incoming phd student linkedin

The Academic Designer

Communications for Professors and Scientists

7 LinkedIn Profile Tips for Graduate Students

Why linkedin is important for graduate students like you.

LinkedIn is the best social media platform for graduate students. This guide tells you why.

I’m Jennifer van Alstyne. Welcome to The Social Academic blog, where I share how to manage your online presence. I write about websites and social media for academics.

In this article, learn 7 ways to improve your LinkedIn profile for graduate students

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7 ways to improve your LinkedIn profile while in grad school

Your headline should be descriptive

How do you write a LinkedIn headline as a student? Most grad students I see on LinkedIn have a Headline like “Graduate Teaching Assistant at University of Iowa” or “PhD Student at Temple University.” The information I see most is Job Title + Affiliation, but it’s not enough.

You need more information in your Headline to invite people to explore your profile. Communicating who we are in just 120 characters is hard.

In my article on LinkedIn for Professors and Researchers, I talk about how your Headline is the one piece of information about you people are guaranteed to read if you

• write them a message
• appear in their search results
• send a connection request

Be specific when writing your LinkedIn Headline. Include as much detail as you can in 120 characters. A good formula to follow is “Keyword + Job Title or Student + affiliation | Area of specialization.”

A headline like, “Political Science PhD Candidate | Graduate Research Assistant at Duke University | Security, Peace, and Conflict” is descriptive. It uses keywords people may search on LinkedIn when looking for connections (i.e. political science, Duke University, security, peace, conflict).

When your friend asks what to put in their LinkedIn headline as a student, send them this post.

Join my LinkedIn profile course for academics.

Profile photos that focus on your face are easier to recognize

When you choose a profile photo for LinkedIn, choose one that focuses on your face.

Some people prefer an upper body headshot that includes your chest and face. On mobile screens it’s much harder to recognize upper body headshots than face headshots.

Choose a profile photo of your face. And don’t forget to smile!

Here’s how to take a professional headshot for free on your phone.

Write an About section with a friendly bio

Write a short bio for your LinkedIn profile that introduces you to profile visitors. I start mine with “Hi, I’m Jennifer…” because real people visit my profile and I want to be friendly.

Include in your bio the information you most want people to know.

This is not a traditional academic bio. You can talk about your

• work experience
• educational background
• volunteer/service experience
• hobbies and interests

Add the bio to your LinkedIn Experience section.

Let people know how to contact you

People may want to get in touch with you beyond sending a connection request on LinkedIn. In your About section, after your bio, include contact information.

How do you most want to be contacted? Some grad students like to use their institutional email address. Any email address is fine, as long as it’s one you check.

Maybe you spend more time on Twitter than checking your email. Including social media handles where you can be contacted is another great option for graduate students.

Share links in your Experience and Education sections

Your Experience and Education sections on LinkedIn can be dynamic! You can include links and other media to entries in these sections.

For example, in your Education section you could include a link (URL) to your

• School or department website
• Research lab
• Publication
• Blog post or interview
• News or media mention

You can also include other types of media like images and PDFs.

Choose 50 skills that make sense for you now

You can add up to 50 skills on your LinkedIn profile. Many of you may be headed on the non-academic job market.

Skills on LinkedIn are an important part of applying to jobs through LinkedIn. Basically, the LinkedIn algorithm matches your profile (including your Skills) to the requirements jobs you apply to through LinkedIn. Hiring managers get a score that says how closely your profile matches the job. So if you don’t include skills on your profile, your application may not even be viewed.

Check out my tips for social media and the job market.

Add 50 skills to your LinkedIn profile. The Skills section is a good one to update each year.

Your LinkedIn profile will change over time

As you grow and change, so will your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is the best alternative to a website because it

• Shows up high in Google search results and other search engines
• Can be updated and edited whenever you need
• Can include links and media making it more dynamic
• Can be extensive without being overwhelming
• Has advanced search capabilities making it easy to find the right connections
• Is helpful if you’re an academic for networking with your scholarly community
• Is highly recommended when applying for jobs (non-academic)
• Is becoming more social (more conversations are happening on LinkedIn)

But your LinkedIn profile won’t change if you don’t update it. Review each section of your profile at least once a year. Add an update to your calendar now. The best place to start your is by updating your student LinkedIn headline.

Your online presence helps your real life

Grad students, I have faith that you can do this. You can make a great LinkedIn profile that helps people understand who you are and what you care about. People that want to help you.

Want step-by-step training to update your LinkedIn profile? Here’s my online course to help you do-it-yourself.

If you want more help with LinkedIn, don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d love to work with you. Graduate students have used university funds (professional development funds, academic department, and graduate school) to pay for support when they work with me on 1:1 online presence services.

