Three Reasons to Have a LinkedIn Profile

Written by: Amelia Nitsche
Senior Multimedia Journalism & Public Relations Writer, Rock PRSSA Member

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the internet. Do you have a profile yet?

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform designed to help its users find job/internship opportunities, build and strengthen professional relationships and develop career-relevant skills.
If that isn’t convincing enough, I’ll give three more reasons why having a LinkedIn profile is incredibly important, especially for graduating seniors.

Reason One: Building a Personal Brand is Crucial
Companies hire people, not robots – LinkedIn is a great way to let people know who you are as a person and an employee. By showcasing skills and uniqueness, differentiating factors can be revealed and can increase career opportunities.

“How do I make my LinkedIn profile more personal?”
Easy, follow these four steps:

1. Create valuable content consistently – share original posts, engage with connections and provide new insights.
2. Increase visibility by actively engaging with others through likes, comments and shares.
3. Be authentic – let your personality shine through while maintaining professionalism. People connect with genuine profiles.
4. Build personal connections. Connect with people after meeting them – be remembered.

Reason Two: Network! Network! Network!
From my time as an undergraduate student, the biggest piece of advice I have received is to network with people in and around my professional community. LinkedIn is a great place to start.
For example, if there is an event you attended but you didn’t get the chance to speak with the host, or were only able to say a quick hello, a connection on LinkedIn can still be made to identify yourself.

“How do I reach out to someone I don’t know?”
Easy, the same way introductions are made in-person, but on LinkedIn you can copyedit before sending!

1. Introduce yourself – “My name is...”
2. Tell them who you are - “I am a student at Slippery Rock University studying...”
3. Tell them how they would know you - “I attended the presentation you hosted on Monday about...”

Now put it all together.

“Hello Mr. LastName, I am Amelia Nitsche, and I am currently studying public relations at Slippery Rock University and planning to graduate in 2025. I had the opportunity to attend the presentation Monday discussing the importance of social media to the public relations field. The presentation was great and incredibly insightful and informative – especially this specific detail from the presentation. Hope to see another presentation soon!”

The importance of networking is to be remembered. When reaching out via LinkedIn, the opportunity to sneak in identify details about yourself is endless. Like attending Slippery Rock University, being a public relations major, attending their presentation and reminding them of the encounter.

Reason Three: Get the Scoop on Companies and Industry Insights
What if I told you that it was possible to discover a company, learn about the organization, the position being hired for and the exact specifications required all in one place? Well, that lovely land of knowledge is called LinkedIn and if you still don’t know, you need to create a profile!
LinkedIn reveals company culture before applying for the position. By that, it helps find the perfect match.
On a LinkedIn profile, there is a personalized newsfeed that delivers critical updates, keeping the user informed and competitive in the professional field. Along with that, LinkedIn job postings attach specific information for the position that resumes, and cover letters can be tailored to.

“How do I find positions in my field?”
Easy, after creating a LinkedIn profile, customizations are simple. Here are some things you can do to discover postings that suit you best:

1. Visit the ‘Job’ tab and insert preferred preferences for job postings.
2. Connect with companies that are admirable – see how those organizations conduct their LinkedIn profiles.
3. Turn on notifications to stay updated with new job postings and other opportunities.

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Creating a LinkedIn profile has enormous benefits as a young media specialist entering the job market. Be sure to become a Rock PRSSA member to learn more about other networking opportunities or simply join LinkedIn to start your journey into the professional world.