This document discusses how LinkedIn can be used by students and universities. It notes that LinkedIn has over 120 million members worldwide, including 11 million recent graduates. As the leading professional networking site, it allows users to develop their personal brand, make global connections, and find job and internship opportunities. However, profiles must be professionally maintained, as employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to research candidates. The document provides tips on how students can maximize their LinkedIn presence through groups, apps, sharing content and polls, and following industry experts.

1. Maximising the potential
of LinkedIn
Dave Cotton Sue Beckingham
Senior Careers Adviser Educational Developer
Careers & Employment Faculty of ACES
Sheffield Hallam Uni Sheffield Hallam Uni

2. Why would you or your
students want to use
LinkedIn?

3. LinkedIn Demographics
 LinkedIn is in the Top 20 most visited
websites in the world
http://www.alexa.com/topsites/global
 Nearly 2 billion people searches on
LinkedIn

4. LinkedIn Demographics
 120+ million members worldwide
 11m+ are recent graduates (2005-10)
 20m+ members in Europe
 5m+ members in the UK
 Company presence
 2m+ companies have a page
 LinkedIn Groups
18 million members

5. The key professional networking tool
the corporate office
the water cooler
the staff canteen
the bar

6. LinkedIn

7. The power of online connections
• recruitment/job seeking
• develop a personal brand
• opportunity to learn and share
• global connections
• maintain connections
• ongoing 24/7 networking
• ability to be known and found
• 6 degrees of separation
4.74*
* new Facebook study

8. However….
an unprofessional
profile can be more damaging
than not having one at all.

10. Be mindful of how people search
for information
!
http://www.alexa.com/topsites/global
will find
you!

11. LinkedIn ranks highly!

12. Questions to consider
Who will look at your online profile?
 What do people want to know about you?
 Where will they use this information?
 Why is your profile important?
 When and how often do you update it?
 How will you use your profile to your
advantage?

13. http://www.linkedin.com/directory/groups/

15. Maximise the potential of Groups

16. Student internships and graduate
job opportunities
http://www.linkedin.com/studentjobs

17. http://resume.linkedinlabs.com/

18. LinkedIn Cardmunch
http://www.cardmunch.com/

19. LinkedIn Apply Button
https://developer.linkedin.com/apply

20. Make use of the suite of apps
available to promote yourself
and the University

21. Tip:
Promote
conferences, workshops
and open days.

22. Tip:
Upload presentations on
SlideShare and show them
on your LinkedIn profile.

23. Tip:
Include books you have
authored/edited
Follow other people's lists

24. Tip:
Share polls via Facebook
and Twitter to maximise
responses

25. Discussion
Sharing ways LinkedIn has been used to
engage students and develop their
online professional profile