LinkedIn Do’s and Don’ts for Students

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for professional networking and sharing industry insights as a thought leader. However, students who are using the platform for the first time are often unsure of the best (and worst!) practices on the app. Fortunately, social media maven Alexandria Kinsey, a social community specialist at SHRM, is here to guide the way as you scroll.  

How can students interested in jobs in HR use LinkedIn to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers?

Kinsey: LinkedIn is a valuable tool to help you gain exposure in your industry. Hiring managers commonly search for their candidates’ profiles on this platform to get a better idea of their experience and how they might contribute to the organization’s culture.  

Strong LinkedIn profiles that draw attention from recruiters often offer insights on the industry’s current challenges. In the case of HR, this might have to do with talent shortages, the development of AI best practices, and new government policies. Anyone can be a thought leader, even students. Sharing your take on these pressing issues just might grab the attention of hiring managers and showcase you as a potential employee intent on solving problems.  

What are the must-have elements for an HR LinkedIn profile that gets noticed?

Kinsey: Visual elements are very important in creating a profile that increases your visibility. A high-quality profile picture acts as the introduction to your LinkedIn presence: Make sure to choose a headshot that demonstrates your professionalism.  

Completing your profile’s look with a banner image makes it look that much more official. Consider using a graphic design platform, such as Canva, to develop a custom image that contributes to your personal branding. 

Profiles lacking these elements might appear less professional and make you harder to identify. Furthermore, make sure to include a complete headline that shows recruiters who you are and gives a glimpse into your ambitions.  

How can someone use LinkedIn to start building a meaningful network, especially if they’re a student or just entering the field?

Kinsey: Even if you are still a student — or you have just entered the workplace — there is still plenty of opportunity to reach out to your peers on LinkedIn to start building a valuable network.  

Begin by connecting with your classmates, particularly those from courses related to your college major, and any internship colleagues. Chances are their career goals are at least somewhat similar to yours — remaining in contact with them might help you gain access to exciting opportunities in the future. In addition, connect with like-minded peers who you admire.

Connecting with professors or academic advisors you have good relationships with can also be extremely beneficial. These professionals are likely to have large networks of their own, so keeping in contact with them could help you meet hiring managers and make a good impression.  

You may even ask a professor or advisor to write a recommendation to appear on your LinkedIn profile. Few things are better for your public appearance than an experienced connection spotlighting your hard work, dedication, and professionalism.  

What should an aspiring HR pro avoid posting or doing on LinkedIn that might hurt their reputation?

Kinsey: LinkedIn has a different culture than other social media platforms, and thus, some content that may be appropriate on other platforms shouldn’t go on LinkedIn. This is not the platform to share photos of your lunch (no matter how tasty it was), nor the group beach photo from spring break! Focus on aspects of your life that demonstrate your professional abilities.  

Profanity is another major red flag on LinkedIn. Keep it G-rated — even if that meeting you were just in totally could have just been an email! If you’re struggling to get your point across without a four-letter “sentence enhancer,” chances are the topic doesn’t belong on your LinkedIn profile anyway. Positivity is the best look for your online reputation. Be sure to communicate with your followers as if you were in the conference room. 

To decide whether a piece of content is appropriate for LinkedIn, try the “Staff Meeting Rule.” Imagine your current or future boss publicly showing that piece of content to all your colleagues during a staff meeting. If this is an unsavory thought, it doesn’t belong on your LinkedIn profile!  

Be sure to think about the future as your post on LinkedIn. Anyone who sees your content could one day be reviewing your resume and online presence for a job opportunity you applied to. You don’t want that person’s first impression of you to be a photo of you drinking a margarita. 

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What’s the best way to start a conversation with someone on LinkedIn?

Kinsey: If you would like to have a conversation with someone on LinkedIn, consider sending them a connection request, and be sure to send them a note along with it. Break the ice by telling them that you love their content — be specific! — and asking a question. A simple interaction like this might teach you a lot about how to develop your own LinkedIn presence in a similar way.  

Before asking to connect, consider leaving a comment on one of their posts expressing appreciation for their point of view. You may have a better chance at making a new connection if they recognize your name and remember your positive feedback. 

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What are some common mistakes you see newcomers make on LinkedIn?

Kinsey: All professionals are parents, spouses, siblings, friends, and so much more before they are employees. Everyone deserves to bring their full, authentic self to work, and this is also true of LinkedIn. Over the last few years, LinkedIn has shifted to become more personal and realistic. 

However, be sure to maintain a healthy balance in this area. This is not an invitation to turn your LinkedIn into your BeReal! Make sure to keep the mirror selfies on a different app.

Students will often showcase too much of their personal lives — and not enough professional content — on LinkedIn. When posting content about your home life, search for a tie-in to your professional development. For example, if you decide to post about a new hobby, think of how the skills you developed in doing so might benefit your work life, and find a way to spotlight this.  

Another common mistake young professionals make is only using LinkedIn for job-searching purposes. While this platform can be very useful in exposing you to new opportunities, make sure to remain active even after you land the position. A consistently active profile helps build your professional voice and helps you remain visible to future employers.

What should I post and how often? 

Kinsey: Consider posting on LinkedIn once per day. Before you click away, this isn’t as time-consuming as it sounds! When you interact with others’ content on LinkedIn, including liking and commenting, this appears on the feeds of all your followers, as well as your profile. This means that you don’t need to create content yourself to remain visible and active on LinkedIn.

Make it a habit to react to, comment on, or repost a piece of content that inspires you once daily. You can start by searching hashtags related to your line of work. This won’t just increase your engagement on the platform — it will help you develop ideas for content of your own.  

It’s normal to be nervous about sharing your ideas in a professional environment such as LinkedIn, especially as a student. However, you can still maintain an active state on the platform by sharing the thought leadership of others. Share posts that inspire you until you feel confident enough to create posts of your own.