Ask your university to bring me in as a speaker. My workshops are fun and interactive. And you’ll build confidence when showing up online. I’m here to help you. Learn more about my workshops.

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Jennifer van Alstyne View All →

Jennifer van Alstyne is a Peruvian-American poet and communications consultant. She founded The Academic Designer LLC to help professors build a strong online presence for their research, teaching, and leadership. Jennifer’s goal is to help people feel confident sharing their work with the world.

Jennifer’s personal website https://jennifervanalstyne

The Academic Designer LLC https://theacademicdesigner.com

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

How to Master LinkedIn for Academics & PhD Students

Whichever stage you’re at in your academic journey it’s never too soon to start building up your presence on LinkedIn. While LinkedIn is commonly known as a platform for job seekers and professionals, it also provides a great way for academics and PhD students to showcase our research and engage with others in our fields.

In this post we’ll walk through my top tips for networking with LinkedIn. We’ll begin with covering why having a LinkedIn profile can be a good idea, move on to polishing your profile and how to engage with the community, then discuss how to expand your network.

I’ve also included a few bonus tips at the end for anyone who’s approaching the end of their PhD and looking to make the move into industry.

Tight on time? Be sure to download my LinkedIn Top Tips guide from the free resource library so you can start putting these suggestions into practice.

Why You Should Use LinkedIn as an Academic Researcher

I’ll admit that I used to think that LinkedIn wasn’t useful for anyone outside of the corporate world. However, despite not using any other social media, I’ve been actively using LinkedIn as a researcher for a number of years and think it is well worth setting up an account.

Here’s why:

1. Stay up to date with developments in your field

Yes, us researchers do use LinkedIn! I see loads of new and interesting work getting shared on LinkedIn: not just people announcing their own papers getting published but also highlighting interesting studies they’ve seen.

You can follow updates for academics on places like Google Scholar but the perk of LinkedIn is that: 1) people will also share their own take on the work 2) since LinkedIn is a network you’ll also be exposed to new work from your connections connections etc. I know that a lot of people like Twitter/X for this stuff too.

For this reason I suggest adding people that you meet at conferences, currently work with, or would like to work with (more on that in a second!).

2. Learn from others

Alright so I’ll admit that the idea of using any social media platform to learn things can quickly descend into doom scrolling.

However, given that people generally treat LinkedIn as a lot more of a professional platform than most others, it does seem to be a lot more curated (i.e. useful) if you’re following the right people. I often see people sharing useful tutorials, workflows, interesting findings, etc, alongside general cool science.

3. Expand your reach

You can of course use LinkedIn as a platform to share your own research, thoughts etc. This makes it more likely that relevant researchers could see your work and will help you to build your own personal brand if you’re into that.

4. Career moves and job opportunities

The obvious reason! I see loads of job adverts on LinkedIn and it’s easy to set up alerts for specific companies or job roles. If you’re considering moving into industry at some stage this can be a fantastic place to look for open positions.

Sometimes I’ve known PhD students or academics to urgently set up a LinkedIn profile out of desperation when they’re looking for a job. It is much better to gradually set one up, as we’ll come onto shortly.

5. Collaborations

Maybe you’re not looking for a job, but networking via LinkedIn can still be a useful way of building connections with people you may want to work with: by collaborating!

For this reason I suggest adding interesting people you meet, or reaching out to people who you know do cool work. We’ll discuss more about the best ways to connect with them shortly.

6. I nteresting academic opportunities

LinkedIn can act as a notice board for different opportunities which may become available.

For instance:

Now that we’ve covered off some of the benefits of using LinkedIn as a researcher, we’ll next go into some practical ways to network on LinkedIn.

Polish your Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is the first impression you make on potential connections, fellow academics, collaborators, and employers. So the best place to start is by enhancing your profile to ensure it accurately represents who you are and what you do.

Some of my key recommendations are:

• Start early and enhance it over time – filling out a lot of blank spaces can seem intimidating, so make things easier for yourself by just doing a high level summary now and gradually fleshing it out.
• Make it visually appealing – use a professional headshot and interesting background picture.
• Regularly add new projects and publications – it can be tricky to remember your achievements after a lot of time has passed, so make it a regular habit to add new information to your LinkedIn. While you’re at it I’d also encourage this for your CV as well.

Once you’ve got your Linkedin profile set up, you’ll be ready to move onto the next step: interacting with others on the platform.

Engage with the Community

LinkedIn isn’t just a place to display your credentials, it’s a dynamic community where you can build relationships and share your insights.

Here are a few ways you can start engaging on LinkedIn:

1. Add People You Already Know

Search for people you already have connections with, this could include both your current colleagues and previous course-mates. Building this initial network creates a strong foundation for what will come next.

2. Interact with Other Posts

I feel like a YouTuber saying this but like, comment, and share posts related to your field. Offer meaningful comments that showcase your expertise.

