Linkedin is a very valuable tool for networking. S used it extensively. I use it almost every day and have formed many solid business relationships via that forum. I’ve also “connected” many people through Linkedin providing them each with a brief introduction (of the other) and most have gone on to set up calls. I often tell folks that Linkedin has made networking so much easier than 20 or 30 yrs ago. Taken all the “fear” out of reaching out. Really important for these kids to learn (provided they’re using proper etiquette), the worse thing that can happen is someone doesn’t respond ( and that’s usually because they’re super busy.) If done properly, that first call really isn’t a “cold call”. That result can give the student confidence, especially when they see many people are happy to help them if they put in the time and present themselves professionally.
I think career services in general should spend more time teaching (via workshops ) skills like using Linkedin and networking. It’s easy to say “get in touch with…” but most kids need the How, What to do, Etiquette / Format, etc. Once they are comfortable with that, they’ll learn how to network for the internship / job and continue that in the job (very important).
I think this shows that while LinkedIn is very useful, there are still other ways to get jobs.
I think networking isn’t just reaching out to people via LinkedIn. Alumni outreach (as with my D), old fashioned talking to people (as in @bhs1978 ’s example), and job fairs (@maya54 ) are still good ways to network.
Absolutely. I’d be surprised if your kids’ school doesn’t already do that. I know Colgate and Bowdoin teach the students how to use it…if they actually go to the career center and ask or go to one of their sophomore boot camps.
My older daughter got her first job out of grad school because her advisor received a call asking if there were any December grads (it was a tiny cohort of 8). D’s advisor called her and provided her with the details.
My younger one was really looking for temporary work (gap year, research etc) and yes, while she had 2 offers at major universities through LinkedIn, most of her opportunities were really through talking face-to-face with her professors, responding to opportunities that were emailed to her, etc.
I agree with Lindagaf 100%, and I am also wondering if some of this depends on the field……?
I think they do at S’ school as it has a top shelf career center. Can’t say this enough…regardless of the career center scope, it ALWAYS take action and purpose on the part of the student. I think a lot of kids (and maybe their parents) just think, because of what they pay and reported first destinations, that these internships and jobs just happen. In reality, for the resources to kick in, the student needs to be quite proactive. They’ll go out of their way to help a proactive kid (resume crafting, interview practice, company and career search, Handshake and Linkedin training, etc.), but they’re not forcing the kid into their office to start the process.
A strong peer group that values a certain type of outcome is quite helpful in turning on that lightbulb. You don’t want the kids to be overstressed about finding that dream job from day 1, but you do want them thinking about it and positioning themselves (at least learning what they need to know) pretty early on in their college career. I know that was helpful to my S.
Yes! My kid had three final round interviews for three different jobs at her current place of employment. She got the job for the fourth position she heard of, which came along six months later. If at first you don’t succeed…
I know a student at my son’s current U who applied for 60 positions at different companies. Admittedly, he was aiming high. He has landed a great job, but it took months. I know many other kids with similar stories.
Agree 100% there are many resources at schools, including things like workshops on how to use Linkedin, professional organizations to join ( and be an active participant in ),talking to professors, that many students probably don’t take advantage of. I think it’s important that parents be aware of what’s available and encourage their student to seek these resources out. Career resources was something we checked out at all schools we looked at - quite frankly, getting a career started was very important to us from the get go-everyone looks at this differently.
I have a friend with May '20 and '21 graduates who are still looking for career jobs. Both are living on their own making rent with multiple part time jobs applying to lots of jobs online. My friend keeps saying the job market is awful. Her kids never sought out internships and they are both in fields where internships are important -I just don’t think my friend or her kids really understand what they’re doing wrong.
I have found jobs on LinkedIn and employers have also found me. It is important to have a good profile on LinkedIn. Few years back I actually paid someone to work on my profile.
Prior to retirement, I was a marketing consultant, so I was very aware about the strength of networks and a strong LinkedIn profile. I worked with my son on his LinkedIn profile and I must say it was pretty good: custom header image, pro head-shot, cross links to college’s student profile pages (with similar header image), links to github repository, SEO optimized on specific key words.
Internships - 4 (masters student)- from prof/fellow student referrals and recruiter contact via LinkedIn
Job offers - 5 - from internships and recruiter contact via LinkedIn
The job market is tough for certain types of jobs where they are getting at least a couple dozen applicants per opening (roughly that for the job my son got recently - not his first job). He had applied to a few others with similar or more competition before getting the one he got. The one he got came via Networking (someone he knew who works there told him about the opening) and doing very well on the job knowledge test (2nd best).
