Are you on LinkedIn? If you’re a student or a recent graduate, you might not see the point of being on a professional social network. But being on LinkedIn early on could make a real difference in your career.

Here are four reasons why you should be on LinkedIn:

1. Take control of your personal brand

If you’ve Googled someone’s name (or maybe your own…), you’ve probably noticed that LinkedIn profiles are among the first results. Having an established profile will make you easy to find by future employers. You probably don’t want that embarrassing blog you wrote when you were 13 to be the first thing they find. You can highlight more than just work experience: think volunteer work, internships, awards, studies, goals and more.

2. Make connections

Start building your professional network now. Connect with other students, academics and professionals that you’ve met at events. Keep a relationship going with them by liking and commenting on their updates and post updates yourself so that they don’t forget about you.

3. Build influence

No work experience? Show that you’re interested and knowledgeable about your industry by mentioning projects, posting interesting articles and commenting on relevant topics. Repurpose some of your essays into blog posts and share your best uni work.

4. Know your industry

Follow potential employers and industry leaders. You’ll be a step ahead of the crowd and know them well when it’s time to apply for a position.

Looking for more clever career tips? Follow La Trobe University on LinkedIn.