LinkedIn is more than just a social media platform — it’s one of the most powerful career tools you can use to build your professional brand, grow your network, and discover new opportunities.
Whether you’re starting your first LinkedIn profile or looking to elevate your presence, here’s your step-by-step guide:
Why LinkedIn Matters
LinkedIn helps you:
- Build a professional online presence
- Expand your network by connecting with industry professionals and LMU alumni
- Showcase your skills, experiences, and accomplishments
- Discover internship and job opportunities
- Stay informed about industry trends and employer updates
- Explore potential career paths by learning from others’ experiences
In today’s professional world, your LinkedIn profile often serves as your digital first impression.
Setting Up and Strengthening Your LinkedIn Profile
A strong profile is essential. Here’s what to include:
- Profile Photo: A professional, clear headshot (profiles with photos get 10x more views)
- Background Photo: Use a background that reflects your professional brand (check out free options on Canva)
- Headline: Go beyond just your student title — highlight your career interests or top skills
- About Section: Write a brief, authentic summary that covers your background, experience, goals, and passions
- Experience Section: Highlight relevant roles, internships, leadership positions, and projects
- Education Section: List your degree, major, expected graduation date, and any honors
- Courses and Projects: Showcase academic coursework and projects related to your target industry
- Skills Section: Keep your skills updated and relevant to your career interests
Pro Tip: Personalize your LinkedIn URL so it’s easy to add to your resume, email signature, and applications.
Building Your Brand Through LinkedIn
Your LinkedIn profile is an extension of your professional brand.
To build a strong brand:
- Be intentional about what you post and share
- Keep your profile consistent with your resume and application materials
- Highlight your skills and accomplishments with confidence
- Use industry-specific language and keywords throughout your profile
- Regularly engage with content — comment, repost, or share articles that align with your professional interests
The more active and aligned your LinkedIn presence is, the more likely you’ll show up in employer and recruiter searches.
Networking on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a powerful platform to build meaningful connections.
Networking on LinkedIn helps you:
- Expand your professional circle
- Gain insights from experienced professionals
- Learn about new job or internship opportunities
- Stay updated on industry news
- Build confidence in reaching out and making connections
Start by:
- Connecting with classmates, professors, and guest speakers
- Exploring LMU’s 45,000+ alumni network by visiting the LMU University Page on LinkedIn
- Following companies and professional groups that align with your interests
- Setting up informational interviews to learn more about industries and roles
Remember: A simple, thoughtful message goes a long way when reaching out to new connections.
Exploring Careers and Finding Jobs
LinkedIn isn’t just for networking — it’s a tool for career exploration and job searching:
- Use the Jobs tab to search for internships and jobs filtered by your interests
- Set up Job Alerts so you get notified of new openings
- Save jobs you’re interested in and apply directly through LinkedIn
- Browse profiles of professionals in roles you aspire to and see what skills and experiences helped them get there
Tip: Review job descriptions and LinkedIn profiles to identify hot industry skills and keywords to incorporate into your own profile.
LinkedIn Learning: A Powerful Bonus
LMU students have access to LinkedIn Learning, offering thousands of professional development courses.
Use it to:
- Strengthen technical and industry-specific skills
- Earn certificates you can add directly to your LinkedIn profile and resume
- Stay competitive in a fast-changing job market
Explore new skills that match the career paths you’re interested in!
Ready to Strengthen Your LinkedIn Presence?
Here’s your next best step:
- Update your LinkedIn profile with recent experiences, coursework, and projects
- Connect with LMU alumni and join relevant industry groups
- Explore job and internship opportunities through LinkedIn Jobs
- Supplement your skills with free courses through LinkedIn Learning
Visit careers.lmu.edu for more tools, upcoming workshops, and personalized coaching to support your career journey.
Your professional brand starts with one profile — and the possibilities are endless.