This not only helps you build relationships but also increases your visibility.

3. Get Active!

Interacting with other posts is all well and good, but it’s also important to actively share your knowledge and research with your network.

Write posts about interesting papers, developments, or challenges in your field. This invites discussion and shows that you’re actively engaged in your area of study. Sharing your work could also lead to collaboration opportunities!

Expand Your Network

Building a meaningful network on LinkedIn involves more than just connecting with your immediate contacts. It’s about expanding your reach and connecting with professionals and researchers who share your interests.

Here are some ways you can expand your LinkedIn network as a researcher:

1. Join Relevant Groups and Follow Hashtags

LinkedIn groups are like virtual conferences and seminars, where people in your field gather to discuss the latest research and trends. Find groups related to your research interests and join them. Participate in discussions, share your insights, and connect with group members.

It’s also possible to follow hashtags to stay updated on topics of interest. Check out the video below for further information on how to do this.

2. Find Your LinkedIn QR Code for Faster Networking at Conferences

LinkedIn offers a QR code feature that makes connecting with new people easy. When you meet someone at a conference, simply give them your QR code to scan and you’ll be connected!

You can find your QR code by logging into the LinkedIn app on your phone and clicking on the search bar. Upon doing so a QR code symbol should appear on the right-hand side. Once clicked it will provide your code, ready to be shared and scanned.

3. Add a Personalised Note When Cold-Contacting People

While connecting with people you know is straightforward, you’ll also want to reach out to professionals and researchers you haven’t met yet. When sending connection requests to people you haven’t interacted with before, always include a personalised note.

This is really important! Personally I don’t ever tend to accept invites from people I don’t know if they’ve not added a note, or aren’t clearly working on interesting topics. I can only assume other people take this approach too.

Also, even if someone does accept your invite, if you’ve not sent them a message they don’t have any reason to know why you’re interesting in connecting.

• If you’ve met someone at an event, just send them a quick note reminding them of who you are.
• If you’ve never met them before, explain why you want to connect, how your interests align, or what you hope to gain from the connection.

This extra step will significantly increase both the chances of them accepting the invite and how meaningful your connection with them is.

Example notes you can use

• “Hey {X}, I really enjoyed your talk at {a conference} and would love to connect. Thanks”
• ”Hi {X}, after my PhD I’m hoping to move into {new career field} and would really appreciate a quick call to hear about how you were able to make the leap.”

It’s worth saying that yes, you can ask for something immediately, but it’s even better if you’re able to offer your new connection something as well. Do expect that they will look at your profile before accepting.

Bonus: LinkedIn Job Search Tips

Finishing up your PhD and/or considering a move into industry?

If you’re in that position now, here are a few things you can do to maximise your chances of securing a role.

1. Target Specific Companies

Already have a specific industry or company in mind? Below are three ways to boost your chances of success.

• Stay Informed: Follow companies you are interested in working for to stay up to date about job openings, company news, and developments in your chosen field.
• Engage: Interact with the content companies post on LinkedIn. Commenting and sharing their updates might get you noticed by their recruiters.
• Leverage the Alumni Tool: Use LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool to see where graduates from your university work. This can help you identify companies that have hired people with your academic background.

2. Optimise Your Profile for Job Searches

Use relevant keywords in your profile to make it easier to discover in job searches. Include skills, qualifications, and job titles you’re interested in.

3. Use LinkedIn Job Search Tools

LinkedIn has an abundance of tools specifically designed for job seekers.

Here are two ways to use these to your advantage:

• Activate Job Preferences: Let recruiters know you’re open to job opportunities by discreetly activating the “Open to Work” feature in your profile.
• Set Job Alerts: Create job alerts based on your preferred criteria.

4. Utilise Networking

Your LinkedIn network can be an incredibly valuable resource when searching for job opportunities. Start by reaching out to connections who work in your desired industry and seek advice or referrals. I personally know of people who have been successful in securing roles this way after struggling to otherwise get a foot in the door after graduating.

It can also be a good idea to follow thought leaders in your chosen field and engage with their posts. This will help to ensure you stay up to date on the latest insights and there’s always the chance it could end up leading to a job opportunity.

Finally, be sure to look out for and attend online webinars and events within your industry to further expand your network.

Summary: How to Master LinkedIn for Academics and PhD Students

LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for academics and PhD students, it allows you to showcase your research and can help to open up opportunities for collaboration.

By following these tips you can build your online presence, stay informed about the latest trends in your field and put yourself in the best position for your next career move.

You can find all of the key points available in my free LinkedIn Top Tips guide, available to download from the resource library .

I’d highly encourage everyone to set up a LinkedIn profile, even if you’re at an early stage in your PhD and dead-set on staying within academia. It’s so much easier to build it up gradually than to try and tackle it all in one go and you never know what opportunities it may lead to! If you want to add me here is my profile .

