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In this post we will go through how to create a good LinkedIn profile as a university student or recent graduate.
This will be extremely useful for finding an industrial placement, internship or a graduate job.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network and it has been connecting job seekers and employers since its launch in 2003.
With over 44 million users in the UK as of 2024 (2025 data not available yet), LinkedIn is essential for anyone looking to build a professional career—including students and recent graduates.
As it quickly became the largest professional network on the internet, few questions have arisen from the student community.
Is LinkedIn useful for students? Should I have a LinkedIn profile at university? What should I put on my LinkedIn profile as a student/graduate with no experience? Just to list a few!
The short answer to those, as we will see in detail, is yes.
Should I have a LinkedIn profile at university?
The answer is very simple: yes, you should create a compelling profile (don’t worry, we’ll walk you through how to do it step by step).
Networking remains the most effective way to secure internships and graduate jobs, and LinkedIn is a powerful tool to do so.
It acts as an online CV, allowing you to showcase your education, skills, and achievements in one place.
You can access opportunities by connecting directly with recruiters, following companies, and applying for roles.
Additionally, LinkedIn makes networking easier by letting you build relationships with professionals and alumni in your field.
However, for some reasons there are still many students and graduates without a profile despite having one on all other social media.
Is LinkedIn useful for students?
Before we get into how to make a good LinkedIn profile as a student or graduate, it is worth mentioning another reason why this platform is useful.
In case you did not know, LinkedIn offers free learning resources for most UK university students and recent graduates, enabling you to gain certifications that will boost your profile.
The platform has an enormous online course section called LinkedIn Learning (what once was known as Lynda.com).
Most UK universities have partnered with LinkedIn to give students free access to their learning platform, although many don’t know about it.
All you need to do in most cases is find it in your university portal and link the two accounts.
If you are not sure if your university provides free access, ask the career department, they will (should) know!
These courses also award you with certificates that are added straight into your LinkedIn profile, which is great!
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How to create a good LinkedIn profile as a student
Probably what you are really here for, we will now go through how to create a compelling LinkedIn profile as a student or graduates.
In order to do it properly, we’ll do it step-by-step, covering the most important sections you should have on your profile.
Don’t worry if you don’t have particular skills or previous experience, sometimes it’s just a matter of marketing!
Profile Picture: Your First Impression
What picture should you use for your LinkedIn profile as a student? A professional or a casual one?
Your profile picture is one of the first things visitors notice, first impression matters!
A positive and professional image sets the tone for your profile. Aim for a simple photo with a clear, uncluttered background.
Your image should project friendliness and approachability!
Check if your university or student association offers professional headshot services, as many provide this for students.
In any case, avoid overly casual photos from vacations or parties like for other social media.
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About Section: Tell Your Story in a Nutshell
A common student mistake here, the about section is often left blank. Let’s see what to write in this part of your LinkedIn student profile.
Introduce yourself, who are you (student, graduate)? What are your interests (career wise, hobbies, sports)? Make it interesting, show your ambitions!!
For instance, you might describe yourself as “A motivated Computer Science student passionate about AI and problem-solving.”
Follow this by sharing your career aspirations, such as your “interest in pursuing roles in software development or data analysis“.
Add a personal touch by mentioning hobbies or interests, like sports, volunteering, or creative pursuits.
Keep your sentences short and clear, and break the text into small paragraphs to make it easier to read.
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Work Experience (if any): It All Counts
Should you mention your student job on your LinkedIn profile?
Don’t underestimate the value of part-time jobs or volunteer roles. Every experience adds value when presented effectively!
Focus on transferable skills such as teamwork, multitasking, meeting deadlines, problem-solving, and communication.
Use action-oriented descriptions like “Delivered exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment” or “Led a team to achieve sales targets.”
Even roles in retail or hospitality demonstrate dedication and real-world skills that employers and recruiters value!
As mentioned earlier, sometimes it’s just a matter of.. marketing!
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Education: Add Depth!
Another common student mistake here is to fill this part with no depth. Your education section can be more than just a degree title.
Add depth by including details about your course. You can easily find this in your course description, list your key modules with a brief description, and any projects you’ve completed.
If your degree has accreditations, such as recognition by a professional body, be sure to highlight this.
Including such details makes your education stand out and provides recruiters with a clearer picture of your expertise.
Licenses & Certifications: Boost Your Profile
Licenses and certifications are key to make a compelling LinkedIn profile as a student.
Adding these to your profile not only demonstrates your technical skills, but also your commitment to “extra” learning.
Look for opportunities through LinkedIn Learning, which again should be free for through your university portals.
Certifications like Microsoft Office Package, Leadership Foundations, or Digital Skills can make a difference and shouldn’t take long to complete!
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Skills: Add Keywords
Skills act as keywords that help recruiters find your profile, but what are the best skills to add to your LinkedIn profile as a student?
Consider the skills you’ve developed through university projects or work experience.
Time management, teamwork, problem-solving, and research are often highly valued. You think you don’t have those? Let’s have a look.
For example, meeting exam and assignment deadlines can be highlighted as time management; presenting findings in class showcases communication and presentation skills; while group projects involve teamwork and collaboration skills.
Including both soft skills and technical abilities ensures your profile appeals to a wide range of recruiters and employers!
Remember that the graduate job market is very competitive, even for internships and industrial placements.
You got to be smarter than the average if you want to increase your chances of success. Making a good profile on LinkedIn as a student is a massive help!
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Tip: Get Your Skills Endorsed
Endorsements from your network (especially from past professors, managers, industry experts etc.) add credibility to your profile.
These endorsements will be visible on your profile; e.g. “the person X has endorsed your time management skills.”
If you’ve had a job in the past, or have one now, you could kindly ask your manager to endorse some of your skills.
Anything you were (or are) good at, e.g. customer service, time management, multitasking etc.
Similarly, past professors can highlight academic abilities, such as presentation skills or analytical thinking.
These endorsements validate your skills and enhance your profile’s authenticity.
Avoid asking your university mates and friends for endorsements, as it can appear unprofessional.
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Why you should have a good student profile on LinkedIn
Building a good LinkedIn profile as a student can massively help you to find an internships or a graduate job.
Your profile acts as a live online CV and you can use it to apply for jobs directly. Hence, the more compelling the better!
However, this does not only work one way, also recruiters can use LinkedIn to find you! After all, it is meant to connect job seekers and employers
Remember those keywords in the skills section? Optimising your profile with relevant keywords increases your chances of being discovered by recruiters.
Think about the skills, tools, or certifications that are relevant to your field. It is very likely that recruiters filter for those when searching for candidates!
Essentially, this means opportunities might come to you just by having a good LinkedIn profile, don’t let those slip away!
If you are looking for the next step, we have published a follow up post on how to actively use LinkedIn to find a graduate job or internship.
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Conclusions, how to make a good LinkedIn profile as a student
In this post we went through how to create a compelling student profile on LinkedIn step-by-step.
We have covered all the important aspects, from the profile picture & about sections to work experience and education.
We have also uncovered LinkedIn Learning, a “hidden gem” that can help you gain licenses & certifications for free.
Moreover, we have seen how a good student profile on LinkedIn filled with keywords can increase your chances to appear in recruiters’ searches thanks to the skills section (boosted by endorsements!).
LinkedIn is a very useful tool for university students and graduates, and it will continue to grow in this social media era we are living right now.
After all, it follows the same principles although it focuses on professional profiles.
However, how to make the most out of LinkedIn as a student depends on YOU. We hope you found this post useful, thank you for reading.
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