Teaching (Public Relations) Graduates to Professionally Use LinkedIn

Teaching (Public Relations) Graduates to Professionally Use LinkedIn

To Colleagues in Public Relations and Other Professions:

It's that time of year, when college seniors jump into water fountains to catch flying mortarboards.

It's also the time to build their LinkedIn networks and create a different kind of splash.

Let's congratulate them and help them launch their careers by teaching them to use LinkedIn as a professional.

A LinkedIn connection, with whom I had little previous correspondence, sent me a LinkedIn message in February on behalf of his daughter and her job search. She was about to graduate from a prestigious college, had studied Public Relations and worked in internships.

Adhering to my usual practice, I offered to receive the student's resume and gave my email address, indicating that she should mention his name. Two weeks later, the contact thanked me via LinkedIn. The student, however, did not write or send a resume.

A few days later the contact reached out again, this time by email, with a request to allow the student to pick my brain. His daughter was cc'd, using both her personal and school email addresses. Later that week, the student took his hint and sent me the standard LinkedIn request.

Having been a college professor, I recognized this request to connect as a teachable moment. Using the above-noted email addresses, I wrote directly to the student that I decline the LinkedIn connection due to:

  1. Use of default LinkedIn request. 
  2. Omission of a reference of how we know each other and what the WIIFM, or benefit of connection with her, is to me.
  3. Failure to follow the instructions given to her parent, namely, to send her resume via email, citing him as our mutual contact.

The connection, who was more assiduous and professional about conducting the job search than the student herself, was copied on the email.

As you can see, the student did pick my brain, although not in the way she (and her parent) had planned.

She received free job search advice on how to utilize LinkedIn.

You are welcome to use this approach when you (and your colleagues) receive similar requests from clueless students seeking to join us in the Public Relations field -- and any other profession.

And to all you graduates and the proud family members who support you -- Congratulations and good luck in the next phase of your life's journey.

About Janet L. Falk

I provide Public Relations and Marketing Communications services to law firms, consultants and small businesses that want to attract new clients and retain customers. I help nonprofit organizations generate media coverage to drive attendance to their events and supporters to their cause. You'll learn more about me on my website www.janetlfalk.com and my LinkedIn profile www.linkedin.com/in/janetlfalk.

Melissa “Rogo" Rogozinski

Marketing That Leads to Sales | #LegalMarketing | #B2BMarketing |#SaaSMarketing | #Startups | #GenAI | 2016 ACEDS #eDiscovery Person of the Year Nominee | Legaltech News, Law Journal Newsletters, Legal Business World

5y

I support your approach and response to the student, Janet. LinkedIn is a professional resource, abounding with opportunities and possibilities. The grads I’ve helped are blown away by all that LinkedIn offers and how much better it is for networking and job searching.

Like
Reply
Anne Kleinman

Make your SWAG work for you | #PromoProducts | Employee Gifts | Business Gifts to boost your business

8y

Janet your advice rings true, not only for college graduates, but for anyone using LinkedIn. Not only should the invitation not be the default (care should be taken as some of the ways to connect do not have the option of personalizing the message), but students and others who want to seriously use LinkedIn to secure a job or grow their business should look for other opportunities in which they can portray themselves professionally and without spam. An example would be group discussions and commenting on posts. Also, students in particular should remember to proofread before hitting comment - grammar and spelling do count. If one is concerned that they won't catch an error, they can write it in Word and then cut and paste.

Like
Reply
Janet Falk

Media Relations, Public Relations and Marketing Strategy to Help Attorney, Business Owner, Consultant Get in the News, Attract Clients and Grow | Speaker | Podcast Guest

8y

Mel, Very glad to hear this struck a chord with you. Sounds like we have a similar approach in guiding students to succeed by encouraging them to do the work themselves.

Like
Reply
Mary Ellen Miller, APR

Author “Fill the Dam Thing Up!”, Accredited Public Relations Consultant

8y

Janet, this is sound advice. How kind of you to take the time to write and to help other students about to graduate with the proper way to use LinkedIn. It is an invaluable tool for them in the job search process, if they are willing to take the time to learn it. I had a student in one of my LinkedIn for college student workshops who has already had a job interview in another state because he did follow the advice he learned.

Like
Reply

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Explore topics