At SMS Varanasi, year after year, we have witnessed countless college students struggle to get their dream jobs and placement opportunities. We have a Training & Placement Cell specifically to help them navigate the professional world successfully. In this article, we will cover LinkedIn Tips for College Students can be their secret weapon to propel them towards exciting job opportunities.

This guide presents the most effective college student LinkedIn tips for all disciplines and streams. It aims to help you in building a strong LinkedIn profile that grabs attention.

First Impressions Matter: LinkedIn Tips for College Students

Building LinkedIn profile for college students can be tricky. They are freshers – noobs in the professional world. They don’t have much experience yet. But there are ways to stand out. Here are some of the tried-and-tested college student LinkedIn tips that have helped our students get good launchpads recently:

1. Write Headlines That Show What You are Looking For

Ditch the generic “Student at [University name]”. 

Instead, craft a compelling headline showcasing your skills and aspirations. 

A good idea would be to write “[Skill] | Aspiring [Career Path] | [University name]”. 

For example, an M.Com student looking for an Investment Banking Internship can put the following as his/her LinkedIn profile headline: 

Finance Enthusiast | Aspiring Investment Banking Intern | SMS Varanasi

A BA (Hons) Mass Comm student looking for an advertising job can write:

Creative Copywriting | Aspiring Advertising Guru | BA (Hons) Mass Comm – SMS Varanasi

Remember, brevity and clarity are key! Long boastful headlines can be a big turnoff for employers.

2. Add a Headshot that Makes You Look Like a Professional

You might love your selfies showing you like a fashion diva or a handsome hunk. But they are better for Instagram profiles meant for friends. When you are optimizing LinkedIn as a student, remember it’s a professional network. You should ideally add a headshot here with a friendly smile and a professional demeanour.

To click a perfect pic for your LinkedIn profile, opt for professional attire appropriate for the industry you are aiming for. Wear well-fitting clothes in neutral colours. We advise students to avoid wearing revealing dresses or busy patterns. 

Also make sure that your hair is neat and styled like a professional. Men should either shave or trim their facial hair neatly. Women are advised to wear makeup appropriate for a professional setting. A natural look is favoured in general for a professional headshot.

Choose a plain neutral-coloured backdrop in a well-lit room. Natural light works well too. Keep your should relaxed and slightly forward and smile naturally and warmly. Do not slouch or cross your arms or look too serious. Poker faces are not favoured anymore.

Make eye contact with the camera to look confident.

If you are asking a friend to click the headshot for you, make sure he/she uses a high-quality smartphone with good resolution. Blurry or pixelated photos are not good for LinkedIn profiles. Also, ask him/her to make sure you are in the centre of the frame, there’s some space above your head, the lighting is right, and there are no harsh shadows.

Don’t hesitate to click several photos until you get one right – with sharp details and focus.

3. Engaging Summary

While writing a LinkedIn summary, do not just regurgitate your CV. Tell your story! Highlight your achievements, passions, and goals. Use vivid language and quantifiable results (if possible).

Here’s a sample LinkedIn summary for an MBA student trying for a Product Management job:

From orchestrating a vibrant college fest to analyzing global HR trends at the AIMA conference, my journey at SMS Varanasi has been all about igniting human potential and fostering growth. Right now, I am pursuing an MBA with a specialization in HR. I have done BBA in Finance and yearn to leverage my analytical skills, communication prowess, and genuine passion for people to architect impactful HR strategies.

Imagine an HR department that transcends policies and numbers, focusing on employee well-being and unlocking their full potential. That’s my vision, and I’m confident my academic foundation, diverse skillset, and unwavering enthusiasm make me a valuable asset to any organization prioritizing a thriving human ecosystem. Let’s connect and explore how I can contribute to your journey!

Showcase Your Achievements with Flair

LinkedIn Tips for College Students: Building a strong LinkedIn profile requires you to put your best foot forward. Here are some of the ways in which you can showcase your achievements in the best light:

1. Go Beyond the CV

Most of the CVs you will see on LinkedIn or elsewhere simply list students’s qualifications and internships. To stand out, you need to go beyond them.

While optimizing LinkedIn as a student, you can mention your:

• Volunteer work you have done, 
• Projects you have completed, 
• Leadership roles you have played in college events or class projects, and
• Relevant hobbies that show that you are cut out for the job you are applying for. 

Did you design an award-winning website? Mention it!

2. Quantify Your Impact

We always say that numbers speak volumes. And this is one thing LinkedIn profiles for college students often lack. You need to add data to make your achievements pop. Some of the ways you can quantify your achievements or impact in your LinkedIn profile are:

• Did you increase website traffic by 20% during a marketing project? 
• Did your team win a debate competition, attracting 500+ viewers? 
• Did your fundraising event collect ₹10,000 for charity? 
• Did your research paper contribute to a published study? 
• Did you learn a new coding language in 3 months? 
• Did you complete a 100-hour online course on graphic design?
• If your project or research paper received recognition, awards, or media coverage, mention it.

You need to focus on the concrete results. But do not fabricate numbers or exaggerate the impact. Focus on genuine achievements. Be prepared to discuss this in detail with any [potential employers during job interviews.

3. Tailor Your Descriptions

You mustn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. For each experience you add to your resume, use industry-specific keywords organically and highlight relevant skills.

Leverage the Power of Connections

1. Connect Strategically: Don’t just add everyone. Connect with professors, alumni, and industry professionals in your desired field. You may also add fellow students interested in the same field as you. Go for quality over quantity!

2. Engage Actively: On any social media platform, you need to like, comment, and share relevant content to gain some meaningful traction. One of the top college student LinkedIn tips is that don’t just lurk around! Participate in discussions to showcase your industry awareness and engage your network.

3. Seek Recommendations: On a LinkedIn profile, recommendations are gold! Do not hesitate to ask your professors, supervisors, mentors, and colleagues who can vouch for your skills and work ethic to recommend you on LinkedIn. And when it comes to your classmates and juniors, reciprocate the favour when possible.

Optimizing LinkedIn as a Student

With the LinkedIn profile for college students, the key pain point is that potential employers and recruiters don’t know that they are there looking for work. 

You need to research relevant keywords for your desired field and industry and incorporate them naturally into your headline, summary, and experience descriptions.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Identify your target field and industry:

Do not go for broad keywords. Be specific. Are you aiming for a marketing role in the tech industry or a graphic design position in the non-profit sector? Refining your target helps choose relevant keywords.

2. Utilize online resources:

Browse job postings on popular platforms like Naukri, LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor. There, you will find skills, keywords, and terms frequently mentioned in job descriptions and requirements. Also, read through industry websites and publications to learn the latest skills or technologies in demand.

Check out the member profiles advertised on the websites of relevant industry associations or groups and learn what skills and competencies are mentioned there. LinkedIn profiles of professionals in your desired field will also contain keywords you may want to use in your own profile to connect with them. In the Skills section of LinkedIn, you can get a list of which ones are most endorsed and relevant for the roles and industries you desire.

But do not stuff keywords unnaturally. Use industry-specific jargon, long-tail keywords, and synonyms where appropriate. Align them with actual skills or experiences you have. And make sure that your profile remains readable and engaging.

Remember, LinkedIn profile for college students is a dynamic tool. Building a strong LinkedIn profile is not a one-time activity. You need to keep updating it regularly to remain relevant, visible, and ready for the exciting opportunities you dream of.