Gr. 11: Term 2:

Assignment 6

In this module, you will learn the basics of creating a Linkedin profile using the resume that you developed earlier this year.

** Please ensure you have a professional email address. Email is one of the most common forms of communication with your potential employers. A professional email address creates a sense of trust and sends a professional image.

Why LinkedIn?

There’s a lot of confusion relating to LinkedIn. Some people see it as a social media network, like Facebook, while others view it as a job board. Both assumptions are correct to a certain extent but, unlike Facebook, LinkedIn is more geared towards professionals and unlike most job boards, LinkedIn does more than just allow you to search for openings.

Having a LinkedIn account as a student proves that you are dedicated to pursuing a career. By being specific in your summary and connecting with people in the field that you'd like to end up in, you prove that you're putting in the time and effort required to succeed in your chosen career.

What will you get out of having a LinkedIn profile?

To build a strong network of professional contacts

Getting ahead in any career is as much about who you know, as it is about what you know. Start by connecting with your peers and your post-high school contacts, then branch out into the industry that you want to work in. You never know when a connection will come in handy and the bigger your network, the more chance you have of being referred to a job role.

To get job alerts

While LinkedIn is about much more than just searching for jobs, it is still incredibly useful when it comes to finding your next position – which makes LinkedIn particularly useful for students.

You can program LinkedIn to send you job alerts for certain companies, industries or specific job titles, so that you’ll never miss out on a great opportunity again.

Let the companies find you

These days, when you apply for a job, your prospective employer will no doubt conduct an internet search into you. Students often get a bad rap over their social media presence, so by having a LinkedIn account as a student, you can show an entirely different (and more professional!) side to yourself. Having a LinkedIn account allow companies to find you with ease and, most importantly, to find the information that you want them to find.

To prepare for interviews

Interviews are always nerve-wracking but by having an account on LinkedIn, you can conduct your own research into the company, and the employer, so that you can go into your interview feeling as prepared as possible.

Tips Before You Begin

A high-quality profile picture of just you (no friends cropped out) in appropriate clothes, facing forward, and smiling.
Join groups and follow companies that you share an interest in.
Join LinkedIn in high-school so that you can show a progression across your years after you graduate.
Begin building up a strong network as soon as you have completed your profile. Don’t just leave your account sitting dormant, make the most of it and start building those all-important connections!
An informative yet catchy headline that succinctly tells people what you do now and what you’re excited for in the future.
A smart summary statement to highlight your experience, qualifications, and goals, but also show a bit of personality.
Thorough work and volunteer experience — both are equally important to recruiters.
Internships, noteworthy projects, honors, awards, and your GPA (if it’s above a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale).
A unique LinkedIn URL to easily share your profile with others. (This can be modified in Settings; ex. www.linkedin.com/in/SusanSmith).

How to create you LinkedIn profile

Navigate to the LinkedIn sign up page.
Type your first and last name, email address, and a password you'll use.
1. Note: You must use your true name when creating a profile. Company names and pseudonyms are not allowed, as we explain in our User Agreement.
Click Join now.
Complete any additional steps as prompted.

Assignment

Step 1:

Create your LinkedIn profile.

You can use the posted video to help you with your creation.

Step 2:

Post your LinkedIn url on your personal website.

SUBMIT

Submit a screenshot and url of your Linkedin profile in your Advisory block Google Classroom.

Due: February 12

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