LinkedIn summaries are the most important aspect of any profile. It tells the viewer about the person and whether their profile matches a job description. The section highlights your talents, expertise, and the industry you are currently a part of.
However, even if you are not a seasoned professional who does not have much to discuss their present company or designation, you can still use the LinkedIn summary to your advantage as a student.
A good LinkedIn summary can help you get noticed when applying for internships or looking for your first job. Students must be meticulous about what they write in their summaries as it will tell the potential employer whether you are the right candidate for them.
Students and fresh graduates often feel at a loss when providing information for their LinkedIn summary because they feel they do not have enough to write about their work experience, accomplishments or promotions, or accolades.
However, a good education is the foundation of a successful career. As a student, you should concentrate on what you learned during college and university to create an excellent summary.
You will be amazed at how much you can include. Read on to find out.
Also Read: Choosing a Career – Things You Need to Consider
Why is a Good LinkedIn Summary Important for Students?
LinkedIn has over 800 million users, and you can be sure that reaching out to them can exponentially increase your chances of landing your dream job anywhere across the world.
Today, employers constantly sift through LinkedIn profiles looking for fresh talent. As a student, you have better chances of being spotted by headhunters and HR recruiters over LinkedIn than on job portals.
A compelling summary can help you stand out from other job seekers, even if you are new to the industry. Statistics show that over six people are hired through LinkedIn every minute, and you want to be a part of the growing network.
What Should You Include in the LinkedIn Summary?
Your LinkedIn summary or Bio should be precise yet compelling. Here are some things to watch out for.
- Make sure you write your LinkedIn summary in the first person. That makes it look like you are addressing the employer directly, and you are more likely to engage them.
- Ensure the first couple of lines convey a strong message that you are a reliable and eager graduate ready to take up challenges.
- Include keywords in your summary that employers are most likely to search with when looking for someone from an industry you are willing to work in.
- Be meticulous about your grammar and spelling.
- The summary should be ideally 200 to 300 words.
- Write your summary in small paragraphs and make it easy to read with bullet points.
- Be precise in your information in summary. You can add additional details in the other sections of your LinkedIn profile.
- Always mention at the end that you are eager to work.
Tips to Make Your LinkedIn Summary Better as a Student
A LinkedIn summary allows you to showcase your personality to prospective employers and other connections. That will help you stand out from the crowd. Here are some tips.
- You can use a storytelling technique to talk about yourself.
- Do not just write about your educational history in summary. Also, write about what you are passionate about. That makes your summary more humane rather than simply technical.
- Employers want to know whether a candidate will fit in with their work culture or have a strong sense of ethics. This helps them decide whether they will fit in with an inclusive work environment. It would be best if you highlighted those qualities that talk about these aspects.
- Include some of your skills in your summary. They can include a combination of hard skills and soft skills.
- You must include keywords related to the industry you are keen to work in. That will automatically bring up your profile when employers search with those keywords.
- Many students make the mistake of simply writing a line in the summary section or leaving it blank entirely. You would make a great mistake by doing so.
Also Read:- People You Need to Follow on LinkedIn if You Are Looking for a Job
How Can You Make Your LinkedIn Profile Better?
Once you have written your summary, you can pay attention to the other aspects that come immediately after it and are also an important part of your profile.
- To start with, you should create a good, recent, professional profile picture. You could be a fresh graduate or still a student, but your profile picture should not be too informal.
- Try not to use a photo that you would perhaps use on your other social media platforms. Has one clicked especially for your LinkedIn profile, preferably in formal attire or business casual?
- It would be best if you also customized your LinkedIn headline that discusses the job role you are interested in.
- Creating a cover story video can greatly impact your profile, and it will take your summary further. It can help you talk a bit about yourself, and your employers will already get an idea that will compel them to place the call if they like what they see. Has the video been shot by a professional to make the maximum impact?
How to Make Your LinkedIn Summary Better Than the Rest?
Your LinkedIn summary has the potential to attract prospective employers. Over 94% of recruiters today use LinkedIn to vet potential candidates. Hence, it would be best if you used it to your advantage. Here is what you can do.
1. Tell a Story
Although LinkedIn is meant for job portals, you must remember that it is not a resume you are writing. It would help if you tried to tell a story that stands out and does not include too many unnecessary details. Striking a balance is important, so you should write a good LinkedIn summary.
2. Use Conversational Tone
Instead of only writing about what you have done or what awards you have achieved clinically, use a conversational tone that helps employers gauge better who you are.
3. Start Strong
Any visitor to your profile will only see the first three lines of your summary. Then, they will have to click on “read more” to read further. They will only proceed if they are engaged when they read the first three lines. Hence, you must start strong and grab their attention in the first three lines.
