A few years ago, LinkedIn was primarily used by senior professionals. Today, it has become an essential part of the job searching and networking kit, even for students and recent graduates.
“CVs are usually short and concise – no longer than one page – while your LinkedIn profile gives you the opportunity to go in depth about your experience and skills,” shared Maria Paskaleva, HR Manager at ROITI.
A ResumeGo survey shows that job applicants with an extensive LinkedIn profile are 71% more likely to get a callback for a job interview than candidates without a profile.
We asked HR professionals from renowned companies, including PwC, SiteGround, ROITI, and Coca Cola Europacific Partners, to share their top tips for building a strong LinkedIn profile as a student or recent graduate. Here is how to optimize your LinkedIn student headline and summary, add relevant experience, and connect with professionals while highlighting your achievements and skills.
1. Add a friendly yet professional LinkedIn photo
“First impressions matter, so I advise using a high-quality profile photo and a cover that represents your personality but still looks professional,” shared Valentina Kozhouharova, HR Manager at SiteGround.
“Dress appropriately and ensure your face is clearly visible. An honest smile always improves the message you want to convey,” she added.
Dimana Mancheva, Human Resources Specialist at PwC, also emphasized the importance of not using a selfie, ensuring good lighting, and choosing a high-quality photo.
2. Craft a clear LinkedIn student headline
“Your headline is one of the first things people see,” stated Valentina Kozhouharova. She advised using it to highlight your current status and career aspirations.
Dimana Mancheva added that you should be clear about where you are now and where you would like to go, focusing on the most important keywords for search visibility.
Example: “Business Administration Student with a Focus on Finance, Aiming for a Career in Private Technology”
Example 2: “Recent AUBG Graduate in Business & Marketing Looking for….”
3. Be honest in your summary
“Write a summary that showcases your skills, interests, and career goals. Share a few words about yourself and what you enjoy doing in your free time. You are a professional, but also a great person to be around,” said Valentina Kozhouharova.
Dimana Mancheva further advised writing it in a way that feels personal yet professional, making sure there are no typos. If you’re unsure about your career path, describe your interests and what you hope to achieve.
“You can be as honest about where you want to go because that can attract opportunities that are aligned with your goals. If you want to make a career switch, the summary section is your chance to articulate that,” she added.
4. Be strategic with your experience and education
“Relevant experience is always a good start, but many students can’t get this until they graduate,” stated Yoanna Georgieva, Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding Manager at Coca Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP).
However, students often have varied experiences in internships and extra-curricular activities, which can fit well into this section.
For AUBG students, Dimana Mancheva suggests including leadership roles in a student club, such as President or Treasures, in the experience section. If you’re just a member, you can list it under conferences and certificates.
In terms of structure, Valentina Kozhouharova advises listing internships and volunteer work in reverse chronological order. Mancheva recommends using bullet points, keywords, and keeping descriptions under ten lines.
“Even if the experience is only internships or student club activities, it’s still vital to detail your responsibilities, how they contributed to the business/product/project, and the skills you gained. Students can also include key projects they’ve worked on,” said Maria Paskaleva.
For students looking to secure long-term develoment and experience, CCEP offers a Global Finance Program suitable for final year students or recent graduates.
5. Highlight your skills
Velentina Kozhouharova recommends adding skills that are relevant to your field and encouraging classmates, professors, or colleagues to endorse you. “This helps validate your abilities and makes your profile more attractive to recruiters,” she said.
“Students should check the skills needed for the role and build their CV around it, linking their personal qualities to what they want to achieve in the future. Boosting their Microsoft Excel skills is always a good idea,” commented Yoanna Georgieva.
Dimana Mancheva adds that personal recommendation from colleagues or university professors leave a strong impression. However, she warns against overloading the skills section with unrelated abilities. “Listing relevant skills shows you understand well what’s required for your career goals,” she explained.
6. Showcase languages and additional training
“For us as a company, we really value language skills (especially German, since English is a must nowadays), as well as communication and stakeholder management skills. So, anything that showcases these is a plus in our book,” said Maria Paskaleva.
Dimana Mancheva also recommends adding LinkedIn Learning or Coursera courses, as she pays attention to those when reviewing profiles.
7. Engage with content in your field
Another way to leverage LinkedIn as a student or recent graduate is by staying active and engaging with content, as this will keep you visible to your network, said Kozhouharova.
“It’s a way to show that you are active in your field and that you’re genuinely interested and open to learning new things. It’s also important to engage with people by commenting and sharing your opinion, not just passively reposting,” added Dimana Mancheva.
8. Join groups, follow companies, and network
Networking is a crucial part of the LinkedIn experience. HR managers recommend joining LinkedIn groups related to your field and following companies you’re interested in. This helps grow your network and keeps you informed about industry trends. Not only that, but you may also discover new opportunities, such as exchange programs, internships, and mentoring programs.
“Networking isn’t about how many connections you have on social media, but how you interact with those people,” said Yoanna Georgieva.
“Have a clear idea of why you are approaching someone and do your research. Be authentic, show interest and ask questions, but be patient and give them time to respond.”
How important is LinkedIn profile for students and recent graduates?
The big question is do recruiters actually pay close attention to your LinkedIn profile? The answer is a firm yes.
According to Dimana Mancheva, “You take one look at a CV and immediately know if it’s worth exploring further”.
If it is, she always checks a candidate’s LinkedIn profile for more details and because LinkedIn profiles are often easier to read than CVs. Even if a candidate hasn’t included their LinkedIn profile on the CV, she still searches for them on the platform.
Furthermore, recruiters, including Mancheva, often approach candidates on LinkedIn with job opportunities based on the impression their profile leaves. She already has a good roster of junior hires she discovered through LinkedIn.
Once you’ve mastered your LinkedIn profile, don’t forget to optimize your CV with expert tips from AUBG Job Fair recruiters.
