Advantages and Challenges of Having a LinkedIn Profile and Developing Professional Network in University

The article critically discusses the advantages and potential challenges of having a LinkedIn profile at the student stage of the career. It also suggests possible solutions to the problems. Additionally, it provides a plan for developing a professional network in university. The article includes in-text citations and a reference list.

ACTIVITY 3: CAREERS AND TECHNOLOGY
To be completed after Workshop 8 – due in following week.
Based on the content of last week’s lecture and this week’s workshop, you should:
a) Critically discuss the advantages and potential challenges at your stage of the career of having
a LinkedIn profile. Your discussion should identify possible solutions to the problems.
b) Include a screenshot of your own LinkedIn profile. (If you are not willing to use this social media
platform then write a paragraph (200 words) on how you are planning to develop your
professional network while in university).
If you use academic sources, then you must include in-text citations and a Reference List.
a) Some of the important factors of advantages having a Linkedln profile is:
Having an online resume, Various job opportunities, no more job hunting, Students having
Linkedln profiles are considered to be more forward-thinking, up dated with the technology
and open for new opportunities and challenges.
Apart from the advantages, some of the noteworthy challenges of having Linkedln profiles
are: It is necessary to put up a nice profile picture even if the student is not willing to. It
requires day to day updated information; it may not be possible for every individual to update
their resume every other day. Linkedln profiles requires 1000 recommendations and a fancy
title for the employers to get attracted to the student’s profile (Zide, Elman and Shahani-
Denning 2014). Sometimes vague and fraud employers also disturb the job seekers and
engage in irrelevant conversations. Students should be careful while applying for any job,
look for the company website and consider the reviews and ratings for the organizations
applied to.
b) Plan to develop professional network in university
In today’s competitive world, it very difficult for the students to get their desired jobs.
Linkedln is a popular platform of professionals where employers can connect to the
employment seekers and the students looking for jobs. A Linkedln profile provides various
types of advantages to the students and the fresh pass outs to search for jobs (Chiang and
Suen 2015). University students can structure their network while staying in the university.
Firstly, they can approach their seniors and the recent pass outs to recommend them. Besides,
they can approach the professors of the universities and enquire if there is any vacancy for the
assistant posts under them (He 2017). Following up after each and every communication is
essential especially in the case of university professors. Students should immediately ask the
professors if he can forward his resume in the professor’s mail or fax. He should quickly do
the same with a thanking note for the help they offered after mentioning the area and the field
the students want to work at. Students should also approach their class mates and fellows. If
the student has been called back by any one or got email from any employers or professors
suggesting for jobs, they should immediately acknowledge and revert them back with the best
resume format that includes all the achievements and rewards the student has gained
throughout.
Student Number:

References
Chiang, J.K.H. and Suen, H.Y., 2015. Self-presentation and hiring recommendations in
online communities: Lessons from LinkedIn. Computers in Human Behavior, 48, pp.516-
524.
He, Y., 2017. Embodiment of University Counselor’s Professional Ability in Student
Work. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 13(10), pp.6847-
6852.
Zide, J., Elman, B. and Shahani-Denning, C., 2014. LinkedIn and recruitment: How profiles
differ across occupations. Employee Relations, 36(5), pp.583-604.
Student Number:

Student Number: