Did you know LinkedIn was launched in the early 2000s, even before Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat started? And it’s becoming more relevant than ever! LinkedIn is the largest professional networking website in the world, with over 722 million members worldwide and 11 million just in Australia. Around 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source candidates and thus, having an active profile can significantly increase the chances of your discovery by various companies looking to hire people based on your skills and experience.

If you are a student or recent graduate and don't have a lot of experience, you can use LinkedIn to highlight your skills, personal projects, build connections and get endorsements. Today, we have listed some of the many features you can use to leverage your LinkedIn profile and get noticed:

1 - Photo, Headline, Location and Summary

Those items are the first to appear and require special attention to make your profile stand out. Choose a friendly professional photo, write a catchy headline (which can be composed of Industry keywords), expose your location and create an engaging summary. In addition, if you don't have a common name or know it can lead to different spelling pronunciations, recording your name pronunciation (new feature launched this year) might be an interesting idea.

2 - Courses, Languages, Publications

You can describe courses, languages, publications, certifications or team projects that demonstrate the skills you’ve developed. If you received a prize or recognition, you can also list it under the “accomplishments” section.

3 - Keywords

Using keywords and adding skills you can be endorsed for help companies to identify the most suitable candidates for specific positions.

4 - Education and Experiences

Outline your education and professional experience completely, clearly and concisely. LinkedIn can supplement (or even replace) your resume as you can download it. Make sure you include details about the positions where you worked (including internships and volunteering experience), such as responsibilities and outcomes, and not just your job titles. You can also showcase your work by featuring your best posts, documents, media, and websites, or listing organisations you’ve been involved with or support.

5 - Endorsements and Recommendations

Getting endorsements and recommendations are essential to leveraging your profile, it’s the so-called “social proof”. Make sure you do the same for your contacts (whether instructors, colleagues, or internship supervisors).

6 - SEO

You can change your URL to “linkedin.com/in/(your full name). It will help you to be found by search engines and then build your digital presence.

7 - Connections

According to LinkedIn, 70% of jobs are found through networking. Connect with as many relevant people as possible (students, teachers and industry professionals). Grow your network by sending personalised LinkedIn connection requests to them or starting conversations. LinkedIn also helps you connect with alumni from your college - find your school’s page and click the “See alumni” button.

8 - Groups

Join groups to learn about the industries you want to get into and also contribute with your opinion. Doing so you can begin to connect with others in similar fields or interests.

Well, as you can see, LinkedIn is an excellent tool to stay connected and be seen. Make sure you make the best use of it and remember – it’s free!