Graduating from college is a huge milestone—but stepping into the job market can feel overwhelming. You’ve got the degree, the ambition, and maybe even a solid GPA, but now comes the big question: how do you turn all of that into a career?
One of the most powerful tools in your corner right now is LinkedIn. It’s more than just a place for seasoned professionals—it’s where early-career talent can get discovered, make connections, and learn directly from people in their dream industries.
Here’s how to make LinkedIn work for you—and how to avoid the most common mistakes new grads make.
Start With a Strong Profile
Think of your LinkedIn profile as your digital handshake. Before a recruiter ever sees your résumé, they’re likely to glance at your LinkedIn—and if it’s blank or half-done, you’re missing an opportunity.
Use a clear, friendly photo (professional doesn’t mean stiff—just neat, confident, and well-lit). Your headline should go beyond “Recent Graduate.” Mention your major, a skillset, or the kind of role you’re aiming for. Something like: “Marketing Graduate | Passionate About Brand Strategy & Social Media Campaigns.”
In the “About” section, tell a short story—why you chose your field, what excites you about your future career, and what kind of problems you hope to solve. Make it human, not robotic.
Showcase What You’ve Done (Even If You’ve Never Had a Job)
One of the biggest myths is that you need a job title to start building your experience. Not true. Class projects, internships, leadership in student organizations, freelance gigs, volunteer work—it all counts.
Use the Experience section to describe these roles like you would a real job. Focus on your contributions and results. “Led a team of 5 students to deliver a marketing campaign for a local nonprofit, resulting in a 23% increase in donations” is a line that belongs on your profile, even if it happened during a class.
Don’t forget to list skills. Aim for at least 15. Include technical skills, soft skills, and any tools or platforms you’re familiar with. LinkedIn’s algorithm takes these into account when recruiters search.
Use the Featured Section Like a Mini Portfolio
This is one of LinkedIn’s most underused tools—especially by students. In the Featured section, upload your résumé, add links to personal projects, or pin a post where you talk about your goals. If you wrote a great paper, created a website, or completed a capstone project—this is the place to showcase it.
Make It Easy for Recruiters to Find You
Turn on the “Open to Work” feature, but customize it. Choose the roles and industries you’re open to. You can also make this visible only to recruiters if you prefer a cleaner public profile.
Use keywords in your profile that match job descriptions you’re interested in. If most marketing jobs ask for “social media strategy,” make sure that phrase shows up somewhere on your profile.
Build Your Network Before You “Need” It
Don’t wait to start networking until you’re desperate for a job. Begin now. Connect with classmates, professors, people you met at internships, and alumni from your school. Personalize your connection requests with a quick note: “Hi, I’m a recent SDSU grad interested in product design—I admire your work at XYZ and would love to connect.”
Engage with posts from people in your field. Leave a thoughtful comment. Share something that inspired you. This puts your name in front of others without asking for anything—yet it opens doors down the line.
Stay Active, But Authentic
You don’t have to post every day. But showing up once a week, whether that’s by commenting, sharing an article, or reflecting on something you learned, helps keep your profile fresh and discoverable. It also builds your professional brand—one small action at a time.
Final Thought: You Belong Here
LinkedIn can feel intimidating at first, especially when you see peers announcing big job offers or internships at brand-name companies. But everyone starts somewhere. Your voice, your journey, and your story matter. And the more you show up with honesty and curiosity, the more LinkedIn becomes a launchpad—not just a platform.
Start small. Show up. Be yourself. And trust that your career path will unfold, one connection at a time.
-by Mark
