Our experience of educating young people has told us that when they think about LinkedIn, they assume it’s something they’ll use later on in their career. Once they’ve landed the first job or built up some experience.
In reality, that’s already too late. We know that employers and recruiters are actively searching for students and young graduates, and their LinkedIn profile is often the first impression they’ll get of you.
Even at the age of 18, you can create a professional presence that sets you apart. LinkedIn really isn’t just for people with long careers behind them; it’s a tool to help young people start theirs. This is why we include LinkedIn in the Professional Business Diploma curriculum. We spend time with our students helping them understand how to professionally use the platform and create standout profiles that will impress potential employers.
Here, we dive into how young people should optimise LinkedIn in a Q&A with our Head of Marketing, Beth Kirk….
Is Your LinkedIn Profile Just An Online Version Of Your CV?
I always recommend people think of their LinkedIn profile as their digital CV, but with a lot more depth, visibility, and opportunity to impress. While your CV is usually tailored for a specific application, your LinkedIn profile is live and searchable, and can share so much more about you.
First and foremost, it’s incredibly important that the two are aligned. Your education, skills, and any work experience or placements should absolutely match across both. Consistency matters, as recruiters will often check your LinkedIn profile after reading your CV, and any discrepancies can raise questions.
Our expert partner recruiter Pip Cox, MD of Joyce Guiness, also agrees, “potential employers really do use LinkedIn as a tool to check you out, so my advice is simple: make sure your CV and LinkedIn profile are telling the same story, because if they don’t match up, it can set alarm bells ringing straight away…”
The advantage of LinkedIn is that it allows you to go so much further than a two page CV. You can expand on projects, include more detail about your education and achievements, demonstrate your interests and ambitions and your skills in a way a CV can’t fully capture. This is often a missed opportunity in many young people’s profiles…
Do You Have Any Important LinkedIn Profile Tips For Young Graduates?
If you’re just starting out, focusing on a few key sections of your personal profile will make a significant difference to how you stand out on LinkedIn. So many profiles do not even have the right basic information. By spending time crafting a professional profile, you can significantly increase your chances of being called to interview.
Here are some important sections to focus on –
Your profile photo is the first thing people notice and look at. It should be clear, professional, and approachable. This doesn’t necessarily mean formal or corporate, but it shouldn’t be a beach shot or a cropped group photo. Make sure you present yourself as you would in a professional setting with a simple head and shoulders shot, neat hair and smart clothing. Looking to camera and smiling is also really important.
Your LinkedIn Headline is more important than most people realise. Avoid simply writing “Student.” Instead, use this space to show direction and indicate your ambitions. For example, you might highlight your course and the career areas you’re interested in. This also helps you appear in recruiter searches.
The About section is your opportunity to introduce yourself. You don’t need extensive experience to complete this section, just focus on what you’re studying, the skills you’re developing, the type of opportunities you’re interested in and who you’d like to grow your network with.
Your Education section should be detailed. Include your course, key modules, projects, and any achievements. For students, this is often the most important part of your profile.
Finally, your Skills section plays a bigger role than you might expect, and you have the opportunity to add up to 100 of them in this section of your profile. Recruiters frequently search for candidates based on skills, so including relevant ones such as communication, teamwork, presentation skills, and any technical abilities, as this can really improve your visibility in search. Our students can add multiple advanced IT skills to their profiles due to the level of knowledge and skill we teach. If you don’t add these, your profile visitors won’t know about them!
Can You Tell Us What Recruiters Are Actually Looking For?
When a recruiter views a student profile, they’re not expecting years of experience. Instead, they’re assessing your potential.
They will typically look for:
- A professional and complete profile
- Clear education and course information
- Evidence of skills and interests
- A sense of career direction
- Consistency with your CV
- Signs of engagement and professionalism from the Activity section of your profile
They’re also paying attention to detail. A well-written, error-free profile signals strong communication skills and a serious approach to your career.
Should Young People Start Building A Network Now?
One of the biggest advantages of using LinkedIn is the ability to build a professional network before you even enter the job market.
Connections can lead to opportunities, insights, and network support. The earlier you start, the stronger your network becomes over time.
We always recommend our students start by connecting with people they already know – family, friends of family, peers, tutors, recruiters and anyone else we introduce them to while they study with us. From there, they can expand to alumni, guest speakers and potential employers.
Networking at this stage isn’t about asking for jobs. It’s about building relationships, being visible, and staying present in the business community they are considering launching their career in.
What About Using LinkedIn For Job Searching?
LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools available for finding early career opportunities.
Students and graduates can follow companies they are interested in working for, connect with existing employees and learn about job postings. Being active on the platform also means they will stay updated on industry trends and hot topics – these could even come up in an interview scenario. Many organisations advertise internships, placements, and entry-level roles directly on LinkedIn.
Recruiters also use the platform to search for candidates proactively. This means a well-optimised profile can help opportunities find you, not just the other way around.
Optimising features like the “Open to Work” banner and job alerts makes it easier to stay on top of relevant opportunities as they arise.
How Else Can Young People Stand Out On LinkedIn?
You don’t need work experience to demonstrate professionalism. Being active on LinkedIn is a simple way to stand out.
This could include sharing updates about your course, reflecting on projects, commenting on business news, or engaging with company posts that you might be interested in gaining employment with. These small actions show curiosity, motivation, and professional communication skills, all of which are highly valued by employers.
Ultimately, using LinkedIn will also help young people build their confidence in a professional environment.
Isabella Francomb, Principal Consultant at Tiger Recruitment, also told us…
“LinkedIn is often the first place recruiters will go to assess a candidate beyond their CV, so having a professional, up-to-date profile is essential. It’s not just about listing your experience, it’s about showcasing your achievements and potential. My advice would be to stay active, like and comment on relevant content and connect with relevant contacts, as opportunities often come through visibility as much as application.”
When Should Young People Think About Starting To Use LinkedIn?
There’s a common misconception that young people need experience before creating a strong LinkedIn profile. In reality, starting early is what really gives them an advantage.
Your LinkedIn profile will grow as you do and can be updated in an instant. The key is to begin now by building your presence, developing your network and refining your profile over time.
Ultimately, your LinkedIn profile and presence are your first step into the professional world. Make sure it reflects where you’re going and what you can bring to an employer, not just where you are today.
Optimising LinkedIn profiles is covered in our Digital Marketing module on the Professional Business Diploma. Our students are also encouraged to look at job role applications in the Personal Development Planning module with our Careers Advisor, Jo Donelan. Beth Kirk is a LinkedIn Trainer & Consultant – find out more about her here. Find out more about the Professional Business Diploma curriculum here.