The Student
Job Hunting
Handbook
Part 2
Job Searching for Students
and Recent Graduates
1
Introduction
The Student Job
Hunting Handbook
Part 2
Job Searching for Students
and Recent Graduates
Before you begin the job search, you’ll need to
know where to look and which tools can help.
Our second installment in the Student Job Hunting
Handbook series will cover tips, tactics and strategies
for job searching.
2
Introduction
If you’re just getting started, read
Part 1 before continuing with Part 2.
In Part 1, we discuss tactics and tools
to jump-start your journey.
Part 1: Getting Started
Download Now
Are you ready to start interviewing?
Consider downloading Part 3,
which features real-world insights
and interview tactics.
Part 3: Interviewing
Download Now
3
Part 2
Table of Contents
Section 1: How LinkedIn Can Help
5
You Land Your First Job
Section 2: How LinkedIn’s Alumni
8
Tool Can Help
Section 3: Using LinkedIn to Develop
12
and Strengthen Connections
Section 4: 3 LinkedIn Connection
14
Request Templates
Section 5: Unlock the Hidden Power
18
of the Informational Interview
Section 6: How LinkedIn Company
21
Pages Can Help
Section 7: 4 Ways to Join Conversations
23
Using LinkedIn Groups
Section 8: LinkedIn Member
25
Success Story
Section 9: Additional Resources 28
Section 1 of 9
Section How LinkedIn Can Help—
1 Student Jobs App Intro
The LinkedIn students app can help you
land your first job.
It’s a good idea to begin exploring your options early
on. The sooner you dive in, the faster you will feel in
control of what’s next. The new Students App can take
the guesswork out of your job search. Here are some
of the most helpful features:
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Section 1 of 9
Hand-picked Articles
Custom content and stories chosen
by other students to empower and
prepare you.
Role Suggestions
Role suggestions based on your
school, major and profile to help you
uncover unexpected opportunities.
Company
Recommendations
Ongoing suggestions for companies
to watch that regularly hire students
with your major and from your school.
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Section 1 of 9
Consider This Job
Job listings based on your profile.
Save your favorite jobs and apply
when you’re ready.
Alumni Connect
A rotating cast of recent alumni with
majors similar to yours. View their
path and reach out for advice!
Android App iOS App
Download Now Download Now
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Section 2 of 9
Section How LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool
2 Can Help
What they do Where they work What they're skilled at
Education 12,319 M&T Bank 830 Microsoft Office 26,613
Engineering 10,345 Citi 583 Customer Service 21,295
Healthcare Services 9,512 Roswell Park Cancer Institute 436 Microsoft Excel 19,995
Sales 9,427 Wegmans Food Markets 369 Management 19,969
Operations 9,069 HSBC 342 Public Speaking 19,925
Entrepreneurship 7,051 Buffalo State College 315 Leadership 19,540
Research 6,845 First Niagara Bank 300 Research 18,052
Information Technology 6,231 Moog Inc. 298 Microsoft Word 16,275
Finance 5,785 IBM 295 PowerPoint 295
The professional world can feel foreign
among soon-to-be graduates.
If you’re wondering where your degree could lead,
LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool—found on your University Page—
can help you explore the possibilities. Here you will find
useful alumni connections and discover companies that
hire from your school. Here are a few ways to make the
most of the Alumni Tool:
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Section 2 of 9
What they do
Education 12,319
Engineering 10,345
Healthcare Services 9,512
Sales 9,427
Operations 9,069
Entrepreneurship 7,051
Research 6,845
Information Technology 6,231
Finance 5,785
Discover Where Your Degree Can Take You
Using the Alumni Tool, you can find common career
paths for students who graduated with your degree.
Narrow results to find alumni in a specific location,
company, or occupation. Then, get social by connecting
with the most relevant professionals you find. They may
be quite happy to help you along in your journey.
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Section 2 of 9
Where they work
M&T Bank 830
Citi 583
Roswell Park Cancer Institute 436
Wegmans Food Markets 369
HSBC 342
Buffalo State College 315
First Niagara Bank 300
Moog Inc. 298
IBM 295
Target Companies
Companies tend to hire graduates from specific
schools. The Alumni Tool displays the top 25 employers
for your school based on where alumni work. Starting
your search with these organizations will put you well
on your way.
