First Impressions: LinkedIn is definitely a more professional and older member of the social networking family tree, a well succeeding business man, professional and clean-cut. Immediately I see the benefits of being involved in this social networking site.
Second Impression: How legitimate is it for me to add a Nutrition professor from my college back home (I’m pretty sure I’ve never spoken to him)? What about my past positions in companies-how professional does a part-time job as a domestic in a nursing home sound? What about business partners and professional service providers? – I think I may be a few years too early for LinkedIn??
How can a College student use LinkedIn among many different professionals and not feel overwhelmed or simply inferior due to the lack of professional experience?
The Answer: I found on LinkedIn itself, a presentation on the application ‘Slideshare’ that told me 10 things I could do as a student to brand myself as an expert-http://www.slideshare.net/shortdigs/linked-in-for-college-students-presentation
Ø How to blog your work and work your blog
Ø How to become a newsmaker
Ø How to become a published author
These are just three things but all 10 of these tips link you to other application or websites which make these things DO-ABLE. So despite the feeling of being LinkedIn’s younger more inferior, facebook-loving sibling, we as college students can brand ourselves as experts in some sort of manner.
One Response to “Too young for LinkedIn??”
We are a different class of college students every Spring. Together we explore what it means to do business in a "Web 2.0" world. Technology, new businesses, cutting-edge trends, we cover them all! 
I definitely had the same initial thoughts as you, Jane. I felt like I was too young in my professional life to warrant starting a profile on LinkedIn, but you offered some great tips. I guess it’s never too early to start building those connenctions!