Happy networking!

Do you have any other suggestions for how academics and PhD students can use LinkedIn? Let me know in the comments!

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Effective LinkedIn Headline for Students – Killer Headline Examples

A LinkedIn headline is more than just a quick line about your current position or studies; it’s an impactful statement that showcases your professional brand.

For students, having a compelling LinkedIn headline can make all the difference, setting them apart from their peers and creating enticing opportunities.

This blog will guide you through crafting a killer LinkedIn headline, whether you’re an undergraduate, a recent graduate, or a PhD student.

We’ll provide practical tips, proven formulas, and stellar examples that will help you optimize your LinkedIn profile, making it irresistible for potential employers, hiring managers, and networking opportunities.

Let’s help you leverage LinkedIn effectively for your career growth.

What is a LinkedIn Headline for Students and Why is it Important?

A LinkedIn headline for students refers to the professional title or summary that appears below a student’s name and profile picture on their LinkedIn profile.

It serves as a brief introduction to showcase a student’s skills, qualifications, and career goals.

The headline is the first thing recruiters or potential employers see, making it a critical component of a strong LinkedIn profile.

It is important for students to have an attention-grabbing headline as it can attract recruiters to click on their profile and learn more about them.

Including relevant keywords in the headline increases the chances of the student’s profile appearing in search results when recruiters search for specific skills or qualifications.

By crafting a strong LinkedIn headline, students can effectively market themselves and stand out in a competitive job market, allowing them to connect with professionals and networking opportunities that align with their career aspirations. 

Types of LinkedIn in headlines:

For students, there are two main types of Linkedin headlines:

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate (Masters and PhD students)

Here is what you do for both types.

LinkedIn headline examples for undergraduate students

If you are an undergraduate student here are some simple structure that you can follow that will still allow you to be found in LinkedIn search. 

Some general tips across all categories for students include:

• Start off with your current status or what you are aspiring to be.
• Include your area of study or specialization.
• Mention any relevant skills you have acquired from your courses or internships.
• Convey your eagerness to apply your learnings in a professional setting or your ambition for future growth.
• If you’ve completed an internship or any relevant projects, include that in your headline.
• Make sure to include keywords related to your field of study or the industry you’re interested in.

My formula for a crazy effective LinkedIn headline for masters and PhD students

The key to crafting an effective LinkedIn headline as a student lies in answering and weaving together three fundamental questions.

The significance of a simple yet powerful headline cannot be overstated.

It’s not merely about stating your field of study but about demonstrating the skills you are honing and the true value of your research.

Here’s the formula for sculpting your headline:

who you serve + the value you bring + how you do it

Let’s dive into each component:

1. Who you serve

Most people undertake research with the intention to make a positive impact. The first part of your headline should highlight the primary beneficiaries of your research. You could be aiding a specific industry, a professional community, or conducting ground-breaking blue sky research.

Examples could be:

• Serving the energy sector
• Empowering the medical community
• Revolutionizing education for students
• Innovating solutions for environmental challenges

Identifying who you serve allows others to quickly grasp who stands to benefit the most from your work.

2. The value you bring

Your headline should also encapsulate what you’re helping these groups achieve. It’s about portraying the potential outcomes of your research, and why your work matters.

Here are some examples:

• Advancing renewable energy solutions
• Enhancing understanding of human physiology
• Democratizing access to quality education
• Promoting sustainable and green solutions

Including this component will allow viewers to understand the real-world applications of your research.

3. The way that you do that

Finally, describe how you’re conducting your research. This offers insights into your expertise and skill set.

Examples might be:

• Through cutting-edge fiber optic technology
• Utilizing atomic force microscopy
• Synthesizing innovative pharmaceutical compounds
• Developing sustainable materials and processes

By adding this part, viewers can gauge the specific skills you’re developing throughout your PhD, which might trigger interests for potential collaboration or information sharing.

Crafting Your Headline Combine these three elements to craft a LinkedIn headline that truly represents you and your work.

For instance here are some excellent LinkedIn headlines for masters students and PhDs:

• Empowering the healthcare sector to enhance patient monitoring via state-of-the-art fiber optics
• Revolutionizing the energy sector by developing cost-effective hydrogen fuel through novel catalysts
• Assisting the solar industry in producing efficient solar cells via sustainable solar paint
• Pioneering efficient drug manufacturing processes with flow chemistry

Integrating a powerful headline like this on your LinkedIn profile not only helps others comprehend your unique value proposition but also encourages them to reach out for collaboration or more information about your expertise and research.

Here is a worksheet from a workshop that I have used with academics to formulate the best healing and about section.

How many characters does the LinkedIn headline allow?

The LinkedIn headline allows for a maximum of 220 characters.

