Get Social with LinkedIn

Stay professional: Only post content you’d feel comfortable sharing in the office. LinkedIn is about building your professional brand.

Engage your network: Posting helps more people find you, expands your reach and positions you as an industry expert.

Stand out: Only 1% of LinkedIn users actively post. Since LinkedIn prioritizes original content, your posts have the potential to reach a wider audience.

Share valuable content: Posts should be informative, inspiring or educational. Share industry insights, experiences and professional tips. Post about your accomplishments as well! Your peers and network are excited to celebrate you. 

Tag with purpose: When sharing content from others, credit and tag them to encourage collaboration and engagement.

Examples of content to share
Be sure to customize these examples to your specific experience. Tag people who have been impactful in your journey and thank them for their support.

Academic achievement:

I’m excited to share that I’ve earned a spot on the Dean’s List for the [fall/spring + year] semester at Merrimack College [tag them]! 🎓 It’s an honor to be recognized for my academic achievements, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my professors, peers and family.

This accomplishment motivates me to continue pushing myself to grow, learn and take on new challenges. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead in my academic journey and beyond!

Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way!

Experiential learning opportunity:

I am excited to announce that I have accepted an internship position with [company name – tag them!] this [season/year]! This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in [industry/field] and work alongside professionals who are experts in the field.

I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned at Merrimack College [tag them] to real-world projects, and developing new skills that will set me up for success after graduation. A huge thank you to the [tag O’Brien Center or any mentors/advisors] for their guidance and support throughout this process!

Stay tuned for updates on my journey.

Elected to an e-board:

I’m honored to share that I’ve been elected as a board member of [organization name] at Merrimack College {tag them]! 🎉 I’m excited to work alongside a passionate team of leaders and contribute to making a difference on campus.

As part of this incredible organization, I look forward to helping plan events, fostering a strong community and supporting initiatives that align with our mission to [mention specific goals or values of the organization].

A big thank you to everyone who believed in me—let’s make this year unforgettable!

Join the conversation: Share insights, experiences and facts by commenting or resharing posts.

Use formatting & emojis: Enhance readability with spacing, emojis (shortcut: Windows + . / Ctrl + Cmd + Space) and clear structure.

Keep the discussion going: Mention other commenters to foster engagement.

Stay relevant: Comment on topics you’re knowledgeable about and interested in.

Actively listen: Use thoughtful responses and conversation keepers to contribute meaningfully.

Where to look for connections:

• Search for professionals in your industry or location with shared interests.
• Connect with past/current coworkers, classmates and members of LinkedIn groups.
• Seek out Merrimack alumni in your field or at a company of interest.
• Engage with 2nd and 3rd-degree connections to grow your network.

LinkedIn connection levels:

• 1st-degree: Directly connected after accepting an invite.
• 2nd-degree: Connected to your 1st-degree contacts; requires an invite.
• 3rd-degree: Connected through your 2nd-degree network; may require networking to connect.

What to say in a connection request:

• Greet them politely.
• Introduce yourself (name, role, school, mutual connections or shared interests).
• Explain how you found them (mutual connection, event, job board, LinkedIn search).
• Mention common ground (school, employer, industry, interests).
• State why you want to connect (networking, industry insights, job opportunities).
• Close with a polite and professional sign-off.

Connection Example

Dear [Name],

I’m a current student at Merrimack College and am looking to connect with professionals in [insert field/major/profession]. I found you through our mutual connection, [their name]. I am open to advice on how to succeed in the working world and look forward to hearing from you.

[Your Name]

Use strong visuals: Include a professional profile photo and a relevant background image.

Enhance your headline: Go beyond your job title to highlight your expertise or value.

Personalize your profile: Record and display your name pronunciation.

Craft a compelling summary: Explain why your skills matter and how they make an impact. Include your careers goals and positions of interest. AI tools can help you to do this if you struggle to write about yourself.

Leverage endorsements: Endorse connections for their skills to encourage them to do the same for you.

Showcase learning & achievements: Add LinkedIn Learning certificates and other credentials.

Make it personal: Share a few interests or activities outside of work to make your profile more relatable.

A paid LinkedIn account is not necessary to create and maintain connections, but it’s helpful to know what features are available to free users and what an upgrade would buy you.

With a free acount, others are notified if you view their profile. Think about this when you are browsing. You can turn this off in settings, however, you will lose access to seeing who views your profile.

Free account:

• Create and maintain a professional online identity.
• Build and expand your professional network.
• Search for jobs, companies and industry insights.
• Read and post comments, articles and updates.
• Save job searches and receive weekly alerts.
• Receive unlimited InMail messages (but cannot send them).

Premium account:

• See who viewed your profile over the last 365 days.
• Get unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning for skill development.*
• Send 5 InMail messages per month to recruiters and professionals outside your network.
• Gain Applicant Insights to see how you compare to other candidates.
• Access salary insights to understand compensation trends in your industry.
  
  *Merrimack students get unlimited access LinkedIn Learning for free.

Using Easy Apply:

• Submit applications quickly without creating new accounts or filling out extra forms.
• Attach your LinkedIn resume directly to applications.
• Check for company connections, alumni and recruiter information.
• Be aware: High applicant volume makes it harder to stand out.

Optimizing your profile for employers:

• Employers initially only see your picture, name, location and headline.
• Keep your headline under 30 characters and make it job-specific (e.g., “Marketing Specialist” instead of “Seeking Opportunities”).
• A complete profile with contact details, skills and endorsements increases visibility after applying.

Connecting with recruiters:

1. Search for recruiters on LinkedIn using the search bar.
2. Use filters (Location, Industry: “Staffing & Recruiting”) to refine results.
3. Send a connection request with a personalized message:
   • Greet them by name.
   • Mention how you found their profile.
   • Highlight relevant skills and interest in their company.
4. Once connected, send a thank-you message.
5. Follow up monthly to stay on their radar and express continued interest.

• Join groups related to your studies, job or professional interests to network and stay informed.
• Engage actively by sharing insights, asking questions and participating in discussions.
• Merrimack Alumni group: Stay connected, share career updates and mentor current students. Many alum share job openings here!
• Industry groups: Expand your professional network and gain industry-specific knowledge.

• Follow industry leaders to stay updated and engage with relevant discussions.
• Use hashtags and keywords to search for content in your field.
• Create a custom search string to find relevant posts easily.
• Explore the ‘Content’ tab to discover creators and posts aligned with your interests.

Did you know that LinkedIn has games? Play Crossclimb, Queens and more and share your score with your network to start a conversation! Games reset daily so there is always something to talk about.