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What are your thoughts on LinkedIn for high school students? Do you recommend it?
I've already done quite a bit of research on this topic, and have found that most professionals advocate for high school students to have one to increase their digital footprint (positively). I still want to hear more input from professionals, and what they think! Just to put into perspective, I'm in grade 10 and looking to acquire an internship by the end of grade 11 (as I have mentioned many times on this forum). #internship #college #job-search #job #career #networking
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15 answers
Updated
Doc’s Answer
LinkedIn is the place to find and be found Aun.
The site has well over a million and a half student jobs and internships. And more than 9 in 10 companies use LinkedIn to recruit new hires. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you simply don’t exist in the working world. Think of LinkedIn as your resume that never sleeps. But a lot more. It's your professional brand in the world.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE
In 2013, LinkedIn lowered its minimum age requirement from 18 to 14. More and more high schools are now offering classes that teach students how to make the most of LinkedIn. LinkedIn gives students the power to post their skills and interests — something they’re proud of and want colleges and potential employers to find. When you connect to favorite teachers, coaches and mentors on LinkedIn, you make it easy for them to stay in touch and follow your progress. They can write better recommendations and continue to support you.
MOVE TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS
According to LinkedIn Aun, only 9% of high school students use LinkedIn, meaning those who do have a better chance of standing out from their peers. In fact, social media experts are coaching students to create well thought-out profiles on LinkedIn and bringing them to the attention of college admissions officers. While there’s no official spot to link to your profile on a college application, there’s a good chance someone will look at it if you include it.
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Think about it: Taking the time to craft a LinkedIn profile (even if your experience is light) tells a potential boss that you’re serious about your future in the work force. LinkedIn is a unique social platform because it is designed specifically for professional networking. If you’re looking for an internship or part-time job, LinkedIn has well over 1.5 million student jobs and internships up for grabs. And it’s easy to search for specific companies, schools, or fields you’re interested in.
START YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING NOW
Creating a LinkedIn profile from scratch can be a little intimidating, especially when the site keeps emphasizing that you need to complete as many sections as possible to have a competitive online presence. While it is true that the more LinkedIn features you use the better, it’s not necessary to have content for every section on your profile. Just be sure to be professional and thorough in the sections you do complete.
• PHOTO – A high-quality profile picture of just you (no friends cropped out) in appropriate clothes and smiling.
• HEADLINE – An informative yet catchy headline that succinctly tells people what you do and what you’re excited for in the future.
• SUMMARY – A smart summary statement to highlight your experience, qualifications, and goals, but also show a bit of personality.
• EXPERIENCE – Thorough work and volunteer experience — both are equally important to recruiters. Even include
photos and/or videos from your work you accomplished at each. Admissions officers and employers often see volunteer experience as just as valuable as paid work.
• HONORS & AWARDS – Internships, noteworthy projects, honors, awards, and your GPA, don't be shy. Let the world know about it!
• LEADERSHIP – Whether you led a team assignment in school or built an app on your own, talk about what you did and how you did it.
• SKILLS & EXPERTISE – Add at least 5 key skills and then your connections can endorse you for the things you are best at.
• A unique LinkedIn URL to easily share your profile with others. e.g. www.linkedin.com/in/OttawaAun
https://university.linkedin.com/
To help young people get started, LinkedIn has created an online LinkedIn University, completely dedicated to supporting students while they apply to higher-education institutions and start their careers. One of the most helpful tools for high school students is their LinkedIn Profile Checklist that highlights each section of your profile and explains what should be included.
Hope this was Helpful Aun
The site has well over a million and a half student jobs and internships. And more than 9 in 10 companies use LinkedIn to recruit new hires. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you simply don’t exist in the working world. Think of LinkedIn as your resume that never sleeps. But a lot more. It's your professional brand in the world.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE
In 2013, LinkedIn lowered its minimum age requirement from 18 to 14. More and more high schools are now offering classes that teach students how to make the most of LinkedIn. LinkedIn gives students the power to post their skills and interests — something they’re proud of and want colleges and potential employers to find. When you connect to favorite teachers, coaches and mentors on LinkedIn, you make it easy for them to stay in touch and follow your progress. They can write better recommendations and continue to support you.
