1. Selecting a profile picture and header image

A great LinkedIn profile photo shows you’re approachable and professional. Use a high-quality, well-lit headshot with a neutral background. Dress as you would for work in your industry, and add a friendly smile to make a positive impression. Professional headshots can be pricey, but if you have a school photo where you are dressed professionally, that can be a good place to start. You can also consider AI headshot generators, though proceed with caution. Many are clearly fake and can take away from the authenticity of your profile. A few to consider:

• Canva has a free headshot generator. Simply upload a selfie and it will provide a professional image. At this point Canva AI headshots
• TryitOnAI has Express AI Headshots starting at $21 per photoshoot. After uploading 10-30 selfies, you’ll receive over a hundred options! And while many certainly seem to be AI, you should be able to find a handful that cannot be distinguished from professional headshots.
• HeadshotPro also offers an AI generator with professional headshots with packages starting at $29 for 40 headshots

Once you have your profile picture set, set yourself apart with a unique header/banner image that represents your field or personal brand. For example, a tech graduate might choose a minimalist image with tech symbols, while a marketing grad might use an abstract image that includes their personal tagline or key skills. Some current students also use a photo that incorporates their college logo, or represents a real experience they have had. Use tools like Canva to create a free, custom banner image that looks polished and professional.

*Profile Picture Size: 400 x 400 pixels
**Banner/Background Photo Size: 1584 x 396 pixels

2. Write a Stand-Out Headline

Your headline is often the first thing recruiters see—make it descriptive and compelling. Instead of simply saying “Marketing Graduate,” add a touch of your personality and key skills:

• Example: “Division 1 Student Athlete pursuing a career Marketing – concentrations in Communications and Business
• Example: “Aspiring Data Analyst | Skilled in Python, SQL, & Data Visualization | Ready to Transform Data into Insights.”
• Example: “Honors Finance and Accounting Student at X University | Aspiring Financial Analyst

LinkedIn’s algorithm picks up keywords, so in order to optimize your LinkedIn profile, be sure to include specific job titles, tools, or skills that align with your target roles. Not only will this help recruiters find you, but it also shows off your unique strengths and helps to build your professional brand.

3. Craft an Engaging Summary (About Section)

Your summary, or “About” section, is a chance to tell your story and showcase your passion. Keep it brief but impactful—3-5 sentences that highlight your background, skills, and what excites you about your field. Be sure to include the keywords from your strategy.

• Example Summary: “As a recent computer science graduate with a passion for AI and data science, I’m excited to apply my technical and analytical skills to real-world challenges. My coursework and internships have taught me how to use Python, machine learning, and data visualization to find solutions and tell compelling stories through data. I’m eager to connect with like-minded professionals and explore new opportunities!”

4. Highlight Experience—Even if It’s Not Traditional Work

As a new grad, you may have limited professional experience, but internships, projects, and volunteer work all count. For each entry, use bullet points to outline what you did and the impact you made:

• Example: “Managed social media content calendar and increased engagement by 20% over three months by designing targeted campaigns.”

Include academic projects, leadership roles in clubs, or even freelance work if it’s relevant to your field. Your goal is to show that you have experience applying skills, whether in a classroom, club, or real-world setting. Don’t have experience in your field? Consider how this business student parlayed her summer job as a swim instructor:

Founder of Private Swim Lesson Business
Self-employed

• Launched and built a private swim lesson business from the ground up, actively acquiring clients through local marketing and community outreach
• Served as the primary instructor, supporting children of various ages and skill levels by creating personalized lesson plans
• 100% of clients returned for additional lessons

Still need to get some professional experience? Consider Shadow Days, use Volunteer Match to identify local Volunteer opportunities or consider opportunities to freelance through Fiverr, 99Designs or Upwork.

5. Fill Out the Skills Section—and Get Endorsed

List skills that are in demand in your industry, and ask peers or mentors to endorse you. LinkedIn allows up to 50 skills, so use as many as you can to increase your visibility in recruiter searches. Look at job descriptions for the roles you’re interested in to see common skills to add.

• Example Skills for marketing graduates might include “Social Media Marketing,” “Content Creation,” and “SEO.” A computer science grad could add “JavaScript,” “Python,” or “Database Management.”

6. Leverage the “Open to Work” Feature

LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature is a game-changer for students actively seeking opportunities. Enable this feature so recruiters know you’re open to new roles—without broadcasting it to your current network.

• To Enable It: Click “Open to” on your profile, then select “Finding a new job.” Specify the roles, locations, and job types (full-time, part-time, internships) that interest you. If you’re comfortable, add the green “Open to Work” frame to your profile picture for extra visibility.

7. Join LinkedIn Groups to Connect and Engage

LinkedIn groups offer a way to connect with professionals in your industry. Search for groups related to your field, join, and engage by liking or commenting on posts and sharing industry-relevant articles. Groups are great for networking and for getting your name out there.

• Example: If you’re interested in software development, join groups like “Programming and Software Development” or “Young Professionals in Technology.” You can find groups by typing keywords into the LinkedIn search bar and selecting “Groups.”

8. Follow Companies and Thought Leaders

LinkedIn allows you to follow companies and industry influencers. This not only keeps you up-to-date on trends and job postings, but it also shows recruiters that you’re passionate about your field. Engage with posts from these companies or influencers by liking or commenting, which may also increase your profile’s visibility.

• Suggested Action: Follow the pages of companies you admire, as well as LinkedIn influencers like Arianna Huffington or Simon Sinek, who share career advice and inspiration.

9. Publish Posts or Articles to Highlight Your Knowledge

If you’re ready to make a strong impression, use LinkedIn’s “Write an Article” feature to share an opinion or analysis relevant to your field. Not a writer? Simply share insights about a recent course or project to showcase your knowledge.

• Example Post: “Just completed a project on sustainable energy solutions in my engineering class, and it opened my eyes to the potential of renewable resources in urban planning. Excited to dive deeper into this field!”

Publishing content demonstrates your passion and knowledge to your network and can be a talking point when you connect with industry professionals.

10. Personalize Your LinkedIn URL

A custom LinkedIn URL is a small but impactful way to appear more polished and professional. To create one, go to your profile, click “Edit public profile & URL,” and customize it with your name (if available). Your new URL will look like this: linkedin.com/in/YourName, making it easier to share on resumes or with contacts.

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11. Adjust Privacy Settings for Maximum Visibility

To get discovered, you’ll want to ensure that your profile is set to public. Here’s how to do it effectively without compromising privacy:

• Public Profile Visibility: In your privacy settings, enable visibility for key sections like your photo, headline, and summary so recruiters and hiring managers can see your profile.
• Sharing Profile Edits: Turn off notifications for profile changes to avoid notifying your network about every small edit.
• Who Can See You’re Viewing Their Profile: Consider switching to “Full Profile” view so others can see you’ve checked out their profile—this often prompts them to look at yours too!

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Takeaway: Grow and Nurture Your Network Consistently

Building a LinkedIn profile is not a one-time task. Continue to evaluate your perception and purpose update your profile accordingly. Similarly, as you gain new skills, take on projects, achieve accomplishments or attend events, consider what revisions to your keword lists are appropriate and update your profile, write an article and share relevant content!

Now that your LinkedIn profile is updated, it’s time to build connections!