LinkedIn recently announced LinkedIn University Pages which is a new section of the social network site dedicated to building professional networks. One of the key functions of LinkedIn University is to provide a resource for high school students who are making the important decision of where they want to attend college. It also provides current students with the ability to connect with alumni and employers to apply for internships and full time positions.
LinkedIn was able to develop this powerful connection tool through combining data from tens of thousands of schools worldwide with the educational and career data of 238+ million members. The result is a a robust application that encourages engagement from everyone connected with a higher education institution. College seekers, current students, alumni and educators can all connect and interact on University Pages.
The LinkedIn University interface provides instructions for students to set up their profiles and begin interacting with other LinkedIn members who are connected with the university.
Here’s an example of an University Page from Texas A&M University. Future students considering Texas A&M can explore the careers of alumni and see which fields of expertise the alumni are known for and also find top employers. Prospective students can find campus news and activities. They can also get connected and engage with the campus community.
University Pages gives students a head start to begin building their professional network with fellow students, professors and alumni. Employers are encouraged to post jobs for new college grads through LinkedIn University.
The program is still relatively new and not all universities and colleges have set up their pages at this time. Keep checking LinkedIn if your favorite school has not created a page yet, as new pages are added frequently.
Social media plays an increasingly important role in the business world. It can easily be a professional liability for people who don’t understand how best to use it. For those who approach social media strategically, it can become a valuable career asset.
Here’s another resource on our blog to help students and young professional develop their LinkedIn profiles - What you need to know about social media as a college student
