruiter’s favored search method. Tailor your profile to be a marketable candidate.
• Research shows your networking will be 40x more effective with a 100% complete profile.
• Expand your profile with the content you cannot fit on your resume.