Student Workshop

1. for beginners

2. Cara Valentine
Graduate Employer Relations Assistant
valentc01@buffalostate.edu
Career Development Center
CLEV 306
716-878-5811
askcdc@buffalostate.edu

3. Getting to know you…
 Year? Alum?
 What are you studying?
 What do you hope to learn
today?

4. Importance of networking
in your job search…
• What is networking?
o Definition: to develop relationships with people who can
be helpful to one professionally, especially in finding
employment or moving toward a higher position
• Why is networking important?
o Hiring Process
o Endorsement for job application
“The work you do and the relationships you build stay with you forever!”
1. Advertised openings (~10% of all jobs)
2. Company outreach- inquiry
3. Job Fairs or other career events
4. Professional Networking

5. What is LinkedIn?
• Social media website used specifically for professional networking
• 200 million+ members (U.S. & Internationally)
• WHY?
o Manage and market your professional identity-electronic copy
resume
o Build and engage with professionals in your network.
o Access knowledge, insights and opportunities (job, articles,
volunteer, etc)
o RESEARCH: Graduate School, Law School, Companies, Other
professionals, Hiring Managers, etc.
FREE APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR
TABLET

7. LinkedIn 2012 Stats
Recruiters sourcing for
candidates
Job Seekers
LinkedIn 93% 38%
Facebook 66% 52%
Twitter 54% 34%

8. Connections
• LinkedIn: connections not “friends”
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd Connections
• Why?
o Helps you create your niche or area of interest (ie Law,
Education, Fashion, Sales, etc)
o Job, Internship, Volunteer leads
o Build a relationship & help people network- “I scratch your back
you scratch mine”
• My Rule of thumb: Do not connect with anyone who will not benefit
from knowing you or someone in your network
• Understand that different people have different practices/rules for
connecting! (Check out to their profile to see!)

9. LinkedIn Profile
• Let’s take a look at what LinkedIn has to offer!!

10. Groups
• Why?
o Connect with like-minded professionals
related to your industry
o Join discussions by sharing insights, posting
articles or asking a question
o Find people to connect with also in group
o Job, Internship and Volunteer leads
• Join groups that are part of your “niche”
• Alumni Relations is a great tool for networking
o Buffalo State Career Development Center
o Buffalo State Alumni

11. Job Search
• Why?
o Search for jobs and internships posted on
LinkedIn
o A lot of recruiters/ hiring managers are now
ONLY advertising their job openings on
LinkedIn
o You can save job openings in different
industries (up to 10 searches) emailed to you
daily, weekly or monthly.
o Student Jobs feature:
www.linkedin.com/studentjobs

12. Follow Companies
• Why?
o Industry insight
o Find new professionals to connect with
o Track changes and development
o Job or Internship advertisements
o Generate job leads (expansions, promotions, job changes, etc)

13. New Feature: Alumni
Tool

14. QUESTIONS???
Cara Valentine
valentc01@buffalostate.edu
Connect with me!!
@cara10valentine