The last year of college requires a mindset change from being college-minded to career-minded. This shift will help make a smooth transition into the workplace and a successful career. One significant transition is as simple as what type of social networking to engage in. Facebook is fun. More businesses then ever are using Facebook for marketing purposes. LinkedIn, however, is geared more toward professional relationships. It is also an excellent starting point for engaging in more career-minded relationships.

Don’t worry; fortunately, it is not necessary to totally quit Facebook “cold-turkey.” However, make the transition easier by gradually replacing Facebook time with LinkedIn time. Regardless of which site you spend time on, remember that potential employers may check many of your social networking sites. The plus side is that you are already using social networking sites so learning LinkedIn should be relatively simple. Like Facebook and other sites, e-mail contact lists can be imported making it easier to start making connections.

What are some of the benefits of using LinkedIn? LinkedIn provides opportunities to search for internships and entry level jobs. A LinkedIn account allows for potential employers to find you. It also provides the opportunity for you to research companies. Searching for companies and their connections will help you to find out who the major players are in most organizations.

How will employers find you on LinkedIn?

Posting your accomplishments including any volunteer work will show employers that you take initiative and are not just waiting for graduation to work on your job knowledge and skills. Employers will have the opportunity to see your accomplishments before the majority of college graduates are able to send out their resume. If you’re thinking of cold-calling to apply for a job, LinkedIn will save you time and streamline the process.

Join groups. Engage in meaningful conversations and show your knowledge. Hiring managers will come to recognize you when the time comes to recruit for positions within the company.

Plan on moving after you graduate?

LinkedIn opens up your resume to a worldwide audience of employers searching for successful new college graduates.

While LinkedIn is definitely a tool to utilize during your senior year, it is actually an application to begin using once you have decided on a major. The most important concept to remember is that just like a resume, a LinkedIn account is a very visible and powerful marketing instrument. Make sure that all of your entries, including your profile, are professional.