I’m part of the Mock Trial team and this year’s case revolves around the issue of age discrimination. The employee who was fired is arguing that she should receive $2.5 million in damages because of emotional distress. In order to receive those damages, however, she must have tried to mitigate those damages by looking for employment. On the witness’s cross, the attorney always has a line of questioning that goes something along the lines of “you didn’t apply for any jobs? You didn’t have a resume? You didn’t attend any networking events? You didn’t even have a LinkedIn account?”

LinkedIn is a resourceful way to find jobs. In the modern age, we see the importance of social media in every aspect of our lives. That applies to our professional lives as well. The use of online platforms to network and extend invitations for employment is becoming increasingly more popular. That’s why it is important to make your social media presence stand out.

Pick and choose what you post carefully, though! Make sure you aren’t posting anything to any of your social media accounts that you would not want an employer to see. It’s incredibly easy to just google a name and find all of those pictures you wish you had untagged yourself from.

One way to bolster that social media presence is to make a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. You can use it to connect with old classmates and friends, discover new employment opportunities, and search for relevant articles for your industry.

LinkedIn is a place for you to develop your professional brand and broadcast that brand to different employers. The more you take the time to develop that brand and your profile, the more likely you are to make connections with employers interested in your work and experience.

So how do you get started with making a good profile? Here are some tips:

1. Always add a professional profile picture.

2. Feel free to include a summary where you explain what your focus is, and what some of your biggest accomplishments are.

3. Your profile should be formatted like your resume, but feel free to include a little more detail.

4. Add your contact info (website, email, portfolio, etc.)! This action will make your profile stronger.

5. Be active- join groups! Joining groups and making connections is how one/you can get endorsements on LinkedIn.

6. To learn more about LinkedIn, check out the Career Center’s Career Guide here. There are tons of tips in the guide. More resources on networking can be found on the Career Center’s website as well.

One group that all of you should join is the UMBC Alumni - Student Networking Group. This group is the perfect place for all of you to get into contact with people looking to hire UMBC students. You can also learn what alumni of UMBC have done post-graduation. There are also tons of posts about ways you can develop your professionalism. Check it out here.

If you’re interested in additional information about how you can improve your networking skills and your LinkedIn profile, on November 14, 2016, from 12-1 PM in Commons 331, the Career Center is hosting a Keys to Success focused on those skills. Make sure to attend so you can get all your questions answered!