Have you joined the UMass Lowell Alumni-Student Career Connections LinkedIn group yet?

LinkedIn.com is emerging as one of the most innovative and effective ways to build a professional network, explore career fields and search for jobs.  Aspiring and established professionals are using LinkedIn to find employees, and be found by employers, at an astonishing rate. 

Students, as aspiring professionals, can easily "get LinkedIn" by opening a free account, building a LinkedIn profile, and connecting online with people and groups of professional interest.  The benefits are many:  building an online community of people who can provide referrals and advice; opening the door to resources that enable you to do research into companies and professions of interest; providing online connections that allow you to approach otherwise unknown professionals for one-on-one networking and informational interviewing, and building a professional "brand" that will give potential employers insight into your professional attributes and qualifications.  In fact, in professional circles, it may soon be a detriment to NOT have a LinkedIn presence.

One of the first steps that should be in your LinkedIn strategy is joining UMass Lowell's Alumni-Student Career Connections group, dedicated to the sharing of advice between UMass Lowell alumni and current students.  As a LinkedIn member, you can join the group once you've completed Career Services' Student Agreement for Online Professional Alumni Networking. 

Simply return the signed agreement to Career Services, 1 University Avenue, 328 Southwick Hall, Lowell, MA 01854, and request membership online.  If you have questions about joining and/or making the most effective use of LinkedIn, feel free to call Career Services at 978-934-2355 to schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor.