LinkedIn is a valuable social network for finding connections for professionals.  At the basic level, LinkedIn is free to users.  Using LinkedIn, you can find connections in specific companies, and in specific industries.  You can also display your professional credentials to others who might have an interest in your credentials.

Here’s how to join LinkedIn.

1. Go to the website www.linkedin.com. On the homepage, you will see a box on the right side that says: “Join LinkedIn Today”. Complete the fields in the box.  Where it says: “I am currently”, indicate that you are a student.  Complete the following fields as indicated.
2. Click the Create My Profile button.  You will then receive a message to use your email account to connect to those in your email address book.  Before you connect to everyone in your address book, read the Topic: Building Your LinkedIn Network.  You want to have a strategy for building your network.
3. LinkedIn may be able to connect directly to your email account.  If that’s the case, you will need to click on the button: “Confirm My Yahoo Account.”  If LinkedIn doesn’t connect directly to your email account.  You will receive a confirmation email from LinkedIn.  You will need to complete the instructions in the confirmation email.  You need to do this in order to take advantage of LinkedIn options.
4. You may want to start trying out the various options on LinkedIn to see what they do.

 Many of the options on LinkedIn will be described in subsequent topics. .