LinkedIn profile examples for students: What to include

Whether you’re a first-year student exploring majors or a senior preparing to graduate, a strong LinkedIn profile helps you make a memorable first impression.

For current Bearcats, resources like University of Cincinnati’s Career and Co-op Support, as well as the Bearcat Promise Career Studio can help you build or strengthen your LinkedIn profile with one-on-one coaching and tailored feedback.

But here’s a head start with steps to create and optimize your LinkedIn profile as a college student.

Your LinkedIn headline is one of the first things recruiters see and it’s your chance to make a great first impression.

Instead of sticking with something simple like “Student at the University of Cincinnati,” try using this space to show a bit more personality and direction.

Think of your headline as your personal tagline. It’s a quick way to tell people who you are, what you’re studying and what you’re interested in doing next. Even if you don’t have much experience yet, you can still make it specific and memorable.

You’ve only got 220 characters so make them count! Keep it simple, use words that reflect your goals and include a few keywords related to your field or dream job (like “social media,” “research,” or “engineering”).

Pro tip: Keywords or “search queries” aren’t just for search engines. They also help recruiters find you. Think about the kinds of terms employers might use when searching for interns or entry-level hires in your field, and sprinkle a few of those in your headline.

• Marketing student passionate about brand strategy and digital content

• Mechanical engineering major | Co-op experience in automotive design

• Psychology student exploring research and human behavior

• Computer science student interested in data analytics and cybersecurity

• Communication major focused on storytelling and social media strategy

Your “About” section (or summary) should tell your story. Include what you’re studying, what drives you and where you’re headed.

Keep it conversational and focused on your interests, skills and goals.

Pro tips:

• Keep it to 3-5 short paragraphs.

• Include skills, coursework or projects that show your strengths.

• End with what you’re looking for next (e.g., an internship, research opportunity or co-op).

I’m a third-year computer science student at the University of Cincinnati interested in cybersecurity and data analytics. Through my co-op experiences, I’ve developed strong problem-solving and teamwork skills. I’m passionate about using technology to make systems safer and more efficient.

You don’t need years of work experience to build a strong LinkedIn profile. The “Experience” section is your chance to show what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown.

Employers and recruiters love to see initiative, teamwork and curiosity, not just job titles.

Here are a few things you can include:

• Co-ops or internships:

These are gold for your LinkedIn! Describe what you worked on, what skills you developed and any results you can share.
Example:

Marketing Co-op, UC Athletics: Managed social media content and helped increase engagement by 30% over one semester.

• Campus involvement or leadership roles:

Were you a student organization officer, resident adviser or peer mentor? That counts as experience! Talk about how you collaborated, organized events or led a team.

• Volunteer experience:

Whether you helped with a community cleanup, volunteered at a nonprofit or supported a student event, it shows commitment and character.

• Class projects or research:

Academic work can demonstrate valuable skills like teamwork, critical thinking or technical expertise. You might say something like, “Led a four-person group project analyzing social media engagement for a local business.”

• Part-time or summer jobs:

Even roles outside your major show reliability, customer service and time management. Don’t underestimate the value of experience from a campus job, restaurant or retail role.

Pro tip: When you describe each role, use short, active sentences that start with strong verbs (like managed, created, organized, led or designed). And whenever possible, include outcomes or numbers — those help your experience stand out to employers.

Experience Title: Marketing Assistant, UC Campus Recreation
Description: Supported the marketing team with event promotions and social media campaigns. Designed flyers, managed Instagram content and increased student engagement by 25%.

Your “Skills” section is where you show off what you’re good at and it’s one of the easiest ways to make your LinkedIn profile stand out as a student. Think of it as a quick snapshot of what you bring to the table.

Start by adding 5-10 skills that connect to your major, interests or career goals. You can include both technical and soft skills.

Don’t worry if your list feels short — it’ll grow as you gain more experience through classes, co-ops or internships.

Once you’ve added your skills, ask classmates, professors or coworkers to endorse you for the ones they’ve seen you use. Endorsements act like mini-references, showing others that you actually have the skills listed on your profile.

• For marketing or communications majors: social media strategy, content creation, Canva, event planning

• For engineering or STEM majors: AutoCAD, MATLAB, problem-solving, teamwork, project management

• For education majors: classroom management, curriculum design, mentoring, child development

Then edit your profile URL to make it cleaner and easier to share in your college resume.

Example LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname

Follow UC, your college and organizations that align with your goals on LinkedIn.

Connect with classmates, professors and UC advisers. Like or comment on posts from alumni, and share your own updates — such as completing a project, volunteering or attending a campus event. It’s an easy way to build visibility and confidence.

Creating a LinkedIn profile that stands out is easier with feedback. Visit the UC Career Studio — online or in person (they even have walk-in hours!) — to get help writing your headline, summary or experience descriptions. Career coaches can review your profile and help you use LinkedIn to find internships, co-ops or jobs.

Here’s what you can do as a student at UC:

• Walk-in or by appointment: You don’t need to wait for “just the right time.” Drop in during the studio’s designated hours or schedule a one-on-one session for focused help.
  

• Have a career coach review your online profile(s): Coaches will look over your headline, summary (About) and experience sections. They’ll help you polish your wording, strengthen your message and make sure you’re using the right keywords to get noticed.
  

• Connect your LinkedIn profile to action: Career help doesn’t stop at your profile. The same team supports resume writing, interview prep and job-search tools. So while you’re there improving your LinkedIn, you’ll also be stepping into a space that helps you land the internships, co-ops or jobs you’re aiming for.
  

• Build your career mindset early: Whether you’re a first-year or finishing up, getting personalized career support is always a smart move. Investing in your LinkedIn now means you’re ready to tap into UC’s network, employer partners and the co-op system when the time comes.

Pro tip: When you visit, bring a draft of your LinkedIn profile, your major or career goal and one thing you hope to highlight (for example: “I completed a student research project on cybersecurity” or “I led a campus club event”). That gives your coach something concrete to build from.

Your LinkedIn profile is more than just an online resume. It represents your personal and professional brand as a college student. It’s how you tell your story, connect with opportunities and show employers what makes you stand out.

Start simple: add your headline, write a short summary and include your experiences (even if they’re from campus projects or part-time jobs). As you grow at UC, keep updating your profile to reflect your new skills, co-ops and accomplishments.

And remember, you don’t have to figure it out alone. UC Co-op and Career Support is here to help you every step of the way.