LinkedIn: Start Building Your Online Resume
Let’s face it, we’re all paranoid when it comes to finding a job in a few months or a year or two down the road. Hell, you almost need to take a class to learn all the in’s and out’s of resume writing.
With all this Web 2.0 business going on, someone has invented a Resume 2.0. LinkedIn serves as a resume and networking hub for any user savvy enough to sign up.
When you first log in to LinkedIn, you create your own profile. Think of it as a professional version of MySpace or Facebook: you get to write about yourself for others to see. Once you’ve completed your profile, you can provide potential employers a link to your profile when you send them your resume.
A notable feature is also the ability to get recommendations from past employers, if your past employers happen to a) want to give you a recommendation and b) are on the LinkedIn.
For any senior who’s worrying about securing a job shortly after graduation, LinkedIn will be necessary; it will set you apart from other people vying for the same job. But if you aren’t going to graduate soon, it gives you an excuse to egotistically write about yourself for a good 30 minutes or so. Check out my LinkedIn profile that I whipped up while sipping a divine latte this morning.
Get yourself a job: LinkedIn
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Sutton is a software engineer at blip.tv in New York City. During his days at Loyola Marymount University , he founded HackCollege. He earned degrees in film production and computer science (and took a fifth year). Kelly started HackCollege in August of 2006. While in school, Kelly was involved in Crimson Circle, a service organization at LMU; played on Laser Squad Bravo , the campus improv team; ran the underground media outlet, Fuck Yeah LMU ; and taught LMU's first Web video class and held odd jobs around campus throughout his tenure. Kelly started HackCollege in August of 2006. While in school, Kelly was involved in Crimson Circle, a service organization at LMU; played on Laser Squad Bravo , the campus improv team; ran the underground media outlet, Fuck Yeah LMU ; and taught LMU's first Web video class and held odd jobs around campus throughout his tenure. Kelly held some pretty awesome internships throughout college at Automatic Duck , Revision3 and blip.tv. He is quite the weird guy. He sold all of his possessions through his site, Cult of Less . The world apparently cared, along with the BBC, NBC Nightly News, CBC and Der Spiegel. Kelly is also a founder of LayerVault , a simple version control service for designers. Kelly has spoken at a few conferences including South by Southwest , 140conf and Trandmediale . Although he finds the word dirty, Kelly has consulted for many projects including TakePart , a subsidiary of Participant Media ( An Inconvenient Truth , The Cove , Syriana ) and Capture Your Flag . He has also published his very own guide to Berlin. Kelly is @ KellySutton on Twitter. Kelly can be reached at kelly@hackcollege.com