Use an outstanding mix of keywords, storytelling techniques, and skills to achieve this.
4. Be Concise
Your LinkedIn summary should be to the point and include all the vital information to keep the readers engaged. Stay away from any unnecessary details that you can add later.
5. Use First Person
Writing your LinkedIn summary in the first person creates a more interactive tone. You can use “I,” “me,” or “myself” when addressing yourself. Many candidates try to write in the third person to create a more professional tone, but that is inadvisable when writing your summary. It will also make your story resonate with the employers, especially if it is very inspiring.
6. Do not Use Jargon
While using keywords specific to the industry is very important, you must know what Jargon is and how to avoid it. Try not to use too many technical terms in summary, as this is meant for everyone. Sometimes, only industry experts will understand them, not regular HR team recruiters. Hence, it would be best to avoid them, in summary, to reach out to everybody.
Moreover, if you use too much Jargon as a student or a fresh graduate, many will also get the impression that you are probably using them without understanding, and that could create a negative impression.
7. Write About Accomplishments
As a student, you need not feel discouraged that you have not had much experience in the industry. You can write about your achievements in your school, college, or university and discuss how they shaped you.
If you are unsure about your strengths, you can ask your friends, mentors, and teachers, and they can help you identify them.
8. Do Not Try to Be Someone Else
When you are a fresh graduate, it is normal that you will see many inspiring people around you who will make you want to achieve many things in life. However, do not try to be someone you are not in your LinkedIn summary.
Even if you try to write something very profound or high-thinking, it will not ring true if you do not believe in it.
Moreover, do not try to create a fake persona. Even if your employers feel impressed after reading the summary, they will soon see that it is untrue when they meet you in person. Hence, talk about yourself in the most authentic way possible, which will surely resonate.
9. Talk About the Future
As a student or fresh graduate, you have the entire future, and you should feel excited about it.
Talk about where you want to be while pursuing your passions and how you would add value to the industry or the company you work for in the next few years. You can also talk about what you plan to achieve in the next three to five years, which will tell the employers that you are positive about your future.
10. Include a Call to Action
You can use a CTA at the end of the summary to make it more compelling. This will induce your recruiters to make the call, as CTAs often have a psychological effect. Keep it short and effective.
Also Read:- Beyond LinkedIn: Professional Networking Online – How and Where to do it?
Examples of LinkedIn Summary for Students
Writing a good LinkedIn summary takes some practice. Here are some examples to help you out. You can customize them according to the industry you want to work in.
Example 1
Ruth Daniels, Data Analyst student
As a third-year data analyst student, I am looking for internships in the industry.
I have been pursuing my data analytics course for the last three years. Thanks to my mentors, I have also learned about industry research systems.
In addition, I have strong writing skills and am adept at using various tools required in data science.
I am task-oriented and driven, and very meticulous about my work.
I have completed my data analytics and data science course from (name of the institute with date), and I am awaiting my final certificates.
I am keen on learning more about data science, and I want to excel in this field in the future.
I look forward to connecting with you, so drop me a message on LinkedIn.
Thank you!
Example 2
Martha Rogers, English Literature Student
I am in the last year of my Master’s program in English literature. I am looking for editing opportunities in the publishing industry.
I have been an avid reader since I was a kid, and my love for literature has grown. I want to pursue a career in the books and publishing industry, reviewing and editing books.
I feel there are a lot of passionate writers out there who have compelling stories to tell, and I want to help them in their journey to do that.
I look forward to working with publishing houses that can teach me more about editing, publishing, and writing. I hope to be very good at spotting talented writers as well.
I have strong writing skills and a knack for spotting errors.
Please get in touch with me if you have an opening for editing requirements, and I am looking forward to a fulfilling journey.
Thank you!
Example 3
Steve Martin, Culture Management Student
I am in the last year of pursuing my degree in Arts and Culture Management, and I am seeking job opportunities in the arts industry.
I have always admired various cultures, and I love talking to people worldwide and understanding their history and background.
I want to pursue a career in the industry and work as a museum curator or any job that keeps me close to people. I am keen on exploring opportunities, and my knowledge of various cultures can connect me to people from all backgrounds.
If you want someone to connect to people, help in the growth of the arts, and enhance cultural ties, please contact me.
Thank you!
Conclusion
Students have much to look forward to. If you are on the verge of completing your formal education and looking forward to an exciting career, you should give some thought to creating a compelling LinkedIn summary.
The best thing is once you start advancing in your career and reach new milestones, you can edit and update your LinkedIn summary.
However, it is a great place to start as a student, and you must make the best of it to reach out to prospective recruiters and employers. You will be amazed at how quickly you get noticed.
