College students, imagine securing your dream job or forging connections with someone who could open doors to your future before you even meet them. That’s the power of a standout LinkedIn profile.
Whether you’re searching for internships, part-time work, or gearing up for your first full-time role, your LinkedIn profile is the first impression you make in today’s world on the world’s largest professional platform with over a billion global users.
If your profile needs polishing, check the link at the end for upcoming optimization workshops.
Here’s a LinkedIn Profile Launch Checklist for college students with some basics to start:
Customize Your URL
Clean up your LinkedIn URL by removing the random numbers and letters after your name. A personalized link looks more professional and is easier to share. Here is how to customize your URL.
Your Banner is Your Billboard
Replace the default gray background with something that reflects your field of study or career aspirations. You can use a professional photo or create a customized graphic, and Canva is a great free tool for this purpose. Here are step-by-step instructions.
Your Headline
Avoid the generic “Student at [University Name].” Instead, spotlight your major, career goals, or standout skills. For example: “Marketing Major | Aspiring Digital Strategist | Social Media Enthusiast.” You have 220 characters to use in your headline, so include a clear title, keywords, and your unique selling proposition (USP).
About Section
Keep your About section easy to skim and scan, and don’t write paragraphs with dense text. Share what you’re studying, your career ambitions, technical and transferable skills, and even a few personal interests as conversation starters. Aim for a tone that’s professional yet approachable.
Experience
Include internships, part-time roles, volunteer work, and campus leadership positions. Use bullet points to describe accomplishments, starting each with a strong action verb. Include quantifiable accomplishments in every bullet point – numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts – to show impact.
Skills
Add up to 100 relevant skills from LinkedIn’s official database (select them from the dropdown). Recruiters often search for candidates by skills, so this can significantly boost your visibility.
Pro Tip for College Students
Even without years of job experience, college students can still highlight projects, coursework, and extracurricular activities that showcase their abilities and initiative.
Your LinkedIn profile should grow with you – it’s not a “set it and forget it” tool.
Start now, continue to refine, and let it evolve in tandem with your education and career journey.
Additionally, don’t forget to refresh your profile every month, as it’s similar to refreshing a website.
NEXT STEPS
- Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn™ for bright ideas on how to manage your career.
- Subscribe to the Great Careers Network Substack
- If you need a resume or LinkedIn™ profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat! Can’t beat a complimentary discovery call!
- Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership of the #1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Book of Lists five years in a row!
- Follow #GreatCareersPHL
BIO
Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Network, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.
Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn profiles, Lynne is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.