MOVE TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS
According to LinkedIn Aun, only 9% of high school students use LinkedIn, meaning those who do have a better chance of standing out from their peers. In fact, social media experts are coaching students to create well thought-out profiles on LinkedIn and bringing them to the attention of college admissions officers. While there’s no official spot to link to your profile on a college application, there’s a good chance someone will look at it if you include it.
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Think about it: Taking the time to craft a LinkedIn profile (even if your experience is light) tells a potential boss that you’re serious about your future in the work force. LinkedIn is a unique social platform because it is designed specifically for professional networking. If you’re looking for an internship or part-time job, LinkedIn has well over 1.5 million student jobs and internships up for grabs. And it’s easy to search for specific companies, schools, or fields you’re interested in.
START YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING NOW
Creating a LinkedIn profile from scratch can be a little intimidating, especially when the site keeps emphasizing that you need to complete as many sections as possible to have a competitive online presence. While it is true that the more LinkedIn features you use the better, it’s not necessary to have content for every section on your profile. Just be sure to be professional and thorough in the sections you do complete.
• PHOTO – A high-quality profile picture of just you (no friends cropped out) in appropriate clothes and smiling.
• HEADLINE – An informative yet catchy headline that succinctly tells people what you do and what you’re excited for in the future.
• SUMMARY – A smart summary statement to highlight your experience, qualifications, and goals, but also show a bit of personality.
• EXPERIENCE – Thorough work and volunteer experience — both are equally important to recruiters. Even include
photos and/or videos from your work you accomplished at each. Admissions officers and employers often see volunteer experience as just as valuable as paid work.
• HONORS & AWARDS – Internships, noteworthy projects, honors, awards, and your GPA, don't be shy. Let the world know about it!
• LEADERSHIP – Whether you led a team assignment in school or built an app on your own, talk about what you did and how you did it.
• SKILLS & EXPERTISE – Add at least 5 key skills and then your connections can endorse you for the things you are best at.
• A unique LinkedIn URL to easily share your profile with others. e.g. www.linkedin.com/in/OttawaAun
https://university.linkedin.com/
To help young people get started, LinkedIn has created an online LinkedIn University, completely dedicated to supporting students while they apply to higher-education institutions and start their careers. One of the most helpful tools for high school students is their LinkedIn Profile Checklist that highlights each section of your profile and explains what should be included.
Hope this was Helpful Aun
Thank you for such a well-written answer! Definitely gave me ideas about projects and leadership skills that I can put on my Linkedin profile! Thanks once again for dedicating your time to inspire others!
Aun
Your Welcome Aun, It was may pleasure. You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
Doc Frick
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
I recommend it. As a professional with a big presence on LinkedIn, I have high school students reaching out to me to connect. They understand the importance of having a LinkedIn account and networking. Early on in your job history, this is a great way for high school students to find the people who have experience in their particular field and to network with seasoned people in their particular field who could provide them with advice or guidance. Professionally, LinkedIn is good for setting up an account that helps you look serious and professional to possible employers. Gaining those skills applies to your path as a professional or as a job seeker.
Updated
Liam’s Answer
Hello Aum, great question. Linkedin is great when applying for a professional position. Many employers will look up your profile as a supplement to your resume. Putting work history like summer/after-school jobs shows that you are ready to enter the working force and network. I got many skill endorsements from my peers at university and employers see that. When to get a Linkedin? As soon as you have any job, no matter what it is. Best of luck!
Thank you for the answer, Liam! Yes, I've seen many of my friends get endorsements from their fellow peers as well, and it definitely helped them get into the program I'm aiming for as well. It might also be good to keep a record of experience so I can hopefully gain an internship!
Aun
Rebecca Gitomer
CareerVillage.org TeamFundraising, Partnerships, and Art
19
Answers
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
I think a Linkedin page is something that will differentiate you! It is definitely not something employers will hold against you while you're in high school, but will certainly help you stand out and make you look professional. I created a Linkedin in high school as I was also applying to internships and it was great to have all my skills organized in one place. In general, thinking about your skills is a helpful exercise and Linkedin helps you organize your thoughts! I would also recommend creating a Linkedin early on as you can make sure to stay organized as your professional experience grows. I hope this is helpful!
