Carson White ’20, a marketing major from Canton, Ohio, knew he wanted to work for a mission more than a company and was inspired by LinkedIn’s vision to provide economic opportunities to everyone in the global workforce.
Carson White ’20, a marketing major from Canton, Ohio, is the next student to be featured in the “Career Moves” series that highlights the achievements of Elon students who credit staff in Elon’s Student Professional Development Center for help in achieving their professional goals.
White recently answered questions from the SPDC about his experience.
What were you trying to accomplish when you met with the professional staff in the Student Professional Development Center and what specific help did you receive?
Various SPDC professionals helped me to polish my resume, conduct research, and practice phone, virtual, and in-person interviews. Using STAR responses during mock-interviews helped me to build confidence and skills before the actual interviews. When I received the offer from LinkedIn, we met to discuss the details of the offer and negotiation strategies.
What have you learned from the experience?
Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool, and when practiced and refined, your applicant stock skyrockets. I learned the importance of relating my experiences, strengths and skills to the requirements for the job. Practicing with professionals in the SPDC helped me find my authentic storytelling style, which differentiated me from other candidates.
Tell me about your experience in landing this opportunity at LinkedIn.
My experience was rewarding and gratifying. Every step of the way, I was able to leverage my dynamic international experiences acquired through my time at Elon. As a candidate from a non-traditionally targeted school, I was filled with pride and motivated to succeed. I was excited for the opportunity to present myself, my brand and Elon University.
Throughout the process, LinkedIn’s talent acquisition team was extremely kind and engaged, which made the candidate process feel uniquely mine and special.
Which faculty members did you work with to prepare and what help did you receive?
I worked with Alison Doherty and Kiera O’Donnell. Both Kiera and Alison were very supportive and a pleasure to work with! I performed mock-interviews and received council from Alison. She helped me prepare for interviews and advised me on how to present my unique brand and Elon University.
When I received the offer from LinkedIn, I had to weigh it against a number of other offers. Kiera helped me to review, compare, and consider the benefits of each offer. Doing this helped me make an informed decision aligned with my future career goals.
What recommendations would you share with other students about the Student Professional Development Center?
I cannot express how beneficial the professionals who work in the SPDC can be for students. During the internship/job application process, staff were invested in my success and partnered with me throughout the application process. The SPDC staff leverages their knowledge and experience to help students be the best candidates possible and grow their brand.