Business schools love to tout the power of LinkedIn. Anytime I meet with someone from the Career Center, one of the first questions they undoubtedly will ask is: "Are you on LinkedIn?" As a matter of fact, I am on LinkedIn - and let me tell you Mr. Career Center Man, it is not as magical as you make it out to be.My profile is up-to-date. I've got 59 connections. My resume is uploaded....but yet no magical mystery job offer has ended up in my inbox.
This is not to say that I expected that to happen - but going off of some of the recent advice I've received, it made it seem like a reality.
Phone calls, networking, handshakes, being persistent but not pushy - these are the golden keys to networking. Especially when you're a college senior with no real work experience (outside of internships) to show for yourself.
Do I see LinkedIn as a useful networking site for people out of school? YES! You probably have connections to former co-workers, friends who actually have jobs - instead of undergrads, whose connections consist of other students and relatives (who you probably should be calling anyway).
Get out from behind your computer, don your nicest suit/skirt - and go get em the ole fashioned way. Save LinkedIn for a few years down the road because right now it'll just slow you down.