Create your profile!
Rebecca, CareerVillage.org Team recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for your answer! That's a really good point to make, I've never thought about it as an outlet to organize and think about the skills I possess, and ones I need to focus on developing or acquire!
Aun
Exactly! Linkedin has a lot of suggestions to help with that. I'd also recommend checking out other profiles of professionals you think are interesting/would be something you'd like to do and get a feel for their path.
Rebecca Gitomer, Admin
Updated
Katerina’s Answer
I think it all depends on how you use it. If you plan on using it like social media, I would not recommend it and instead say to stay focused on school. However, if you use it like a digital resume and a way to show of your accomplishments to potential internships and employers, then it's great! Most hiring managers that I know have a process, read the resume and then check LinkedIn. Resumes should never be longer than 1 page so LinkedIn is a great way to provide a lot more information about yourself and accomplishments. That can really make you stand out! As a minor, I would not recommend any deeper usage than as a digital resume.
Thank you so much! Yes, a digital resume and a way to pinpoint skills I need to develop are the only reasons I will be using LinkedIn! The few connections I do have are only my family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc). Once again, I appreciate your insight! All the best!
Aun
Updated
Toshiba L’s Answer
It can be a bit tricky. LinkedIn is a great resource for networking and finding career opportunities. I personally would not suggest it for you due to the fact that high school children are still minors. I for one have had a couple of incidents where men were reaching out to me for non job related things. Some of them turned to full blown sexual harassment. Also, I'm not aware of any programs that would allow minors to do internships because of the liability factors. As a mother of a high school daughter, I would recommend that you go through programs within your school. There are various programs that your school can get you involved in. My daughter for one, last year had college readiness programs to were during the summer, each week they visited a different college campus and toured it with the admin professionals. Many junior colleges also partner up with firms/businesses to showcase their students. I hope this answers your question. Good luck
Thank you for your answer. Although some companies may not hand out internships to high school students, I will have some experience with the industry through earning a co-op credit. In addition, I am not looking for a paid internship, rather, it will be unpaid and likely not causing any deficit for the company or me. And I’m sure that consensual agreements and contracts can be arranged to ensure that I recognize the risks and liabilities of taking on the internship. You do make a good case for LinkedIn, however, with references to your own experience of men reaching you for non-job related things. In this case, I would likely network within a community that I know closely and trust, to know the ins and outs of the platform, and branch off to the unknown.
Aun
Updated
Rich’s Answer
I have two kids who are High School students, and I'm an adult registered leader in two different youth scouting programs. My level of paranoia is probably great than others who have responded here because of the training I've received. I do my best to protect my kids's personal information, and try to help them limit the information that leaks through social media. There are bad people out there who target young people. That being said, you can't live your life disconnected from the world. I have not looked at Paula Robb's information above yet, but I plan to do it later today. My main advice is to limit the type of personal information you leak. Make sure you talk with your parents or guardians before responding to inquiries. Good luck to you, and kudos for looking towards your future.
Thank you for the thoughtful answer, Rich! I appreciate you looking out for me, and you bring up a lot of great points. My plan is to the only network inside organizations and even my family since I recognize that a lot of older individuals could target with harmful intentions. I admire your good parenting and wish you all the best in your future as well. Thanks again!
Aun
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Hi Aun,
Great question! I work at LinkedIn and I'm excited to see you're thinking about this as a great opportunity for you so early on. I agree with what a lot of the answers already here and I hope this only helps you in your decision.
It will never hurt you to have a LinkedIn profile. If anything, it helps you stand out in the talent pool, like others mentioned. Think of it like your resume but just a step beyond that. Your profile is a digital way to tell your story, who you are, what you're passionate about, what you're skilled at, and more to your network and prospective employers. You own your profile (not your school, university, company, etc.). No one else can speak for you aside from you so let your profile really show who you are and what you want to do.
