I think LinkedIn gets underestimated a lot. It is a wonderful tool for those wanting to grow their professional network, especially those looking for work. Please keep in mind that any advice I offer is coming from an aerospace engineering industry background and may look a bit different for everyone. Here are some things you should keep in mind about LinkedIn and its many uses..

• Many employers and applications nowadays ask for your LinkedIn profile link. When going through a list of people for a job, the recruiter wants to see your resume which is usually everything relevant to that position and not too long. Having a comprehensive LinkedIn profile may give the recruiter a bit more context to you, as a whole person. Some amazing things that you can consider adding to your profile included volunteer experiences, languages, more notes on your educational background, other projects that did not fit on your resume, and more.
• A good practice is to add people to your network semi-often that you have worked with in some capacity. This could be a simple connection request, or you can include a message about keeping in touch for future job opportunities, getting advice as a fellow engineer, etc.
• Once you have some connections, make an effort to keep in touch! You know who you enjoyed working with or the people that just always seem to be doing really interesting things. Shoot them a message every few months asking how they are doing and what is the coolest thing they have done lately. Little things like this will help you in the long run and may teach you some things outside your usual area of work.
• Interacting with your feed will get you more places than you think.
  • Comment and like people’s posts. If they are sharing an achievement, it’s always nice to support your colleagues and a good way to keep in touch.
  • Keep a lookout for job opportunities if that is what you need. Your feed may show you some posts from your connections’ connections who could post job openings or a message such as “if you are interested in this job, please reach out to me and let’s talk about your passion for this role”. This is your time to shine! Which brings me to my next point…..
• Don’t be afraid to reach out to people. They are human, just like you, and you probably share passions for the same work! If someone posts a job opening, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask about their team, work culture, share your interests for the job, etc. You can also cold-message some people. It is always better if you have a mutual connection since they will be more likely to reply. However, you can look for people at the company you want from the college you went to, and message them about their job. Tell them your situation and share your excitement for what they are doing. You could get a job out of this, or, at the very least, make a new connection!

TLDR: Make a LinkedIn account, build your profile, and don’t be afraid to start reaching out to people.