Think of your LinkedIn profile as an interactive business card: a brief summary of your educational and professional qualifications, experiences, skills, and interests. The goal is to stimulate the interest of people that might prove important – HR administrators, mentors, successful executives – and that you would like to have in your network. A dynamic and successful profile is a major differentiating factor in the online labour market.
Post a brief self-descriptive headline
In just one sentence, introduce yourself professionally. Think of the headline as your personal catchphrase – something you want others to remember about you (e.g. “Agronomist specialized in Landscape Architecture – Bodossaki Foundation Scholar”). Look at profiles of people you admire for ideas, and avoid vague titles such as “AUTh graduate”.
Upload a decent, professional photo
LinkedIn is a professional environment, unlike Instagram or TikTok. You need a high-resolution photo where your face is clearly visible, you are dressed appropriately, and you are smiling. This will increase profile traffic. Photos from parties, holidays, pets, etc. should be avoided.
Showcase your educational background favourably
Describe your educational background in detail (undergraduate, postgraduate, Erasmus, summer schools), highlighting elements that make you stand out, such as degree grade, scholarships and distinctions. Do not assume that others shall be aware of the details (e.g. thesis topic). There is no need for modesty, rather a supportive and proud presentation.
Write a brief professional summary
Your summary must be specific and positive with regard to your achievements and competences – like the second paragraph of the best cover letter you have written, where you highlight parts of your CV that you want to be noticed.
Fill in the “specializations” section with keywords
Recruiters look for keywords to find candidates with your qualifications. Make sure you include them.
Request a personalized LinkedIn profile URL
Make your profile public and request a personalized URL (www.linkedin.com/yourname) so that it appears in searches for your name. You can also use it on business cards or in your CV, thus enhancing your professionalism.
Make your work publicly available
Add samples of your work, articles, or achievements, via links to personal websites/blogs or by uploading presentations and a digital version of your CV.
Network!
Use LinkedIn to build your professional network. Start with personal contacts (relatives, friends, fellow students), treating them as business contacts, and expand to people with shared educational or professional background. Ask for advice, references, or job search suggestions.
Obtain various professional recommendations
Recommendations are the best way to convince others of your competences. Make sure you have at least one for each professional experience – from professors, internship supervisors, former employers, or mentors who can talk about your strengths. It is equally essential that you provide recommendations for those you have worked with – this way you establish a favourable climate on the basis of reciprocity.
Mention your participation in specific LinkedIn groups
Participation in scientific or professional groups shows that you wish to connect with people with common interests. Start from the university network and expand into groups in the field you are interested in, assessing who is involved and how active the group is.
Use LinkedIn for your search
View job openings through the job search tool or get information about companies through the company search tool so you know who to contact.
Use LinkedIn to uncover potential career paths
If you are not sure about what you want, explore the career paths of successful people in your field and join groups and discussions to see what you are truly interested in. Check out company and business executive profiles, connect with people who are passionate about their work, and search for relevant positions worldwide. The internet is a tool – but action plans are also needed.
Update your profile on a weekly basis
Inform your contacts about seminars, integrated projects, or interesting articles regularly – think about potential discussions with a colleague in a brief professional meeting.