29 Jul 2026
If you are a student or graduate and not yet using LinkedIn, this article is for you! LinkedIn is a professional platform that is becoming increasingly important for people at all stages of their careers. Using LinkedIn during your degree is a great time to start, as you’re constantly picking up new skills and experiences. Having an online presence helps you market yourself when applying for positions, build credibility for your skills and find graduate roles.
Many students and graduates feel apprehensive about using LinkedIn, worrying about what to post or who to connect with. LinkedIn isn’t about connecting with as many people as possible or posting all the time. Starting small is enough to get going. You never know where a connection or conversation might lead!
How LinkedIn Can Help You as a Student
It helps you build a professional brand
In a competitive job market, using LinkedIn effectively helps you build credibility and market yourself online. There is no better time to start sharing the skills, projects and assignments you are working on. Posting these achievements on LinkedIn helps you build an online portfolio of all the great experiences and skills you are gaining.
Grow your network and connect with industry professionals
There’s truth in the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” and by connecting with people on LinkedIn, you can open doors you might not expect. Start by reaching out to your classmates, lecturers, colleagues, recruiters, and professionals working in roles that interest you.Sending a message to introduce yourself or to ask a question about someone’s experience can be a great starting point. Sometimes, it’s those small conversations that lead to insights, opportunities, or future collaborations.
You can use it for career ideas and research
LinkedIn is a great way to explore various career paths and discover roles or companies you may not have been aware of before. By reviewing profiles in areas that interest you, you can see how professionals have progressed and gain ideas for your own future. You can also read posts and articles from professionals in those fields to learn more about what their roles involve, the skills they use, and the trends shaping their industries.
Connect with alumni
The Alumni tool on your university’s LinkedIn page is really useful. You can see where graduates from your course are working, the sectors they have joined, and even connect with them for advice and tips on applying for graduate roles. Take a look at graduates’ profiles to get some ideas on how you can further improve your own profile.
Apply for jobs and internships
LinkedIn offers a great job search tool where many graduate roles and internships are advertised. You can set up job alerts to be notified about opportunities that might suit you. One thing to remember is that although the Easy Apply button allows you to apply quickly, it’s still essential to tailor your CV for each role. You may also want to update your profile with relevant skills to match the positions you are applying for.
Join groups and communities
Look for industry-relevant groups and communities where you can learn from professionals in your field. Participate in discussions to demonstrate your interest and ask questions to gain a deeper understanding. Joining groups on LinkedIn is also a great way to meet people with similar interests and to help you start building your network.
Great learning opportunities
LinkedIn is full of content that can help you learn from others and gain new insights by seeing things from different perspectives. Through your university, you may also have access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers thousands of short courses covering a wide range of topics, from professional skills to technical skills development.
It can act as a digital CV that grows with you
Unlike a traditional CV, which is usually limited to one or two pages, LinkedIn lets you include as much as you want. You can build a profile of your experiences, skills, volunteering, and education. Make the most of sections such as projects and awards by sharing relevant coursework, dissertations, or achievements from your degree. These help employers get a complete picture of the professional you are.
Employers can find you
When setting up your profile, you can show that you are looking for work, and some people use a green banner to make this clear. Employers and recruiters often search for candidates based on skills, so including industry-relevant skills can help you stand out. You can also see who has viewed your profile, which gives you an idea of the opportunities and people your profile is attracting.
Staying up to date with industry updates and opportunities
LinkedIn makes it easy to keep track of what’s happening in your field. Following professionals and engaging with their posts can help you learn about trends and developments. Following companies you are interested in lets you see news, events, and opportunities as soon as they come up. It’s also useful when preparing for interviews, as exploring company pages gives you insights and shows employers that you have done your research.
Ready to get started?
Whether you’re completely new to LinkedIn or already have a profile but aren’t using all of its features, it’s never too late to get started. When building your profile, try to fill in as many sections as you can that are relevant to you, like your headline, about section, work experience, education, and languages. To make your profile stand out, you can ask for recommendations or have people endorse your skills, showing others the value of your work. If you use AI to help write your profile, make sure it remains authentic and sounds like you.
When building your network, connect with lecturers, university staff, peers, previous colleagues, and other professionals. Your university careers team is there to help you and can also provide feedback and advice on your profile and LinkedIn strategy. Reach out for guidance and support in building a LinkedIn presence that gets you noticed.
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