It is crucial to make use of this prime real estate on your LinkedIn profile to create a compelling headline that accurately represents your professional identity and highlights your unique value proposition.

A well-crafted LinkedIn headline can make a significant impact on your profile’s success and contribute to attracting the right opportunities and connections. 

What does a great Linkedin heading look like?

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind if you want your LinkedIn headline to stand out. 

According to recruiters from high-ranking companies such as Hulu, Google, and Netflix, a strategically crafted headline can dramatically increase your visibility.

LinkedIn operates as a professional search engine, meaning that your headline significantly influences whether you’re discovered by potential employers. However, misinformation online has led many to develop unimpactful headlines.

To counter this, it’s important to understand the role of headlines in shaping your professional image.

1. Highlighting Your Value Proposition Instead of Job Needs

Instead of detailing what you’re seeking from your career or hinting at desperation, your LinkedIn headline should focus on the value you can add to the world.

Imagine a snack bar packaging talking about the company’s revenue goals – it’s not appealing.

Similarly, your headline should reflect your unique attributes and skills that make you an asset to potential employers.

Frame your headline from the perspective of what you bring to the table, not what you want from the table.

2. Leveraging Keywords Over Buzzwords for LinkedIn Visibility

While it might be tempting to fill your LinkedIn headline with popular buzzwords like ‘passionate’, ‘creative’, or ‘collaborative’, these often don’t hold any real weight.

Instead, focus on using industry-specific keywords.

LinkedIn’s algorithms, much like other search engines, prioritize profiles that effectively utilize relevant keywords.

If you’re uncertain about the crucial keywords for your target career, resources like optimization guides can be invaluable.

3. Applying Practical Strategies: Examples of Effective LinkedIn Headlines for Students

To put these principles into practice, consider this formula: “Keywords for your target role + Industry/Area of expertise + Unique value”.

For example, if you’re a mechanical engineering student interested in the automotive industry and have placed third in a human-powered vehicle competition, your headline could read: “Mechanical Engineering Student | Automotive Enthusiast | Ranked Third in Human-Powered Vehicle Competition”.

By following this model and tailoring it to your own experiences, you can craft a LinkedIn headline that showcases your unique skills and captures the right attention.

Common mistakes found in Linkedin headlines:

Avoiding common pitfalls in creating a LinkedIn headline is just as important as understanding what to include.

Here’s a list of things to avoid in order to optimize your LinkedIn headline effectively:

• Being vague or generic: Stay away from generic terms like “unemployed”, “seeking opportunities” or “looking for a job”. These don’t provide any information about your skills, experiences, or career aspirations.
• Overusing buzzwords: Avoid commonly overused terms like ‘passionate’, ‘experienced’, ‘hard-working’, ‘motivated’. They are so overused that they lose their impact and make your profile seem less unique.
• Using a job title without context: A job title alone might not provide enough information about what you do. If you decide to include your job title, try to accompany it with additional details or keywords that highlight your skills or industry.
• Including personal information: LinkedIn is a professional platform. Therefore, refrain from including personal information such as your age, marital status, or other non-professional details.
• Making spelling or grammatical errors: Any spelling or grammatical errors in your headline can be seen as lack of attention to detail and may lead to a negative first impression.
• Being too lengthy: While LinkedIn allows up to 220 characters for your headline, it’s important to be concise and to the point. Too much information can overwhelm the reader and dilute your main message.
• Not using relevant keywords: Keywords are crucial to help you show up in search results. Not including relevant keywords can make it harder for potential employers or connections to find your profile.
• Writing in the third person: Your LinkedIn profile is a personal representation of you. Avoid writing in the third person as it can seem impersonal.
• Using excessive jargon or acronyms: While it’s important to showcase your skills and industry knowledge, avoid using too much jargon or too many acronyms. Keep in mind your audience may come from various industries and might not be familiar with specific terms.
• Failing to update regularly: Your headline should be up to date and accurately reflect your current position, projects or career objectives. A headline that’s outdated can give the impression that you’re not active on LinkedIn.

Avoid these mistakes to create a headline that is effective, clear, and professional, and will make you stand out to potential employers and connections on LinkedIn.

Wrapping up – best LinkedIn profile headline

The importance of an effective LinkedIn headline for students and recent graduates cannot be overstated.

Whether you’re on the hunt for internships, trying to break into the job market, or keen to make meaningful industry connections, having a strong LinkedIn headline can set you apart in the competitive professional landscape.

Your headline is one of the first things potential employers, hiring managers, or networking contacts see when they come across your profile. It’s your initial pitch, your opportunity to make a compelling first impression. 

For undergrads, our formula emphasizes the importance of highlighting your current status, your area of specialization, and your professional ambitions. Make sure you spotlight relevant skills you’ve gained from academic courses or internships and show enthusiasm to apply them in a professional environment.

