THE MAJORITY OF students leave finding a job or internship until after they have finished their exams, according to LinkedIn.
The professional networking group said that activity by Irish students on the website peaks in the second week of June.
LinkedIn spokesperson Wendy Murphy said the company’s data “shows that Irish students are typically focused on exams during the academic year, with the majority only pursuing job opportunities and internships after their exams have finished”.
“As a result, there is typically fierce competition for the positions that are available, which means that students have to try and stand out from the crowd.”
With this in mind, the company has released advice for graduates trying to navigate the ‘student scramble’:
1. Stand out from the crowd
Perfect your profile to make sure you stand out from the crowd. The more complete it is, the more interesting it will be to others, so make sure you fill out each section to boost your chances of being ‘found’ by recruiters and potential employers.
2. Make sure to include a profile photo
An interview starts the moment someone searches for you online and your first impression is your profile photo. Make sure you include a photo on your LinkedIn profile – we’ve found that it can make you up to 14 times more likely to be viewed by one of LinkedIn’s one million Irish members.
3. Network to get work
Having a strong network is essential; you can use it for recommendations and to ask for introductions into a job or opportunity in which you are interested. By connecting to at least 50 trusted contacts you will increase your chances of getting in touch with people and companies that will help you get ahead in your job hunt.
By using the website’s University Pages, students can also find and contact alumni that are already working in their dream job or field who could potentially offer them advice or give them a helping hand.
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