LinkedIn Checklist for Students

LinkedIn Profile Essentials Checklist Section Tips

Professional Photo  Have a someone take a photo of you in
Name and Headline professional attire

Summary  Have your face take up most of the frame
Experience  Look personable
Education  Choose a familiar picture
Skills & Endorsements  Use same name that is on your resume
Personalized URL  Your headline should say who you are in a few
Additional Sections
terms or sentences
 If you had a billboard, what would it say?
 Who you are
 What motivates you?
 Why are you excited about your major?
 Where would you like to eventually be?
 Utilize paragraphs and bullets
 List positions you’ve held and what you

accomplished at each
 Use media to compliment what you did

 List all schools which you will/have attained a
degree

 List Hard (i.e. Microsoft Excel) and
Transferable Skills

 Think, what will qualify you for the next job
you want?

 Make as close to your name as possible
 Utilize your middle initial, hyphens or

underscores

 Volunteer Experience, Recommendations,
Courses, Projects, Organizations Honors &
Awards and Languages

How To Connect/Network With People You Don’t Know

Step Why Do This? Example(s)

1. Establish Common Bond  We are more likely to help individuals we see as being in our “in-  School
group”  Industry
2. Ask For a Moment of Their  Major
Time  We see people within our group as an extension of ourselves  Gender
 If there is a common bond, the individual is more likely to respond  Ethnicity
3. Keep The Focus on Them  The common bond can be used as the ice breaker  Location
 Professional Association
 No one has 30 minutes, but everyone has just a moment  Additional Personal Identities
 This leaves it open ended and allows the individual the power to
 See below in example message
establish the amount of time they are comfortable giving

 Informational Interviews are the backbone of networking and are

the best way to meet professionals in your field

 Keeping the focus on them and their story makes engaging with you
“low risk” because they are simply speaking of their experiences

 The moment you mention needing a job or opportunity, you build  See below in example message

an unspoken expectation in which they need to deliver on the

request. They may not have the means.
 Don’t expect someone who barely knows you to immediately open

doors for you

Example Message (Send in customized connection request. You only have 300 characters, so be concise)

“Hello ______ I hope this message finds you well. My Name is ________ and I’m currently a senior computer science major at UOP. I noticed you also
graduated from the same program. I was wondering if you had a moment to chat about your time within the field since graduating. I think hearing your story could
provide me with some great insight. Thank you for your time.”

Important Notes:

 See a Career Advisor on how to conduct a meaningful Informational Interview
 Be prepared to talk about your experiences, strengths and goals
 If the conversation goes well, ask the professional to connect you with other individuals in the field for informational interviews. Grow your network.
 The more professionals you talk to, the more you’ll know regarding the job search process
 Networking is about knowledge