For Masters and PhD students , your LinkedIn headline should clearly outline who benefits from your research, the value you bring, and how you do it. Remember, this is about more than just your area of study—it’s about showcasing the tangible impact and value of your work.

Crafting an excellent LinkedIn headline is an art—one that combines strategic keyword usage, a clear display of your individual strengths, and a precise showcase of your professional identity.

By leveraging these tips, students and job seekers alike can amplify their LinkedIn presence, leading to new opportunities and fruitful connections in their desired industries.

So, go ahead, dive in, refine your headline, and join the millions of LinkedIn users standing out for all the right reasons.

Tthe goal is to not just be part of the crowd but to stand out in it. That’s the power of a killer LinkedIn headline.

Happy networking!

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

We are here to help you navigate Academia as painlessly as possible. We are supported by our readers and by visiting you are helping us earn a small amount through ads and affiliate revenue - Thank you!

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• 11 . 24 . 19
• Build Your Network , LinkedIn

I Reviewed 53 PhD Linkedin Profiles. Here’s What I Saw

• Posted by: Chris

One morning in December, I put the call out on Twitter that anyone with an advanced degree looking to build a career should join the new Roostervane group on LinkedIn.

Plus, I promised to do a LinkedIn review of anyone who joined that day.

The requests started rolling in quickly. And by the end of the day, I’d reviewed 53 profiles. It was amazing to see the caliber of people in the group. So many with fantastic skill sets and interesting backgrounds. And while so many of the profiles had so many great things, I noticed a few common places where they could be improved.

This post may contain links to affiliate products, which–if you choose to purchase–pay us a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps to support our work. We only promote products we’ve used and love.

You can read my story about leaving academia in Doctoring: Building a Life With a PhD–Available on Amazon.

1. Work from top to bottom

Go look at a few LinkedIn profiles and see what you notice. If you’re like most people, you see:

• The Picture
• The Headline
• The “About” Section
• The “Experience” Section
• Anything else

Exactly in that order.

When you fill out your Master’s or PhD LinkedIn profile, the temptation is to put the most work into the “Experience” section—like a resume—to show what you’ve done.

But the thing about LinkedIn is that people open a page, start at the top, and stop reading if they get bored. Unlike a resume, they can’t glance down at your history; they have to scroll.

When people have all their career details buried in the “Experience” section, which some readers will never get to, it hurts the profile.

Since the “About” section comes first by default on LinkedIn—some people never get there.

Make sure your profile starts with a strong headline, at least a few sentences of “About” that are interesting and show some personality.

2. The Picture

So arrange your priorities based on the list we just wrote.

What’s the first thing people notice? Before they even click on the link that takes them to your site?

The picture!

This is so important. The picture should be clear and close up. It needs to be close enough that people can look into your eyes and trust you. And if you’re smiling it goes a long way!

Professional headshots are great. But if you don’t have that, wash your face, do your hair, put on something clean and professional, and stand against a wall outside and smile directly into your phone’s camera-selfie lens. You’ll get something that looks good. (I know it’s awkward. I’ve done it too. Push through it.)

Allow me to demonstrate.

This picture is me.

This picture is also me.

Crooked tie, I know. But still, it’s obvious which one is best.

The thing that’s vital… and I mean vital… to understand, is that a connection request from the first picture will get ignored. The second might get some traction.

3. Make your headline shine

If employers or recruiters search for a role they need to fill on LinkedIn, your name will only come up if you have some of the keywords they’ve searched for. Then, they see your name on a tiny little list of people that pop up.

Try it yourself.

Search for a job title in the LinkedIn search bar and notice what you see. Which profiles stand out to you?

If you’re trying to get a non-academic job in a specific field, it’s important to add a field-specific word to your headline. “Researcher” doesn’t mean much, so it’s way better to have “AI Researcher” or “Historical Researcher.” I’d identify a field here with ONE ADJECTIVE ONLY. Keep it tight.

Also, if you’re looking a PhD for a non-academic job, I’d recommend having “PhD Candidate” or “PhD Student” as part of your headline—BUT ADD MORE THAN THIS! This is a bad PhD LinkedIn.

Fill it out a bit with a few extra descriptives.

If you are changing fields or are in a field that’s less relevant to non-academic work, try adding an aspirational title to your headline that identifies a specific value you bring to the job market.

For example, you might be a “Project Manager,” “Data Analyst,” or an “Editor.”

So all together, this could look like: “AI Researcher | Data Analyst | PhD Candidate” or “Historical Researcher | Research Project Manager | PhD Student.”

I format mine like this—with the tiny little bars—but you don’t have to. Have a look around LinkedIn at different ways to do it.

