Using LinkedIn to Find Internships

Making Use of Social Networking Sites Like LinkedIn

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LinkedIn has quickly become the elite of social networking sites for professionals. LinkedIn is focused on professional people and how they can make connections to learn more about jobs and industry leaders in their field.

Key Takeaways

  • Companies and recruiters use LinkedIn to make connections or find applicants
  • You can build your LinkedIn network by connecting with friends, colleagues, and classmates
  • Your connections can write you recommendations that companies you're applying to will then see
  • Some jobs on LinkedIn will show you the recruiter's name and LinkedIn profile

Companies Tap Into LinkedIn for Many Reasons

Supervisors may have their LinkedIn profiles public to reach out and make connections with people currently working or looking to get into the field.

Companies can participate in LinkedIn groups where they can communicate with individuals who are interested in the company or in a specific career field or industry.

Recruiters and company management can search for people based on their knowledge, skills, and previous experience, and can check out their employment history to see if they would be a good fit for the organization.

LinkedIn provides a way for people to find potential contacts with whom they can connect to learn about potential internships or jobs.

Create Your Profile

The first step, if you already haven't, is to create your profile. Here are a few things you may want to consider:

Make your profile as professional as possible. Your profile is how you will represent yourself online. It’s important to take the time to create an effective profile on LinkedIn that will get results. Be sure to include all of your past history, such as education, academics, volunteer, activities, summer jobs and internships to represent yourself professionally online. Your LinkedIn profile will act as your online resume, so it’s important that it’s detailed, complete and has no errors. Be honest, truthful and don't embellish.

Be sure you use a professional looking photo in your profile that will make you marketable and recognized across the web.

Find People on LinkedIn

Build your network. If you connect your email address with your profile, LinkedIn will automatically scour your contacts for any possible connections. You can also search for and connect with people who have worked with or attended school with you.

An excellent way to find previous colleagues, managers, professors, peers, and even alumni of your college is to use the “Advanced” button on the right side of the search bar. It is here that you can enter a keyword, first name, last name, title, company, school (college), and location to find people you may want to connect with.

You will also get invitations to connect from those who view your profile and want to connect online. Remember to keep updating your list as you move ahead in your career.

Recommendations Are Key

Get recommendations. Ask the people you're connected with on LinkedIn to provide a recommendation on your performance at work or in school. This may be a professor or a previous employer. Supervisors and people hiring for internships will check these out, so don't discount their power.

And remember to return the favor if you're able to—it's a professional courtesy if you can provide a recommendation for someone who's done the same for you.

LinkedIn Groups

Check with your college or academic department to see if they have a LinkedIn group where you can instantly connect with thousands of people who have already joined and are participating on the site.

You can also join other groups based on your professional interests. So it's a good idea to search for any groups that may lead to future internships.

Search for Internships and Jobs

You can search for internships and jobs on LinkedIn. Check out companies and the job search section to uncover opportunities in a career field and location of interest. You can also reach out to your connections to lead you in the right direction.

LinkedIn now makes it easier to apply for a position. If you find an internship that you just can't pass up, you may be able to apply directly through the site. LinkedIn has an "Easy Apply" button that allows you to upload a cover letter and resume that will go directly to the recruiter. If a job doesn't have that button, the "Apply" function also makes it easy to put your name in the hat. It may direct you to the company's website, landing you on the page for that specific internship.

A lot of companies will also take out the guesswork in who is doing the hiring by posting the recruiter's name and profile on the internship opportunity on LinkedIn. If you need to, you can message the person directly with any questions you may have.

The Bottom Line

All you have to do is get started. Once your profile is established, you can begin using all of the functionalities that LinkedIn was set to do. It’s quite easy to maintain and, unlike Facebook, you won’t need to change it on a daily basis. Updating the information every few months is enough; don’t feel that you have to connect with everyone that wants to connect with you.

Making the most of the site and your profile may help you get that much-needed internship and get your career going.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LinkedIn Used for Internships?

You can filter or search specifically for internship postings on LinkedIn. Just search for the field you're interested in and type in the word "internship" or use the provided filter to only select internships.

How Do I Connect With Recruiters on LinkedIn?

You can go to a recruiter's LinkedIn profile and click "connect" and attach a note explaining why you're reaching out. If you have LinkedIn Premium, you can send a recruiter an InMail message explaining why you're reaching out.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Burnett Specialists. "Do Recruiters Really Trust Your LinkedIn Recommendations?"

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