Did you know that 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find talent? I remember how hard I worked as a student to find the job I wanted in the future. I took various courses, did several internships, etc., and if I had known LinkedIn back then, I might have been just one right connection away from the job I wanted, just if I knew LinkedIn tips and tricks for students at that time! 👨🏻🎓
It doesn’t matter if you are in school or a soon-to-be graduate; LinkedIn is a powerful platform for networking, showcasing your skills, and providing secure opportunities that will advance your career.
You must know that today’s job market doesn’t just ask for a college degree, but employers are looking for good candidates who are proactive, professional, and have a clear career path. LinkedIn allows you to build your online brand and connect with professionals and top voices in your industry while still in school.
In addition to a professional network, LinkedIn offers recruiters a highly detailed resume of you. As you build it over the years, you can leave a strong digital footprint for professionals in your industry. This guide will show you how to unlock LinkedIn’s full potential as a student.
From creating a great profile highlighting your unique skills to leveraging strategic connections to internships and jobs, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your LinkedIn game to the next level, this comprehensive guide will equip you with all the tools you need to succeed.
Setting Up Your LinkedIn Profile for Success
Your LinkedIn profile is your online treasure trove because a well-designed profile can open up many doors for you, whether for internships or part-time jobs, as a student, or to make valuable connections for your future.
Let’s talk a little more about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile.
✔️ A Powerful Photo
In my free e-book ❝Cook the Best LinkedIn Profile for Recruiters,❞ I mentioned that your profile photo is the first thing anyone on LinkedIn will see of you. You’ll never believe how powerful this photo is in increasing your chances of being taken seriously in the crowded LinkedIn landscape. 📷
📌 Tips for a great photo:
- Avoid blurry selfies or overly casual images (like party photos).
- Avoid filters or exaggerated expressions that detract from professionalism.
- Use a light background.
- Your face should cover 60% of the photo.
✔️ The Magic Headline
The headline you choose is what people see after your name and is the element that could potentially put you in the LinkedIn SERP. So don’t just choose something like ❝Oxford University Student❞ and make it catchy and relevant to your goals.
For example, ❝B.A. International Business Management Student❞ might be fine, but how about ❝Aspiring Digital Marketer | Passionate about storytelling and brand analysis❞ instead?
A good headline can be your launch pad, so make it catchy to recruiters.
✔️ Writing an All-Star Summary
It may not seem that important, but your summary box can tell your professional story, so I suggest considering it something like an ❝About Me❞ section. Take a look at one of my colleagues’ summaries from when she was a student. ⤵️
❝I am an MBA student with a passion for business. I have gained experience at ARCTIC Ltd and am looking to grow in steel marketing. In my free time, I enjoy reading books and running.❞
📌 Remember to:
- Use keywords relevant to your intended field (e.g., “data analytics,” “UI/UX design”).
- Highlight your accomplishments and what makes you unique.
- Keep it concise, but show passion for your goals.
- Highlight your education and skills.
- Your current education and skills are the strength of your profile, so make sure your profile visitors see them. These sections should include:
- Relevant training, certifications, or online courses (e.g., Google Analytics, Python).
- Important projects, such as case studies or major assignments.
- Skills that align with your target industry.
- Articles you may have published.
- Etc.
💡 Pro Tip: Use industry-specific keywords to increase your visibility in recruiter searches. For example, a student interested in technology might list skills like “machine learning,” “JavaScript,” or List “Data Visualization.”
Building Connections and Networking
Another thing that LinkedIn will definitely tackle is networking. 👤🔗👤🔗👤
Networking is a key factor in your future career growth. The connections you make during your time on LinkedIn can be the fuel you need to land your dream job after graduation.
I’ve experienced this firsthand, so let’s explore how to build effective connections and collaborate meaningfully.
1. How to Find and Connect With the Right People?
The best way to start networking is to find people who might be able to help you get into the position you want. I recommend starting with people who are already part of your connections.
For example, alumni networks. Many university pages provide a list of students and graduates who are on LinkedIn.
This is a very valuable list because many alumni are willing to help each other because they have something in common. You can start by connecting with those pursuing a similar career path to the one you are considering.
Similarly, if you have professors whose work aligns with your interests, connecting with them can open doors to academic or professional opportunities. They often have extensive networks of professionals who can become valuable contacts.
Recruiters who work in the field you are interested in are among your networking options. By adding them to your network, you’ll stay on their radar for job opportunities that match your skill set.
Please don’t send a generic message to send a connection request; personalize it because generic messages are often ignored, especially if you’re messaging recruiters! Show that you’ve done your homework by including something specific about the person.
