In today’s digital era, career is not made only with books and degrees. To connect with the professional world, it is important that your online presence is also strong. And LinkedIn is a platform that connects you with professionals and companies around the world.
If you are a college student and have not yet created a LinkedIn profile, then this article is very important for you. And if you have created a profile, then definitely follow the 18 steps given in this article to make it even better.
Why is LinkedIn important for college students?
LinkedIn is not a social media platform where people just share photos and memes. It is a professional networking site where people share their skills, work experience and achievements, and get work opportunities from other companies or people.
If you remain active on LinkedIn during college itself, then you have better chances of internships, freelance projects and future jobs. Not only this, many companies nowadays find and hire talented students from LinkedIn itself.
Now let us know about those 18 important steps, with the help of which you can create a great and professional LinkedIn profile.
Put a good and clean profile photo
Just as the first impression of a person is formed by his face, similarly your identity on LinkedIn is determined by your profile photo.
- The photo should be high-quality
- The background should be clear
- You should be in formal clothes (like shirt or kurta)
- Do not put party photos, group photos or selfies
- The face should be clearly visible
Remember – this is not Facebook or Instagram. It is important to look professional here.
Write a great headline
The headline in the LinkedIn profile is the line that appears just below your name. This line tells people what you are doing or want to do.
Don’t write:
“B.Sc. Student at Delhi University” – this will not give anyone an idea of your talent.
Instead, you can write a headline like this:
- “Aspiring Data Analyst | Skilled in Python & Excel | Actively seeking internships”
- “Creative Writer | Writes on Travel & Lifestyle | Freelance Content Specialist”
- “Computer Science Student | Passionate about Web Development | HTML, CSS, JS Proficient”
This gives a glimpse of both your talent and intentions.
Write yourself from the heart and mind in the About section
In the About section, you can tell your story – who you are, what are you studying, what have you learned so far, and what do you want to do.
Here you can add your skills, experience, achievements and career goals. This section shows how serious you are about your career.
For example:
“I am a computer science student with a keen interest in web development and data analytics. I have built several websites and worked on Python and Excel in college projects. My goal is to become a successful data scientist and help companies extract useful information from their data.”
Be sure to provide your education information
It is very important to fill out the education section on LinkedIn completely. In this, you should tell:
- Which schools and colleges you studied in
- Which course did you do, which branch
- In which year did you start studying and when will you finish
- Did you participate in any special activities
- Which projects did you do
This shows your educational journey and your interests.
Show volunteer experience
If you have done volunteer work in any NGO, social organization, or college fest, then definitely share it. This shows that you believe in doing something for the society and are ready for teamwork.
For example:
“I volunteered for 1 year in Rotaract Club, where we conducted blood donation camps and plastic-free campaigns.”
Show your skills
You can add a maximum of 50 skills on LinkedIn, but it is not necessary to add every skill. Add only those skills in which you are really good and want to get a job or internship related to them.
Examples:
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- Content Writing
- Public Speaking
- Photoshop
- MS Excel
- Digital Marketing
Also tell which languages you know
If you know any other language apart from English (like Hindi, French, German), then definitely write it. This improves your communication skills, especially in international companies.
Show all the certificates, awards or honors you have received
If you have done an online course (like Coursera, Google, IBM), then post its certificate on LinkedIn.
Example:
- Google Data Analytics Certificate
- Coursera Python for Everybody
- First Prize in Hackathon
These confirm your skills.
Do add test scores
If you have given GATE, CAT, GRE, or any competitive exam and got good marks, then you can show them too.
Also tell which courses you have done
If you have done any special training or course apart from college courses – like “Digital Marketing by Google” or “Machine Learning with Python”, then do add it in the Courses section.
Share your projects
If you have done any university project, personal project or internship project, then give its full details in the Projects section.
Example:
“E-commerce website for local businesses using WordPress and WooCommerce – Built with 3 team members.”
Mention organizations you have been associated with
If you have worked with any organization outside of college – like NSS, Coding Club, Toastmasters – then make sure to mention it in the “Organizations” section.
Get recommendations and endorsements
Request your professor, internship supervisor, or senior to recommend you on LinkedIn. This increases the credibility of your profile.
Customize your profile URL
LinkedIn gives a random URL like linkedin.com/in/user123456. You can change it to something like – linkedin.com/in/rahulsharma
It looks professional and is easy to share.
Join LinkedIn Groups
Join groups related to your field – like “Marketing Students of India” or “Web Developers Network”. Ask questions, share information, and showcase yourself.
Follow industry leaders and companies
Follow companies you want to work for. Follow the people you want to know. This will help you get their updates, jobs and news first.
Connect with professionals
Build your network – Connect with college friends, seniors, professors, and other industry experts. Sometimes the right connection can get you your first job.
Share industry-related content
If you are learning digital marketing, share articles on it. If you have completed a new course, share your experience. This will make people think of you as an active, updated professional.
Finally – LinkedIn Profile Creation Checklist
- Add a good profile photo
- Create an attention-grabbing headline
- Describe yourself in detail in the “About” section
- Add education, courses, skills, projects, certificates, everything
- Add volunteer and organization experience
- Get recommendations and endorsements from good people
- Set custom URL
- Follow groups and companies
- Keep sharing regular updates