by Hana W.
Opportunities in Accounting and Finance Night is more than a networking event — it’s your chance to make a strong first impression with employers who are actively looking for future talent.
While conversations happen in person, your professional presence starts before the event and continues afterward, on LinkedIn.
In today’s recruiting landscape, employers often look up students before or after meeting them. A strong LinkedIn profile helps reinforce who you are, what you’re interested in and how you’re preparing for a career in accounting or finance. It also gives you a way to stay visible after the event ends.
The good news? You don’t need a perfect profile or thousands of connections. You just need to understand how LinkedIn works and how to use it intentionally as a student.
Pre-event
Most students think of LinkedIn as something you maintain, but high-impact students use it as something they leverage.
Leading up to Opportunities in Accounting and Finance Night, LinkedIn is not just a preparation tool; it’s a way to sharpen your perspective. Beyond updating your profile, you can use LinkedIn to research firms attending the event, explore alumni career paths and identify the questions they are genuinely curious about. This kind of preparation shifts conversations from scripted answers to thoughtful dialogue, which employers notice immediately.
What truly sets students apart, though, is how they use LinkedIn to show how they think. Instead of focusing only on achievements, students can share short reflections: a takeaway from a lecture, a question sparked by a guest speaker or an insight from a co-op term. These posts don’t need to be polished or performative, they just need to be sincere. Employers are far more likely to remember a student who demonstrates curiosity and reflection than one who lists accomplishments alone.
Mid-event
During the event, LinkedIn becomes more than a contact exchange, it becomes a continuation point. Saying “I’ll connect with you on LinkedIn” opens the door to a longer conversation. It signals follow through and gives both sides a low-pressure way to stay connected after the event ends.
Post-event
Following Opportunities in Accounting and Finance Night, LinkedIn is where most students blend in, while a few quietly stand out. Rather than sending a generic thank you message, students can reference something specific they discussed, engage with a firm’s recent post or share a resource connected to the conversation. Even weeks later, thoughtful engagement can reinforce interest without asking for anything in return.
LinkedIn helps level the playing field. Not every student arrives at university with industry connections or insider knowledge, but every student has access to LinkedIn and the ability to show intention, curiosity and professionalism over time. When used strategically, it becomes a way to extend the impact of Opportunities in Accounting and Finance Night long after the event itself.
Try this:
1. Post one thoughtful reflection before the event
Share a short reflection in the week leading up to Opportunities in Accounting and Finance Night, like:
- A question you’re thinking through about accounting or finance
- A takeaway from a recent class, case or guest speaker
- What you’re hoping to learn from employers at the event
This signals curiosity and intention, two qualities employers consistently value. Keep it brief and genuine in your own voice.
2. Connect with purpose, not just names
When you send LinkedIn connection requests after the event, include a short note. Mention where you met, and one specific detail from the conversation. This makes you memorable.
3. Follow up by adding value
A week or two after the event, look for a simple way to stay visible:
- Like or comment thoughtfully on a firm’s post
- Share an article related to something you discussed
- Post a short reflection on what you learned from attending the event
You don’t need to ask for a job or a meeting. Simply showing engagement reinforces interest and professionalism and helps turn a brief interaction into a longer-term connection.