Using LinkedIn for Your Internship or Job Search

This is how you will expand your virtual network of professionals. You can add other LinkedIn members as connections by clicking “Connect” next to their name or on their profile page.

Make sure you add people you already know to build up your connections: friends, colleagues, classmates, former bosses, or co-workers. Under the “Contacts” dropdown, select “Add Connections.” From this page, you can import your email contacts. If you have business cards from people you have met, search for and add those contacts as well.

You’ll also notice that each LinkedIn user will have a “1st,” “2nd,” or “3rd” next to their name. This refers to how you are connected to them:

• 1st: You are already connected (congratulations!);
• 2nd: You are not connected, but one of your other connections is connected to them (in this case, you can always message your mutual connection and ask for a virtual introduction!);
• 3rd: Neither you nor any of your connections are connected to them.
• Consider adding your supervisors from your internship/training program in the U.S. as connections, as well as any co-workers or fellow interns from your host employer. You never know might be in their network and it’s helpful to follow their career paths.
• Use the “People You May Know” feature. It suggests people you may have come into contact with based on your internships, jobs, schools, people you have emailed with, friends of friends, etc. If someone you know appears here, invite them to connect and start a conversation! Once you are connected, you can ask them to make an introduction and put you in touch with the right people at their company.
• Search through your connections and see where people are working to investigate potential employers. If you’re interested in a company, ask to connect with someone at the company to inquire about job or internship openings, or you can email your current connection to see if you can get an introduction. You might be thinking, “I don’t know this person that well; would it be weird if I reached out to them?” There are two things to consider. First, LinkedIn users understand that its purpose is to help people develop their careers. Second, if you don’t know them that well, what better way to correct that than by reaching out to them? You can also send a personalized note letting them know why you’d like to connect.

When adding connections, be sure to personalize them. LinkedIn will give you a generic “Request to Connect” text for the invitation. Adding a personal touch in this message will be more meaningful to the potential connection. It will also help the person to remember you. An example might be, “Hi Mr. Smith, It’s been a long time since we worked on XYZ project together at ABC Company. Hope you are doing well!” Always respond to messages and invitations as soon as you are able to do so. Timing can be crucial.

If you want to get the most out of LinkedIn as a job or internship search tool, you need to check your news feed regularly, and interact with your connections. If you don’t respond to someone, you can’t expect them to help you. Make a positive impression. Don’t be afraid to keep a conversation going or ask for an introduction with one of a connection’s connections. The more you develop a relationship with a connection, the easier and more likely it is for them to remember you in the future and want to offer their knowledge or network to you. The next time a position opens up, you want them to think of you.