A good example would be: ⤵️
❝Hi Johan, I’m a student interested in AI and admire your work at DTV AI. I’d love to connect and learn more about your career journey.❞
Let people feel like you value them and take the time to craft a message for them, not just randomly find them in a search list.
2. Engage With Content
So, you have a network of connections. What’s next? The next step is to stay active on the platform. Engaging with content is one of the best ways to build visibility and demonstrate your professional interests. How❓❓❓
Engaging with posts relevant to your goals by liking, sharing, or commenting on them can be one of the best ways. Liking posts helps you stay visible, commenting adds your voice to the conversation, and sharing interesting content can position you as someone engaged in industry trends. The key is to keep your comments from being generic, to make them thoughtful, and to pique people’s curiosity.
Don’t be afraid to share any internships you’ve had or completed, projects you’re working on, and accomplishments you’ve made.
It’s a great way to talk about updates, lessons learned, or challenges you’ve overcome, build your personal brand, and showcase your skills to potential connections.
For example, check out this post: ⤵️
❝I just completed an internship at PTF marketing agency, where I worked on two steel marketing projects. Learned so much about social media marketing, and excited to continue exploring this field. #internship #learning #careerjourney❞
Did you just finish your studies? Read our LinkedIn tips for recent college graduates to know what you should do next.
Using LinkedIn for Internships and Jobs
While there are many different features on LinkedIn, at its core, it’s one of the best tools for finding internships and jobs. Whether you’re a recent graduate looking for your first full-time position or a student looking for valuable internship experience, LinkedIn can help you navigate the job market.
Let’s review some effective ways to explore these opportunities on LinkedIn. ↓↓↓↓
How to Use the Jobs Tab?
LinkedIn’s Jobs tab is a great place to find opportunities that match your skills and career goals. Once you click on it, it allows you to search for jobs and apply directly on the platform easily:
➤ Filter by industry, location, and job type
When you search for a job title on this tab, LinkedIn offers a variety of filters to help you get the best results. You can narrow your search by industry, location, job type (e.g., full-time, part-time, internship), and experience level. These filters are especially important for those looking for internship opportunities. ⤵️
➤ Use “Easy Apply”
One of LinkedIn’s features for job seekers is the Easy Apply button, which allows people to apply to different jobs with just a few simple clicks and use their LinkedIn profile as an online resume. ⤵️
➤ Save Job Searches
You can save searches for jobs or even specific industries, and LinkedIn lets you get notified when new listings matching those criteria appear. That way, it’s impossible to miss an opportunity, even when busy with school and other things. ⤵️
Using Keywords for Better Visibility
I always recommend letting recruiters call you, instead of you messaging them. Trust me, you can do this by using keywords correctly. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords relevant to your purpose. When recruiters are looking for candidates with your skills, these keywords will increase the chances of your profile appearing in search results.
➤ Add Keywords to Your Title and Summary
Include job-specific keywords from the type of job you’re looking for. Phrases like ❝marketing,❞ ❝digital marketing,❞ or ❝social media strategy❞ can ensure that someone looking for a marketing intern sees your profile.
➤ Include Keywords In Your Experience Section
In addition to your title and summary, include keywords in your experience section. For each job or internship, highlight skills, responsibilities, and tools widely used in your industry.
➤ Summary Section
Remember to include specific keywords in your summary section to catch the attention of LinkedIn’s algorithms and increase your visibility in the SERPs.
Reaching Out to Recruiters and Hiring Managers
One of the best things about searching for internships or jobs is taking a proactive approach. The best way to get noticed is to contact recruiters or hiring managers directly. Below is a simple template for writing your message.
❝Hi [Name],
I came across [Company] looking to hire for [Role]. I am excited about this opportunity and would greatly appreciate the opportunity to talk more about it and the skill set I might bring to the team.
Looking forward to connecting,
[Your Name]❞
Showing initiative and demonstrating interest in the position will improve your chances of making an indelible mark. Keep your message short, professional, and personal, and avoid appearing too generic or pushy.
Showcasing Projects and Portfolio Work
Your LinkedIn profile is one of the best places to showcase the work you have done before (even if it wasn’t in the context of a job). Internships and freelance projects can make a big difference in the effectiveness of your profile.
➤ Attach PDFs, Links, or Videos
You can attach many different types of content to your profile using LinkedIn. You can include PDFs of projects and links to upload your personal website or presentation videos. For example, if you are a designer, you can attach your design samples; if you are a researcher or writer, you can attach your published articles, etc.
