After the Fair • Review notes and consider which organizations or opportunities you would like to pursue. • Send a follow-up note or email thanking the recruiters for attending the event and for talking with you. Reiterate a reason or two about why you value the company’s work and/or your reason for being interested in the company. Need more information? Watch these excellent Candid Career Videos: • Career Fair Advice
2.4a LinkedIn Basics
Using LinkedIn is a great way to stay connected with current and former employers, classmates, and faculty, as well as recruiters you meet at Career Fairs and networking events. Below are some tips to keep in mind as you build and evolve your LinkedIn profile and presence.
Components of a LinkedIn profile: Background Image | This is one of the first things visitors see on your profile. Choose a photo that is professional but also brings out your personality. Headshot | This is also one of the first things visitors see on your profile. Select a photo that showcases you professionally – the photo should include you alone in the frame and you should be dressed professionally. Headline | Use your 120 characters wisely. Think of the words/phrases you can use to make your profile stand out and communicate important information about yourself. About | Use this area to highlight your most important experiences, skills, and strengths. Include information about what you’re seeking and what motivates you to work in your chosen industry. Include keywords specific to your field rather than just listing “buzzwords.” (examples of words to avoid: strategic, team player, creative). Experience | Give more information than just your title and dates of employment. Include a description of your role that highlights your accomplishments while in the position. Do not copy and paste directly from your resume (or the position description). While you can start with the content from your resume, you’re not limited in the amount of space you can use on LinkedIn. Education | List colleges and universities from which you’ve earned a degree/certificate or where you are currently enrolled. Be sure to list your anticipated graduation date and any additional educational experiences you’ve had, including study away or study abroad programs. Volunteer Experience | Adding volunteer experience is a great way to round out your profile and is often viewed by hiring managers as equivalent to work experience. It’s also another great way to connect to your community and find common interests and values among your network. Skills | Add skills – this is the easiest and fastest way for your connections to support the work you’ve done and endorse your performance. It’s recommended to have at least five skills listed on your profile. Be sure to include skills that are sought after in your industry. Other Optional Sections | LinkedIn has quite a few optional sections that you can add based on your experiences and industry. Make sure you are updating your LinkedIn sections annually and more often if you’re actively searching. Begin connecting: Now that your basic profile is completed, it’s time to connect! Unless you know the person well, you’ll want to send a personalized message to new connections explaining why you want to connect and how you know them. Keep in mind that it’s not good practice to ask unknown people for jobs or internships via your LinkedIn connection message request.
• How to Work a Career Fair • Tips for a Virtual Career Fair
2.4 Maintaining Connections
Now that you’ve learned a bit about the value of connecting with employers and industry professionals, it’s important to remember that networking isn’t a “one and done” situation. You should keep in touch with connections throughout your time at UWSP. Stay in contact via email or LinkedIn by occasionally sending your connections updates about the progress you’re making and the experience you’re gaining. Attend Career Fairs and campus networking events to visit with the company reps with whom you’ve connected – this ensures you stay within their memory!
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