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Section 2 of 9
What they're skilled at
Microsoft Office 26,613
Customer Service 21,295
Microsoft Excel 19,995
Management 19,969
Public Speaking 19,925
Leadership 19,540
Research 18,052
Microsoft Word 16,275
PowerPoint 295
Identify the Skills You Need
The Alumni Tool surfaces professionals with your degree
and background. Take stock of their skills, using this
as a starting point for goal-setting and skill-mapping.
Consider reaching out to ask a few questions about how
they learned the ropes after college.
Find My University Page
11
Section 3 of 9
Section Using LinkedIn to Develop and
3 Strengthen Weak Connections
Advice from an Expert:
Jim Citrin, CEO Recruiter
Just say “networking” and you will see many young
professionals break out in a cold sweat. Relax. There’s
no need for faking it. It's all about building organic
and lasting relationships. Whether you realize it or not,
you already have plenty of contacts you can add to
your LinkedIn network. As you embark on a new career
path, consider the following tactics for building your
LinkedIn connections:
12
Section 3 of 9
Connect with Friends
Whether you met in biology class or at a student event,
the peers you interact with in college are perfect
candidates for growing your network. You never know
where they’ll end up.
Prioritize Super-Connectors
It’s not just about who you know. Who your connections
know matters too. That’s why you should connect on
LinkedIn with peers with the largest networks. These
relationship builders can give you a head start in your
job search.
Learn From Groups
Join relevant LinkedIn Groups where you can learn
from like-minded professionals. Keep in mind, you
can direct message group members. One more way
to widen your network!
Learn More about Groups
13
Section 4 of 9
Section 3 LinkedIn Connection
4 Request Templates
Most LinkedIn members are open to
connection requests.
Although you’ll need a good reason for connecting
in the first place, which your custom connection
message should demonstrate. The following are the
top connection types and templates for starting off
on the right foot:
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Section 4 of 9
1 Someone You’ve Never Met
Whether a professional from a LinkedIn Group,
someone you admire, recruiter, or alumni, finding
common ground should be your primary goal. Get their
attention and quickly validate yourself. Consider using
the following template:
Dear (insert name),
I have been reading your blog for six months and really
appreciate the insights you share. I even quoted your
most recent piece in my capstone thesis paper.
I would love to spend twenty minutes hearing how
you got started and get some feedback about skills
I could develop. Please let me know if you would be
willing to chat.
Thank you,
—(Insert name)
15
Section 4 of 9
2 Someone from Your Past
Even if you worked together previously, this contact
might not remember you right away. Therefore, stress
the capacity in which you worked together. Consider
using the following template:
Dear (insert name)
I enjoyed working with you at (insert company)
from 2009-2010. In fact, I still use some of the
Excel workarounds you taught me!
If you are free sometime in the next month, I would
love to catch up and hear more about your role at
(insert company).
Best,
—(Insert your name)
16
Section 4 of 9
3 Someone You Know
Even close acquaintances appreciate positive vibes.
When connecting with current colleagues, compliment
them on recent projects, interests, or strengths.
Consider the following template:
Hi (insert name),
I’m excited to be working with you in the (insert company
division). I have heard nothing but glowing reviews of
your leadership so far.
I’m excited to pitch in and help out in any way I can!
Best,
—(Insert your name)
17
Section 5 of 9
Section Building Relationships through
5 Informational Interviews
Networking is truly just an extension
of your social life.
It's about building organic relationships rooted in
professional respect. Informational interviews are a great
way capitalize on these relationships, build conversational
skills and learn more about companies. Here are some
ways to rock your informational interviews.
18
Section 5 of 9
Don’t Ask for a Job
Once you’re face-to-face with the interviewer, you
may be tempted to go for gold. Instead, plant seeds
and gather intel. Approach it with a humble attitude,
seeking specific career advice.
Take the Lead
In a job interview, you’re typically answering all the
questions. An informational interview is your opportunity
to ask questions. Conduct research beforehand on the
company and your interviewers via LinkedIn profiles
and the company’s LinkedIn company page. Be sure
to prepare questions in advance.
Listen Actively
Listening is half of communication. Respond both
verbally by asking follow up questions and non-verbally
by maintaining eye contact. This conveys listening skills
and builds rapport.
Leave the Door Open
At the end of the interview, ask if there are other
company contacts who could also help. Additionally,
they may know about companies who are hiring. Ask for
permission to stay in touch. Finally, be sure to follow up
with a thank you note, no later than 3 days later.
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Section 6
5 of 9
“Do your homework!
Prepare relevant questions
for your interview. This is a
chance to learn everything
about the company!”
