My experiences with LinkedIn are few. For starters, I knew nothing about LinkedIn until one of my instructors introduced me to the site during a summer university programme this year. Just recently, I had found out that LinkedIn was launched all the way back in 2003. I was surprised to not have learnt about this website until 10 years after its establishment. Perhaps it is a sign that I am still very much new to the job market.
For me, LinkedIn may be the start of something new. Before I was introduced to LinkedIn this summer, my plan for my adult life was less certain; I knew that I wanted to go to graduate school to get some solid research experience before scouting out for a job in the private sector that could complement my interests, but I was not quite sure how I would go about finding a lucrative job. In addition, I would have had to be even more careful about choosing a job than my peers, since studying full-time at a university for an advanced degree would give me even fewer years to get job experience, and I did not want to squander my future education.
Most importantly, however, I knew that I could not keep my hand held by my parents as an adult, and that I needed a way to find employment on my own. All around me at my university, I see ambitious young men and women talking about how they already have internships or are almost ready to start their own company. While I have my own aspirations, I am still not completely sure how to fulfil them, and it is that difference which makes me feel intimidated.
This is where LinkedIn can help me. As a website, LinkedIn feels familiar to computer geeks like me, and by following various companies, I can keep track of what they post. By reading these companies’ posts, I can get a better idea of their work principles and know what to expect if I pursue employment there. If a company is active on LinkedIn and posts on the website regularly, then I feel more comfortable and open to the company. Posting on LinkedIn may seem minor compared to the other responsibilities that the company has, but if my experience is anything to go by, doing so can increase the desirability to prospective employees.
