Nurture Your Budding Technology Career on LinkedIn

It takes time to nurture and grow a professional network, but the time you spend now pays off in job opportunities later. That’s why, if you’re a recent graduate who aspires to a career in technology, you need a robust LinkedIn profile.

Here’s a quick guide to getting started:

Remember, Your Profile Has a Purpose

Your LinkedIn profile isn’t merely an online resume. It’s a very public announcement of your personality, skills, experience and knowledge. It will be viewed by people you don’t know you, people whom you have never met. In other words, it’s your first impression on recruiters, future coworkers, potential customers and so on. Bear that in mind when setting up your profile. It should leave viewers with the sense that you’re professional.

What Your Photo Says About You

Your profile photo contributes a lot to the impression you give. So think carefully about the photo you choose. If you can, hire a professional photographer to take your headshot. If that’s unfeasible, at least use a photo that’s well-lit, in which you’re dressed professionally.

Pick a Unique URL

By default, the URL for your profile is random letters and numbers, but LinkedIn allows you to choose a URL. It makes it easier for others to find you. When choosing a unique URL, use your name or some derivation of it. Remember to keep it simple and convey professionalism.

Don’t Overthink the Headline

The headline of your profile should be short, descriptive, and easy to understand. At a glance, viewers should learn something about you. As a recent graduate, the simplest headline is your job title, position or a few words about your skill sets.

Some headlines are more creative than others. Before you go that route, try writing something straightforward and accurate. For instance, if you’re a programmer, write “Programmer” rather than “Binary Language Evangelist.” If you’re still searching for a job, try something like “Future Programmer.”

Spend Time on the Summary

The summary section is an opportunity to give a sense of your personality. To write one, imagine that you’re interviewing for a job. The interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself.” What would you say? Write down your response, and you’ll have a good start to your summary.

You could include statements about why you like your job, what excites you about your profession or industry, some projects you’ve worked on, and so forth.

Make Connections

Your photo, URL, headline and summary are all you need to get started on LinkedIn. There’s more you can do with your profile, of course, but with those four elements, you’re ready to connect. If you have a job, start connecting with your coworkers. If you’re still searching, connect with professors and friends on LinkedIn. As you progress through your career, make a habit of connecting with people whenever you meet them in a business setting. Over time, as your connections increase, you’ll have a reliable network of people who can help further your career.

Plug into Revature’s Network

At Revature, you can expand your network immediately, to include hundreds/thousands of technology professionals working across various industries in Fortune 500 companies. We’ve built a network from scratch, by recruiting and preparing talented graduates for technology careers, regardless of their majors. Our consultants display an exceptional work ethic, flexibility, and the drive to solve problems. When combined with the right skills and experience, those traits lead to lead to unparalleled opportunities.

We prepare our recruits with a paid, 12-week training, where they learn the technology and soft skills necessary to thrive in enterprise-level environments. At the end of the training, we place them with one of our many clients. If you’re a career-oriented worker with an interest in the technology sector, the Revature Consulting Life might be right for you.