4. Be careful with academic jargon

This advice depends. If you’re looking for altac work splicing genoisotopic hormones of CHN—and there’s an industry for that—totally leave it in. (I just made that up, so don’t google it.)

But if you’re looking to make yourself hireable to a wider variety of employers, I’d keep it simple. “I do gene splicing,” or “I’m a conservation archeologist.”

And for humanities students in obscure fields (like my ancient history degree was), I wouldn’t talk too much about your research. Focus more on general value propositions you bring. So “my research is on ancient Egyptian sacrificial urns” might become “I’m a historian studying how people build meaning into their lives…” or something like that.

5. Let’s talk “About”

The “About” section is important. As I said above, it’s the thing people often see first, and sometimes the only thing they see.

I love an “About” section that’s engaging and shows some personality.

Remember, a lot of employers see academics as being out of touch and having their heads in the clouds.

There’s no better way to contradict this than with an engaging career story that shows that you’re more than just a pretty brain. ( I also wrote this post about assumptions employers make about PhDs and how to counteract them .)

Use first person.

Tell your career story with limited jargon.

Don’t just talk about your research field. Talk about the skills you bring to the workplace that employers want.

And don’t be afraid to say where you want your career to go.

6. Lead with your thoughts

If you’re on the non-academic job market or you will be soon, it can be great to engage in some thought leadership on LinkedIn. Start sharing links of posts in your field. Comment (kindly and intelligently) on things others have written or shared. And write your own material on LinkedIn or a blog and share it!

It’s a great way to get eyes on you and your profile and to establish yourself as an emerging voice. ( I wrote this post about the value of thought leadership ).

A few final thoughts about your PhD LinkedIn…

There are different seasons of a PhD LinkedIn. I’m not job-searching anymore. I’m an entrepreneur. And so, I don’t need potential employers to be impressed by my LinkedIn.

However, I do use LinkedIn for thought leadership! So I use my LinkedIn differently. And opportunities now come to me from my network.

LinkedIn was a great tool in building this network in the first place. And a LinkedIn reach-out literally got me my first job. So the possibilities are endless!

Finally, there’s no one way to do LinkedIn. If you search for advice on how to do it, you’ll find different things. People have different opinions on what works, and it changes regularly.

But if you focus on 1. Who you are, 2. What your skills are, and 3. How they can solve a problem for an employer —You’ll be fine.

Hey! If you’re in the process of building a career with a PhD, check out my book about leaving academia– Doctoring: Building a Life After a PhD — now available on Amazo n.

  Psst… Did you know Roostervane has a YouTube channel? Here’s a video I made with some quick networking tips. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Read More About Making Your LinkedIn Shine

10 powerful linkedin tips to take your networking game to the next level., linkedin for phds: how to use it to build an amazing non-academic career.

Consulting Secrets 3 – Landing Clients

Photo by Christian Sterk on Unsplash There’s a new type of post buzzing around LinkedIn. I confess, I’ve even made a few.  The post is

You’re Not Good Enough… Yet

Last year, I spent $7k on a business coach. She was fantastic. She helped me through sessions of crafting my ideas to become a “thought

$200/hr Expert? Here’s the Secret!

Photo by David Monje on Unsplash I was listening to Tony Robbins this week. He was talking about being the best.  Tony asks the audience,

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LinkedIn Tips for PhDs: 4 Hacks to Get You Hired

LinkedIn is a professional social network where users can post their resumes and accomplishments to find work. Networking to find career opportunities is vital for academic professionals, especially PhD graduates and postdoctoral researchers. LinkedIn also allows users to connect their social profiles and showcase their raw skills and personalities. With this combination, users can find a job that fits their various needs. It is easy to create an eye-catching and interesting profile by using the right strategies!

Making Connections

When starting out in the professional world, most PhD graduates do not have many professional contacts. This is quite normal, early in a graduate’s career. However, it can seem overwhelming if someone doesn’t know how to network. The best way for a new graduate to build a network on LinkedIn is to connect with people they know. Academic contacts from school are the obvious choice, but connecting with family can also be helpful. Millions of people use LinkedIn, and people may be connected in unexpected ways.

Finding a job on LinkedIn sometimes depends on small things. It may not be obvious who could help a PhD graduate the most. New graduates should reach out as much as they can when trying to make connections. LinkedIn has many groups where people with similar education and interests can find a common ground for a good connection. Some of these groups, like alumni groups, may contain even more contacts than a student already knows. These contacts may have new leads of their own, and those new people may take notice.

In today’s modern and interconnected world, CVs alone are not enough to get a job, no matter how impressive they are. Sending a resume to a job posting does not help many graduates, because there are so many people who do the same thing. Therefore, it is difficult for one resume to get noticed in a large group. Personal connections make a graduate seem more interesting, and encourage others to take another look.

