LinkedIn is the acknowledged No. 1 site for job seekers and recruiters. It's free and easy to join. Even if you are not in the job market yet, becoming familiar with LinkedIn can open your eyes to the kinds of information that employers seek and also give you practice in filling in templates such as those that applicant tracking systems employ.

Your Task. To become familiar with LinkedIn, set up an account and complete a profile. This consists of a template with categories to fill in. The easiest way to begin is to view a LinkedIn video taking you through the steps of creating a profile. Search for LinkedIn Profile Checklist. It discusses how to fill in information in categories such as the following:
• Photo. Your photo doesn't have to be fancy. Just take a cell phone shot in front of a plain background. Wear a nice shirt and smile.
• Headline. Use a tagline to summarize your professional goals.
• Summary. Explain what motivates you, what you are skilled at, and where you want to go in the future.
• Experience. List the jobs you have held and be sure to enter the information precisely in the template categories. You can even include photos and videos of your work.
You can fill in other categories such as Organizations, Honors, Publications, and so forth. After completing a profile, discuss your LinkedIn experience with classmates. If you already have an account set up, discuss how it operates and your opinion of its worth. How can LinkedIn help students now and in the future?