LinkedIn

 

LinkedIn

Last Updated: 31-03-2025

LinkedIn is currently the most popular worldwide career-oriented social network. It is all about making professional connections (e.g. potential employers, colleagues, peers, colleagues, alumni, mentors), maintaining your network, staying up-to-date on the labour market and receiving possible job offers.

 

GENERAL LINKEDIN TIPS

Think of LinkedIn as your online business card, offering a more comprehensive view of your professional identity than a CV alone. Recruiters usually review your CV first and then visit your LinkedIn profile for further insights, making it an extension of your CV.  Here are some general tips to optimise your LinkedIn profile:

  • Information-Rich Profile: Ensure LinkedIn contains more detailed information than your CV.
  • Detailed Responsibilities: Write out all your responsibilities and tasks in detail to provide a complete picture of your role and achievements.
  • Relevant Keywords: Add industry-specific keywords to your profile to improve visibility in recruiter searches.
  • Personal and Authentic: Make your profile personal and authentic to stand out and reflect your true self.

 

LinkedIn provides tips and prompts to help you complete your profile. To optimise your LinkedIn profile, include the following recommended sections:

  • Photo and banner. This can be a professional yet approachable  photo based in the Netherlands. The banner can be something personal, representing your hobbies or interests.
  • Name and Tagline. This is what is first visible before you click on your profile. Make sure your headline tells what your current position is (e.g. Master student Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology). If preferred, you could also add other keywords that define your work/top skills (e.g. Python enthusiast)
  • About me. Use this section to offer a clear summary of who you are, what you have to offer and what your objective/ambition is. Give it  a personal touch by adding hobbies.
  • Education. State the full name of the program and the institution. To give a more clear understanding of what your studies entailed, add noteable courses, projects and results in the description. This is also the section to add thesis and final projects conducted.
  • Experience. Similar to education, mention the full name of the role, the organisation or company and the duration of the work. This section can be used for internships and professional work experiences, therefore, make sure to add tasks, responsibilities and the output in the description.
  • Languages. Make sure to mention the languages you know and the level of your proficiency.
  • Skills. Add a few skills (10 should be enough) to your profile that reflect on what you are capable of. This could be hard skills, soft skills or a mix of both. Only mention skills that you think really reflect your capacities. Link these experiences to your education and work experiences. If you get endorsements, that makes the skills a lot more credible.

 

LinkedIn offers additional sections to further enhance your profile, including:

  • Voluntary work. If the extracurricular activities are unpaid and involve community service, nonprofit work, or any form of voluntary contribution, these are included here.
  • Certifications. If applicable, add additional certifications or courses that you’ve obtained throughout your journey.
  • Courses. This is mainly a section to add all the relevant courses you have done as part of your studies. However recruiters often skip this, so it can serve as a log for yourself.
  • Honours and awards. If applicable, add additional honours programs or received awards that you’ve obtained next to your studies.
  • Projects. This includes personal projects and initiatives that do not fall under education or experience. For example, a student team or a huge project for a committee can be included.

 

While these serve as a great starting point, LinkedIn offers many more additional sections like publications and recommendations. Review all available options to make your profile as comprehensive, professional, and clear as possible.

 

If you wish to get more specific information or get practice and feedback, feel free to subscribe for the LinkedIn and Networking workshop by Career Academy or if you wish to get personal feedback, stop by the Career Desk.