LinkedIn is a great way not just to build your professional profile, but also to connect with others, building your professional networks early. It can help you to create lasting connections, providing opportunities and support that can help you navigate and grow your career over time. Whether you’re exploring career paths, seeking internships, or preparing to graduate, here’s how you can leverage LinkedIn effectively to connect with the right people and showcase your potential.

1. Set the Foundation: Optimise Your Profile

First things first, you need to make sure that your LinkedIn profile is ready to show who you are, your aspirations and your achievements, before you connect with others.

• Profile Photo: Use a clear, professional-looking headshot. This doesn’t have to be a professionally taken photo, just one that shows you in a professional light.
• Headline: This is often the first thing other will see, so make sure you write something that shows others who you are (eg: “Marketing Student at Lancaster University | Aspiring Social Media Manager").
• About Section: Tell us about you - highlight your studies, career interests, and your skills.
• Skills & Experiences: List your relevant coursework, projects, societies, part time work, internships, and volunteer work, linking with the transferable skills you can demonstrate through the work.

2. How to Make Connections

It might be tempting when you first start to build up your network and add random people to have lots of connections, but try and focus on making meaningful connections.

• Start with who you already know: Connect with classmates, friends and family, lecturers, and colleagues from internships or part-time jobs.
• Utilise our LU Alumni community: Look for Lancaster Uni graduates who are working in roles or industries you’re interested in.
• Join Groups: There are thousands of LinkedIn Groups related to all sorts of career interests, sectors, or topics. Engaging in group discussions can help you find like-minded professionals.

3. Personalise Your Connection Requests

• Personalise invites: Personalising invites shows effort and genuine interest. A generic “I’d like to add you to my professional network” won’t make a lasting impression.
• Be concise: Make your message brief, mentioning how you came across their profile, and why you’d like to connect with them.

4. Utilise the Alumni Tool

The LinkedIn Alumni Tool is a great way to grow your network by connecting with graduates from Lancaster University.

• How to Use It: Go to Lancaster University’s LinkedIn page and click “Alumni.” Use filters like location, company, industry, or graduation year to narrow your search.
• Engage Thoughtfully: Make sure you reach out with personalised messages, as mentioned above. Alumni are often eager to help students from their old university.

5. Post Regularly on Your Profile

Sharing content helps you stay visible and relevant to your network.

• Share Insights: Post about industry trends, conferences, or articles you find interesting.

• Highlight Achievements: Showcase your academic successes, internships, or projects. For instance, share a brief post about your key takeaways from a group project or a competition you participated in.
• Ask Questions: Once you have built a good level of connections, invite feedback or insights from your network. For example, “What skills are most valuable for a career in data science?”

6. Engage with Others’ Content

Networking isn’t just about your own posts; it’s about fostering genuine interactions and encouragement of others.

• Like, Comment, and Share: Respond thoughtfully to posts from your connections or people you admire.
• Congratulate Achievements: A quick “Congrats on your new role!” builds your profile and visibility amongst others.
• Participate in Discussions: Share your perspective on trending topics or posts.

7. Follow Companies and Influencers

Stay informed by following companies you’re interested in and engaging with industry leaders. This can help you learn about job openings, internships, or trends in your desired field.

What now?

LinkedIn is more than a digital resume; it’s a gateway to meaningful connections and opportunities. By personalising your approach, engaging actively, and staying consistent, you can use LinkedIn to kickstart your professional journey while still in university. Start today—your future network is just a connection away!

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Hannah Bell is dedicated to supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds, through managing the Careers WP team, and the award-winning GROW Your Future project. Hannah has many years experience working in different roles within the Careers team and is passionate about enabling students and graduates to reach their potential.

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Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.