In the modern world, everything is done digitally, from shopping to watching movies. So, it doesn’t amaze us that even our careers are held online now. Years and years ago, LinkedIn wasn’t even known much. It was known as a professional boring website. But as soon as college started, I realized that it’s so much more important than I thought it was. It’s really not just about having an online presence, it’s more about how you represent your skills, interests, opportunities online to others.  It also matters how many connections you are making. It may feel like this is not that important but in the longer run these connections and your presence will surely benefit you.

LinkedIn: Not Just for “Professionals”

When I created my LinkedIn account, I only added my college name and a few internships because I wasn’t expecting anyone to notice. After a few days I posted about a project I worked on and to my surprise it got more engagement than all my Instagram posts. Tons of people commented, engaged and even wanted to make connections. I noticed that LinkedIn is not just for professionals or CEOs’, it is for those who want to make their online presence strong and do something in their lives. It’s for learners, college or school students — anyone who’s trying to grow. 

LinkedIn allows you to build an online presence. It’s where you can freely share your achievements, experiences, your qualifications and even learn from others. The best thing is that it’s so easy to access. 

Building a Digital Presence

In today’s world, our digital presence matters a lot. Recruiters nowadays want to see only the digital presence. Doesn’t matter if it’s Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter; these medias’ adds value to your life. And you shouldn’t be scared. It is actually an opportunity. 

For example, if you really like writing, then upload your blogs on LinkedIn or google, that would help reach a varied audience. They surely add value to your resume. One of my seniors actually got an internship because the recruiter saw her online posts on LinkedIn. Another friend got an opportunity to work with Zomato only because of this. This shows that having an online presence really helps you in building your career.

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

There are fewer jobs in the market because the population is on a rise and thus competition is even higher. For one job you can see tons of applications and positions opened are only a few. Marks or theoretical knowledge doesn’t matter now, what matters is your practicality; so if you are not visible online, you might get behind thousands of people even if you are the most talented amongst them. 

Even online networking has completely transformed the way of living. It’s not about just attending events or seminars. Even a single comment like “Interested” or “Insightful” can lead to stronger connections and conversations.

A Few Lessons I’ve Learned

Small start: You don’t need to have an internship in a very big company to create a profile. Even participation in college societies or events can be your start.

Consistency is the key: Posting consistently without any irregularities will help you in building connections.

Engaging: Like, comment and connect with different people. People tend to remember kindness and genuine interest.

Reality is the key: Try to keep everything realistic and not robotic. Write about how you feel, what you are doing, how you try to figure out things, etc.

Final Thoughts

In the end, these media tools like LinkedIn are merely the tools. It is up to you on how you use them. Try and take your time in figuring these out. Taking small steps towards these will help you gain more knowledge about them. It’s not all about flexing, it’s about sharing. And LinkedIn, for sure, gives you your space to create an online presence that’s fair, impactful and honest.

So, take it as a sign to start your LinkedIn profile if you are still hesitating, you never know it could lead to some great paths.