Many college students feel confused as to how they can best utilize LinkedIn and their confusion sometimes results in not creating or maintaining a profile. Social professional networks are becoming the greatest source of quality hires. It may seem overwhelming to create or edit your LinkedIn profile, but the benefits can help you now and in the future.
1. Photo
A quality LinkedIn photo includes:
- Your face taking up at least 60% of the photo
- The right expression – you want to appear approachable, SMILE
- Professional wear – you look presentable and you’re in an outfit you’d wear to work. Solid colors are best.
- A simple background – make sure the background isn’t distracting and you’re the only person in the frame
2. Academic coursework and extracurriculars 
This section should be very detailed as you don’t have much work experience at this point. Include information about:
- your classes
- club involvement
- fraternities and sororities
- organizations you volunteer for or support
- Relate all experiences to what you’d like to do professionally
3. Skills and awards 
If you don’t have a lot of work experience, your profile can still be strong. You should list all:
- honors & awards
- languages
- certifications
- team and long term projects that you want to display
- Skills that you’ve gained through your various academic and professional experiences
4. Recommendations
Choose someone who knows you personally and who can speak to your work ethic and passion. Thin of asking those in your network:
- Professors
- Previous supervisors including those from your FW internship
- College advisors
5. Share your work
LinkedIn allows you to show and add examples of writing, design portfolios, and different media. Many users attach college papers, blog posts, and videos. This can make your profile more interesting and demonstrate your strengths.
This feature is especially useful if you’re in the field of:
- communications
- writing/editing
- journalism
- visual arts
6. Headline and Summary
This is your opportunity to tell users who you are and what exactly you’re looking for. The headline should be catchy such as, ‘Marketing college student seeking a data analytics internship’ or ‘Public health student passionate about health and wellness in schools’. Your will expand on your headline in your summary, but still keep it short.