Well, Thanksgiving is tomorrow and the following week is the start of December! Wow - time is flying by! We can’t believe this is our final “Networking in November”, we sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed the series and will be back to read more content! To end the series we’re talking all about LinkedIn, one last time (probably not, but for the sake of dramatics let’s pretend it’s true). As a business professional, college student, or entrepreneur, it’s important to have and maintain a LinkedIn profile. It’s often easy to dismiss another social-media app, especially when we are inundated with social media all day long whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter - It’s in our face. However, if you’re going to have any social networking app or account, it’s LinkedIn. Why? LinkedIn is not only an app that you can use to socialize, but it’s catered towards business-related content and can honestly help boost your career. Not convinced yet? Check out our 5 reasons why you should be on LinkedIn and let us know if we persuade you.

1. Networking- Okay, starting with the obvious reason: LinkedIn is a hub for networking! Yes, we know you know that but do you realize how crucial this is? By creating a LikedIn account, you can connect with any an all business professionals globally. You won’t just connect with Mark in accounting or Beverly in marketing, you can connect with CEOs of major companies! It’s really fairly simple, and unlike most social sites, these professionals want to connect with you too! It’s all about growing your network and expanding your contacts. Unsure of who you should send that “Connection Request” to? That’s okay, we’re here to help. We have a blog all about who you should connect with. You can find that here.

2. Job Postings- Many don’t realize that LinkedIn is a job board too! Yes, you can post, view, and apply for jobs through your LinkedIn account. It’s extremely user-friendly and a great resource to have during your job search. Sometimes other job boards seem jumbled, confusing, or pull up jobs you have zero interest in. With LinkedIn, you click “Jobs” at the top of your computer screen, update your career interests, put in your city, upload your resume, and titles of interest to you. Then BAM, your dream job is at your fingertips. Huge companies list with LinkedIn and is a great place to see who’s hiring. You never know who’s going to list an awesome position which is why LinkedIn has a job-tracker option where you can get notified when a certain company or position is listed. That way, you never miss a beat!

3. Access to Companies- Did you know that companies can create LinkedIn accounts too? Yep, they can and they do! You can search for a company of your choosing and simply follow them and in your feed you’ll find information, updates, and even contacts that work for that company. By following companies and their employees, it gives you great leverage if you ever want to work there. Why? Your name is already in their mind because of your LinkedIn connection, so when they come across your resume they’ll remember “Tom Jones, Marketing Associate”! So, stick your neck out there, make those connections, and make yourself relevant!

4. Digital Resume- Today, we’re practically all digitized. I say this as I type with two monitors in front of me, my bluetooth earphones in, and my cell phone propped up to my right. Yup, digitized. It’s everywhere. Those days of paperwork and filing are definitely on the way out as you can store everything electronically. The same goes for LinkedIn! You can upload your digital resume to the site and have all of your work history, rewards, publications, and more right there on your profile for all of your connections to see! It’s an awesome resource to keep all of your skills, experience, and relevant information in one place, digitized, and public for your connections to see. If you haven’t updated your resume to LinkedIn - do it!

5. Educational Resources- Yes, LinkedIn is great for connections, company info, and resume uploads, but did you know you can find educational resources there too? Through LinkedIn, you can take quizzes, receive certifications, and expand your professional knowledge. All you have to do is click “Work” at the top right, and click “Learning” and it will direct you to plenty of resources to help make you more marketable! If this peaks your interest, or if you’re a team leader, you can purchase this package and permit access to everyone on your team so that you can call learn together! Want to learn more about learning through LinkedIn? Click here.

Want to read more LinkedIn related content? Check out our previous blogs on the subject here, here, and here. And let us know what else you want to read from us! With December right around the corner, we’re always open to topic ideas, series ideas, or whatever else you have in mind! Drop us a line below and have a Happy Thanksgiving!