➤ Use the Featured Section
This section on LinkedIn displays important projects, certifications, or articles. It provides an opportunity to introduce yourself visually and integrate your work, making it easier for the recruiter to understand.
➤ Highlight Volunteer Work and Extracurricular Activities
Voluntary work, especially if you have not had a real job since the beginning, can help you find job opportunities and internships. So, if you have such experiences, make sure to highlight them. I suggest you also read our article on LinkedIn tips for resume.
Advanced LinkedIn Strategies for Students
You have now realized that LinkedIn can greatly help you achieve your goals after graduation. But we live in a competitive world where every battle requires strategy, right?
Let’s explore a few of these strategies together. 🔎
☑️ Create and Share Content
Content is what makes LinkedIn tick. You’re practically invisible on LinkedIn without any good content. So, it’s only natural to say that you should create and publish good content to get closer to your goal.
With good content, you can quickly grab the attention of recruiters and industry leaders and stand out in this crowded country. Start by writing a post or article about your field of study, career journey, or significant accomplishments.
Something like “How I Built My First App in College” will spark engagement in your network and make future employers or colleagues eager to work with you.
Sharing your experiences—whether it’s a project you worked on, a lesson you learned, or a skill you mastered—offers an opportunity to discuss the interests of industry professionals. Along with publishing content regularly, one thing to remember is that your content should be diverse. I recommend publishing various posts and articles and commenting on industry news that interests you.
☑️ Follow Thought Leaders
One of my favorite LinkedIn strategies, which can be very useful for students, is to follow thought and industry leaders on the platform to stay current on the latest trends, tools, and insights. Engaging with the content these people share can increase your visibility, show your interest in that industry, and get extra attention.
You can tag these thoughts and industry leaders in your content and get them to comment on it, especially if you’ve shared a post worth engaging with. Just ensure your post is relevant to their interests to maximize your chances of engagement.
For example, if you are a computer science student, following artificial intelligence or software development leaders can allow you to learn from their expertise and build your credibility in the field.
☑️ Using Recommendations
Remember the movie Mary Poppins? When Mary Poppins first appeared in the movie and was being interviewed by Mr. Banks, Mr. Banks asked her for a recommendation note.
You wouldn’t believe how popular these referrals are still among recruiters. Well, because they reflect your skills, personality, and work ethic. As a student, getting professional recommendations can be a bit of a challenge. However, you can still ask professors, mentors, or even colleagues who have worked closely with you on academic or personal projects.
A good recommendation can spice up your profile like a great condiment.
When asking someone for a recommendation, don’t just say, ❝Can you write me a recommendation?❞ Be specific.
For example, you could say, “I would appreciate a recommendation highlighting my work on Project Alpha. Your feedback on my ability to collaborate and lead a team would mean a lot.” This specific request can help the recommender understand what you need to focus on.
☑️ Learn as Much as You Can
LinkedIn Learning and any other resource, including YouTube, that you can use to learn a skill can help you greatly in the future and after graduation.
It took me a long time to realize this fact, ❝College courses alone are not enough to succeed; you need skills.❞
I recommend learning a few skills through platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Coursera so you can get their training certificates and badges and attach them to your profile.
☑️ Use CUFinder
One strategy to help you find the most relevant recruiters is using platforms like CUFinder. With data related to more than 419 million people and 269 million companies, this platform offers various LinkedIn-related services, such as adding a contact name to LinkedIn or adding a contact LinkedIn to info.
It can help you a lot in your targeting for networking on LinkedIn with an accuracy of over 98%, which is one of the conditions for success on this platform.
Conclusion
These LinkedIn tips and tricks for students I discussed in this article can greatly help your future career advancement. At least, like me, you won’t be chasing your shadow for a long time when I graduate. Of course, LinkedIn is an endless sea of different opportunities, and you practically just have to learn to swim and dive in it to find the treasures hidden in this sea, so start learning to swim today.
FAQs
1. How can I practice on LinkedIn?
The first thing you should do to increase your skills on LinkedIn is to update your profile. Make sure it reflects your most recent experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Comment on posts, share content, and participate in discussions that interest your network.
2. What is the 4-1-1 Rule on LinkedIn?
It’s a way of sharing content that ensures your posts stay balanced: for every six posts you share, four should be useful or educational content for your network. One of them can be a promotional post showcasing your work or yourself, and the last post should be more personal or community-focused, like a shout-out to others or showing off a personal interest relevant to your audience.
3. What are three Important things on LinkedIn?
Your profile, network, and the content you share on LinkedIn are all important. First impressions can be heavily based on these three.
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