There are two great resources I recommend to people starting off on LinkedIn. The first is a quick breakdown of tips and tricks when creating a profile. Link is here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rock-your-linkedin-profile-5-easy-steps-perry-van-beek?articleId=6415680603823362048
If your school offers Lynda.com or LinkedIn Learning to you, I highly recommend taking this course by a fellow LinkedIn employee on how to rock your profile. Course link is here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/rock-your-linkedin-profile
Again, kudos to you for thinking of this early on and please feel free to reach out with any questions along the way. Best of luck to you!
Great question! I work at LinkedIn and I'm excited to see you're thinking about this as a great opportunity for you so early on. I agree with what a lot of the answers already here and I hope this only helps you in your decision.
It will never hurt you to have a LinkedIn profile. If anything, it helps you stand out in the talent pool, like others mentioned. Think of it like your resume but just a step beyond that. Your profile is a digital way to tell your story, who you are, what you're passionate about, what you're skilled at, and more to your network and prospective employers. You own your profile (not your school, university, company, etc.). No one else can speak for you aside from you so let your profile really show who you are and what you want to do.
There are two great resources I recommend to people starting off on LinkedIn. The first is a quick breakdown of tips and tricks when creating a profile. Link is here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rock-your-linkedin-profile-5-easy-steps-perry-van-beek?articleId=6415680603823362048
If your school offers Lynda.com or LinkedIn Learning to you, I highly recommend taking this course by a fellow LinkedIn employee on how to rock your profile. Course link is here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/rock-your-linkedin-profile
Again, kudos to you for thinking of this early on and please feel free to reach out with any questions along the way. Best of luck to you!
I appreciate the answer! I'm quite honored to have a worker from LinkedIn themselves answer this question, as it means a lot to me to stand out in the competition as early as possible. I do have lynda.com and those links look great, I'll be sure to check them out! Again, thank you so much for the great answer, if I have any questions I'll be sure to drop them right in the comments over here. All the best!
Aun
Updated
Alecia’s Answer
Never too early to have a LinkedIn profile.
Ask your friends and family to share connections.
You can highlight awards, volunteer work, interests, and job experience
Ask your friends and family to share connections.
You can highlight awards, volunteer work, interests, and job experience
Thank you for your answer! Definitely going to highlight those areas you have mentioned above. With the Covi-19 outbreak though, it's been rough with all the competitions, volunteering opportunities, and job experiences being prolonged! All the best!
Aun
Updated
Paula’s Answer
YES! College-bound or not, it will really set you apart from all the competition.
Google this for some great tips on why you need a profile and how to create it: LinkedIn Tips for High School Students
Best of luck!
Google this for some great tips on why you need a profile and how to create it: LinkedIn Tips for High School Students
Best of luck!
Thank you for the Answer! I appreciate the keywords you've given, I'll be sure to check the tips out! All the best!
Aun
Updated
Amanda’s Answer
LinkedIn is a great networking social media site. Ensure that you are using this site as a professional forum and post often. Connect with those who are already in your chosen field. Viewing profiles will help you understand what education has been obtained as well as the path of life experiences. Follow companies that are related to your chosen field. The value of these connections will be realized!
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
One of the key payoffs for LinkedIn is being able to add people as a connection from your internship. It'd be slightly strange to add a professional adult as a friend on Facebook, Twitter, etc., so LinkedIn gives you a place where you can send messages and keep up with employees you meet during your internship. Plus, you'll be able to list skills that recruiters might be doing keyword searches for.
Updated
Shefali’s Answer
Hi Arun,
LinkedIn is definitely recommended for all students looking to join the professional world. It helps find available opportunities.
Based on your interests, you can never down your options easily. It also keeps you updated on the latest developments in your field of interest.
Personally, it has helped me a lot.
LinkedIn is definitely recommended for all students looking to join the professional world. It helps find available opportunities.
Based on your interests, you can never down your options easily. It also keeps you updated on the latest developments in your field of interest.
Personally, it has helped me a lot.
Updated
Debjeet’s Answer
LinkedIn is mainly helpful for people in college and job. But if you choose your area of interest and want to stay in touch with industry experts, then you can start using LinkedIn from high school.
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Yes! Whether or not you have experience to put on your profile, there are a lot of posts and opportunities to post/ask questions to the LinkedIn community. The earlier you get started on this, the more you get your name out there and the more people who notice you. Post content! Share your perspective on issues!