— Jim Citrin, CEO Recruiter
20
Section 6 of 9
Section How LinkedIn Can Help—
6 Company Pages
Company pages can help you prepare
for an interview.
Company research is a crucial step before each
interview. With over 3 million companies already
on LinkedIn, Company Pages are the perfect place
to learn about a company’s operations, current
news, employees and more. Here are 4 ways
LinkedIn Company Page can help:
21
Section 6 of 9
1 Discover Top-of-Mind Topics
Most company pages contain a feed of recent articles
and announcements. Take a hard look at the news they
share. This will reveal company initiatives and topics.
For an easy way to stay up-to-speed during your search,
simply follow your target companies on LinkedIn.
2 Uncover Connections
The “How You’re Connected” tool shows who you
might know at a company. If you’re not connected
directly, looking at the 2nd degree connections will
show which of your 1st degree connections can make
an introduction. Reach out to current employees to
learn about the company’s culture.
3 Align on Culture and Values
Most Company Pages contain a mission statement of
some kind. Seek to uncover where your values align
with a prospective employer. You’ll have a much better
answer when the hiring manager asks, “Why do you
want to work for us?”
4 Find Similar Companies
Each company page will have a “People Also Viewed”
section. This is a great tool for finding companies you
hadn’t yet considered.
View LinkedIn’s Company Page
22
Section 7 of 9
Section 4 Ways to Join Conversations
7 Using LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn Groups can expand your
connections beyond friends and
fellow alumni.
You can meet professionals who share your
career interests and gain insider knowledge from
leading industry voices. Here are four ways to use
LinkedIn Groups:
23
Section 7 of 9
1 Listen and Learn
Groups allow professionals to listen in and collect
insights for future interviews. Best of all, you can find
conversations taking place between professionals with
your dream job—and those in charge of hiring for your
dream job.
2 Demonstrate Your Knowledge
Groups are a good place to start building your
professional reputation. Take the first step by sharing
relevant articles or commenting on a topic. Your voice
can be just as informative as any other professional.
3 Grow Your Network
Groups allow members to see the full profile of anyone
else in the same group. It’s a great way to learn the lingo
and connect with new professionals. Start with groups
for students or the alumni of your college.
4 Insider Tips
• Recruiters and HR staff regularly post jobs in groups,
often exclusively. Keep an eye on your groups to get
the first crack at the best opportunities.
• View senior professionals profiles to see what groups
they participate in.
Get Started with LinkedIn Groups
24
Section 8 of 9
Section LinkedIn Member
8 Success Story
Advice from an Expert: Rutha Nuguse
Building Relationships Early and Often
Using LinkedIn
After reading that strong, professional relationships
would be her ticket to a good job, Rutha started
planning her path to career success as a senior in
high school. After several internships, Rutha landed a
full-time job as a Software Validation Engineer at Intel.
Below, Rutha shares her favorite LinkedIn features and
how they helped her advance her career faster:
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Section 8 of 9
Starting with a Complete and
Compelling Profile
Rutha started by uploading a profile photo, filling out
her work experience, listing her accomplishments and
sharing awards. Finally, she validated her experience
by getting recommendations from teachers and former
employers. “Recommendations were key,” Rutha told
us. “They demonstrated that my experience, skills and
languages were totally legitimate.”
Building Influence with LinkedIn Groups
Rutha quickly learned she could make an impact
by joining relevant conversations via LinkedIn Groups.
"I used [LinkedIn Groups] to stay current and jump in on
industry conversations,” Rutha reported. “I got more
profile views and my connections went way up.”
Leveraging the LinkedIn App at Events
Finally, Rutha built relationships fast by using the
LinkedIn app at networking events. “I used the app as
a business card,” Rutha said. “I would go to events and
add people right when I met them.” At one event, Rutha
met an Intel employee. She struck up a conversation,
connected on LinkedIn, then followed up afterwards
with her resume. She was hired a month later.
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Section 8 of 9
“Get involved, update your
profile and stay connected
with everyone. 90% of people
at events have LinkedIn, so I
always add them right away
using the mobile app.”
— Rutha Nuguse
27
Section 9 of 9
Section Additional Resources
9
Nice work! Finishing this guide puts you one step
closer to your dream job. Ready to start interviewing
for jobs? Then Part 3 is for you. In our final Job Hunting
Handbook, we discuss real-world insights, interview
tips and networking tactics for getting the job.
Part 3: Interviewing
Download Now
If you’re just getting started with your search, consider
downloading the first guide in our series.
Part 1: Getting Started
Download Now
28