The jobs that are open for the taking - just apply - tend to be low paying jobs in retail, manufacturing, or services - including police forces - from what I’ve seen.
Indeed, my daughter lined up internships from Sophomore year on, relevant to her major, incl. full-year internships as a Senior. I imagine this was one of the factors in her successful grad school applications, where it’s common for students to first spend a year or two doing post-college internships.
I’ve seen my daughter’s former high-school peers LinkedIn profiles - some are very professionally done and worded, with good personal statements, corporate/organization logos,… showing where career services coached their students to pay attention to detail, while others still read like high school EC résumé.
But - everyone seemed to least know to have one.
Even if the LEAD for a job or internship cannot be attributed to LinkedIn, it’s likely that at some point someone looked at applicants’ LinkedIn profiles, if available. So I would make sure it looks very polished, with a professional portrait (which many career services also arrange).
@NASA2014 it was a summer ‘21 internship (primarily work from home due to Covid with one day in office each week) that turned into minor freelance work Fall semester that turned into a part time Spring semester position and full time offer post May ‘22 graduation with the same company. He starts in June.
He also did a separate internship with a another company during the Fall. His Business school requires 2 different internships for each Business grad in order to graduate. And I’m glad it did. It confirmed the type of environment he prefers and the type of management that works best for him.
In terms of Covid impact though it would be remiss of me not to say that he had plans for an internship the summer before his junior year (2020) and it was cancelled. Instead he spent that summer here at home taking 2 summer classes. Though unplanned, that helped put him in the position to only have 2 classes left this last semester of school and made it easier to take on the part-time opportunity with his employer.
@leftrightleft That has not been the experience for my kids or my friends kids or the people I know who are hiring. . I have a friend who works for a legal publisher. They have literally not hired editors for years as they experienced job cuts by attrition. They are now actively hiring new grads ( with English or journalism degrees) as well as others. Law firms…Its much easier than it was a few years ago to get a job. Both for new attorneys and experienced ones without business. All my friends kids who are graduating this year have jobs lined up. Including those from lower ranked schools where that didn’t used to be true. Good solid entry level jobs at banks, marketing firms, pharma( in the business side….not just science majors).
I am seeing (?) that much of this depends on your major and career path, or at least that’s how I see it (I am not too good at this- my kid did what she had to do). Her school only has BME (not an engineering school) and she wasn’t really friendly with many kids in the business school. She had a few CS friends, but most were premed, phd hopefuls, public policy, etc.
My daughter majored in biology and had 2 minors. She had various research positions beginning in November of her freshman year and she continued these positions throughout college, and during all of her summers. One was an 11 week structured research program at a research hospital, with a stipend and R/B included. She could have continued after graduation. These positions were not hard to find- a simple email, knock on a door, or phone call was all it took (plus an interview for the off campus position).
One of her good college friends was in the journalism school. She interned for senators starting as a rising sophomore, and also had a summer internship at a major cable news network. She is now a press secretary. She spoke with her professors who connected her.
Another friend at school majored in psych and public policy. She did public policy research during all of her summers, and then stayed for a year before heading to grad school. This type of research/job was not difficult to find…at all. She spoke with a prof and was invited to join him in research.
I almost get the sense that business/finance/engineering type majors have a different type of job search…one that seems much more stressful and involved than what I have seen with my daughter and her friends on campus, and one that I am not that familiar with.
I will end by saying once again that I am not so good at job hunting outside of my career- my kids did what they needed to do.
My son was asking me if a LinkedIn profile is needed. He was skeptical. He was listing off multiple people who don’t have one. I told him it is just a way to be on the grid. Eventually he made a LinkedIn profile, but it is very sparse. Nothing as detailed as a resume. And I don’t think he got any of his internships by being on LinkedIn. To be fair recruiters from some companies reached out to him from seeing his profile on LinkedIn. But for companies he is interested in, he would just reach out on his own. He is a skeptic. He thinks a lot of tech people his age are not on linkedin
I joke with friends that LinkedIn is the new FB. At least it seems that way for business students. My DD and her business friends check it every day and can tell you what everyone is doing. I mentor young adults and teach them how to leverage LinkedIn. It’s uncomfortable at first for them, but there’s no denying what a powerful networking tool it is and the earlier they get comfortable using it and reaching out to people, the better off they are long-term. LinkedIn has also opened up jobs that traditionally target students at certain top schools to go-getters at a wide variety of schools.