Using LinkedIn as a College Student
Whether you are a new college student or recent graduate, use LinkedIn to showcase yourself, learn about the job market, and make connections.
By Patricia Roy — June 7, 2023
Think you need to wait until you graduate to start using LinkedIn? Not true! Whether you are a new college student or recent graduate, use LinkedIn to showcase yourself, learn about the job market, and make connections.
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a social media platform optimized for professional networking. Along with job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn has become an indispensable part of the job market. After setting up a profile, users can:
- Connect with employers, colleagues, and friends
- Join groups and discussions
- Learn skills
- Search and apply for jobs
A basic account is free and easy to use. Once you set up a profile, make sure you keep it updated as it is often the first place employers look after receiving your resume.
Create a LinkedIn Profile
To start using LinkedIn, you will need a profile. The profile acts as an online version of your resume, so if you already have one, the profile will be easy. However, it isn't necessary to have a resume before you get started.
Start with a Professional-looking Picture
Your profile picture should be a head-and-shoulders shot, in focus, and not heavily edited. The picture does not need to be taken by a professional to look good. Take care with your clothing choice, and make sure the background is appropriate — no one wants to see your messy bedroom. You can edit the picture if needed, adjusting the size or brightness, but the picture should still look like you.
Add a Headline
The LinkedIn headline identifies you and your current role. As a student, you can use your major as part of your headline but be creative. Choose a few key traits or abilities to describe yourself: ambitious, articulate, driven, creative, compassionate, hard-working, etc.
Write a Creative Summary ("About")
The summary or "About" section of your profile is a space to elaborate on your headline. Use it to define career goals and interests.
The easiest approach is to reuse the summary on your resume. But what if you don't have a resume yet? Or, what if you have more than one? When you are just starting your professional journey, it can be hard to choose a lane. In that case, you can skip this part of your profile and fill it in when you have more direction. As a student, experiment with writing catchy summaries to see which one really fits.
Add Education
Identify your college or university. You have the option of adding your degree and field of study, as well as awards and activities.
If you attended a different college before the one you will graduate from, you can choose whether or not to list it. Do so if you had a good experience there. Otherwise, leave it out.
Add Work Experience
For work experience, list the job title, organization, and dates of employment. You do not need to list unpaid or intermittent work experience, such as helping with a family business or babysitting. Of course, you can list these if doing so highlights important and relevant skills.
You do not need to fill in all the categories LinkedIn gives you, but you might want to add a description for any jobs that are relevant to the industry or type of work you want to apply for. Again, use your resume as a guide.
Take a Skills Test or Course
Demonstrate your technical skills by taking a skills test. If you successfully pass a test, you earn a badge or certificate on your profile. All tests on LinkedIn are peer reviewed and updated regularly.
If you don't mind spending a little bit of money, you can purchase asynchronous courses through LinkedIn Learning. These classes usually feature short video instructions, activities, and quizzes, and culminate with a certificate of completion.
Add Links to Publications, Portfolios, Personal Websites, Blogs, or Other Media
All of these can showcase your skills, provided they are of a professional nature.
Use LinkedIn to Network
The main advantage of LinkedIn over other online job boards has to do with networking. Start by searching for teachers, family, friends, fellow students, and employers and sending them an invitation to connect.
Another way to network is to "follow" brands, companies, or causes you admire. Following is different from connecting: you may not have any connections at a particular company, but you can still follow it to receive updates. Following will help you learn about trends and topics in a company, including jobs.
As with other social media, you can join groups related to the industry or type of work you want to do. These groups can help you learn more about the field and engage with like-minded individuals.
As your connections grow, you might be tempted to accept offers to connect from people you don't know. Check first to see what you have in common before accepting. Are you in the same groups? If so, that might be a worthwhile connection. However, there are lots of recruiters and career consultants on LinkedIn who will clog up your inbox and newsfeed with sales pitches for their services. A good career coach or recruiter can be worth the investment, especially for more senior job applicants. Unfortunately, others prey upon the unsuspecting, giving mediocre advice for a hefty fee.
Search for Internships and Jobs
When searching for jobs on LinkedIn, you can specify the industry, type of employment, location, and, of course, job title. Keep in mind that you might be qualified for different titles, so be prepared to use multiple searches.
Consider setting up a job alert for each search. A job alert sends notifications when new jobs are posted that match your criteria. Signing up for job alerts does not replace doing your own research, but it helps speed up the process by bringing relevant opportunities to your attention.
When you find a job you want to apply for, you can click "Apply" to be taken to the application. You will usually submit your resume through an automated system. If your resume is ATS-ready, the system will easily read it to populate the blanks in the application.
Some job listings allow you to "Easily Apply" directly through LinkedIn. When you click the “Easily Apply” button, you will answer a few questions and upload a resume and other materials as needed. LinkedIn will keep track of the resumes you use, so you can use the same one with just a quick click.
Furthermore, LinkedIn will identify connections at the company. If you have a connection, you can reach out to them to ask for a referral.
But, Do I Have To?
Students of mine who delay using LinkedIn take longer to launch their careers. Read that again.
Do you have to use LinkedIn? No, but most employers expect you to have an updated profile. There are lots of good places to search and apply for jobs (Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Monster), and you should use them all. The advantage of LinkedIn is that it combines several functions into one application, making it easy for you to create a professional presence.
Maybe someday we won't be using LinkedIn, but for now, it is the industry standard.
Patricia Roy
Patricia Roy is a writer and professor who has helped students succeed for over 25 years. She started her career as a high school English teacher and then moved into higher education at Tuition Rewards member school, Lasell University in Newton, Massachusetts. Her practical guidance and enthusiasm motivate and inspire students to fearlessly explore their own passions. Professor Roy is also a freelance writer and published poet.
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