How to Set up LinkedIn as an International Student

Are you using LinkedIn in your home country? If the answer is “yes” then you are way ahead of the game! If not, let us show you how you can set up a LinkedIn profile so that you can present your best foot forward in front of potential employers.

Why do you need LinkedIn?

  • Personal brand

LinkedIn is the best professional social media platform for you to start building a name for yourself. It is not a resume or a casual social media, it is something for your professional career. You can use LinkedIn as a platform to showcase your skills, expertise, and engagement in the work that you do.

  • Networking

There are x people on LinkedIn. LinkedIn acts as a directory of professionals. You can use it as a way to find people in the industry to connect with professionally, search for someone who can help you in your career, or reach out to professionals working in the field so you can learn more about the role & the company. 

  • Discoverability

Employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to find the right candidates for the job. They are constantly looking up candidates using skill keywords all the time. Your LinkedIn profile is a space where you can show off what you have to offer and why you can be a potential candidate for them.

LinkedIn basic set-up

  • Photo

Your headshot is the first thing people will see and is one of the most important thing! You need to have a professional. 

  • Headline & About

It’s time to tell people who you are. Start with a LinkedIn headline. You have 120 characters to briefly summarize who you are and 2000 words to talk about your summary profile and why they should be interested in you.

  • Experience

Lastly, the most important section, the experience section. This is where you list all of your past & current work and volunteer experiences. This is not a replication of your resume but instead an augmentation of your experience. You can add media like images and links on your LinkedIn experience segment to show off your skills even further in which the resume can’t.