Building a Profile

A LinkedIn profile has a different style than a CV. Many graduates upload their CVs to LinkedIn and assume that it will function the same way. However, this is a common mistake. Graduates should make sure their profile is 100% complete as a complete profile contains things not found on a CV. An effective LinkedIn profile contains a profile picture and a catchy summary. It often includes pictures as well, to emphasize a graduate’s experience.

Because LinkedIn is not like a CV, graduates can add many different things to their profiles. Links to accomplishments, portfolios, or social media are often useful. This can add to a reader’s positive perception of the graduate by proving that the person is hard-working, or has contributed to something significant. These unique pieces of a profile are usually free of buzzwords and jargon to help the reader get to know the graduate.

LinkedIn profiles can do more than highlight professional accomplishments. They can showcase personal successes, and these can be just as important. Sometimes, highlighting unique skills in a graduate’s personal life can grab a reader’s attention. Things that may not seem directly applicable to the professional world might be an asset in some careers. Showing one’s unique personality through personal accomplishments can help a graduate stand out.

Be Social and Proactive

When making connections on LinkedIn, it is important that a graduate be social and proactive . Writing personalized requests for connections on the platform can spark someone’s interest, and could lead to more connections. Recommendations are another important part of being on LinkedIn. It is helpful to gain recommendations for skills from connections, but giving recommendations to others can open the door for new connections as well.

To get connections from others, a graduate must be ready to reach out when necessary. LinkedIn is not like other casual forms of social media. It is a network of professionals, so accepting connections from people a graduate does not know involves very little risk. In fact, connecting with new people gives the graduate a much better chance of being noticed and finding a job. It is still important to ensure that new connections are trustworthy and this is easy to do by looking at their profiles and connections.

Because LinkedIn is a social network, users have the ability to share whatever they wish. However, graduates should remember that LinkedIn is a professional and not a casual environment. This means that anything the user shares could reflect on them professionally. Joke posts, politics, or other controversial topics are not appropriate for a LinkedIn profile. Being proactive means telling the world about oneself, but this should be done in a professional and neutral way.

Keep It Simple to Stand Out

Knowing all the capabilities of LinkedIn, graduates may be tempted to create a long profile, containing minute details of their work. However, most readers do not go through long profiles and it is best to keep them simple . No reader wants to sit through a long, specialized summary when carefully chosen words and a few pictures could do the same job. This can apply to any area of a graduate’s profile. Too much detail can bore readers, instead of enticing them.

The best way to avoid making a profile too complicated is to give information in small chunks. Small pieces of information are easy to read and understand. Carefully wording these small pieces can tie together a graduate’s profile while giving the reader essential information. A LinkedIn profile is not just a list of accomplishments, it is also a marketing tool.

A LinkedIn profile should not only give the reader enough information to generate curiosity about the graduate, but also leave them wanting to know more. If readers want to know more, they will contact the graduate. The new contact could be a passive connection, but they will still expand the graduate’s network. If the new contact decides to contact the graduate for a job, the LinkedIn profile is then at its peak effectiveness, doing exactly what it was meant to do.

For more details, the following links may be helpful:   Part 1 ,  Part 2 , and  Part 3 .

Have you created your own LinkedIn profile? What steps did you follow to create your profile? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

Its easier said than done. My experience says 8/10 people don’t respond to a personal message. I have tried sending a message with a nice introduction about myself and then asking for a referral. Though I have read somewhere that it’s not a good idea to ask for a referral/job in the first message. But I think LinkedIn is a platform for professional and being direct into context is no harm, as long as someone is not repeatedly messaging. I feel bad to see that a person is very active in LinkedIn and not responding to the message written in a very modest and formal way. Jobseekers don’t always expect a positive reply from the people but any kind of reply would surely make them happy.

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Should I list my 3-years PhD in 'Education' or 'Experience' on LinkedIn?

I've been PhD candidate for the past 3 years, and recently (successfully) defended my thesis. I now want to apply to companies outside academia (and maybe not directly related to my field of study) in the US and/or western Europe.

I am wondering where I should list the three years of PhD on my LinkedIn profile:

• In Experience , because it was a paid job, and I acted as an employee. Plus I gave lessons beside research;
• In Education , because it was for getting a diploma;
• In both, separating what refers to the job part (all professional skills developed) from what belongs to the diploma part (all learnings, and specialization field).
• work-experience

• 17 'Education or experience'... Yes –  Raven Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 14:45
• 3 Near duplicate on Academia.SE academia.stackexchange.com/questions/57403/… –  posdef Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 15:33
• 1 @posdef Indeed, thanks for the link. The difference is here that I don't plan to apply in the academia (hence posted here, instead of Academia.SE). –  ebosi Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 16:09
• @ebo I guess that would be the case. Thought you might get some additional insights from the answers there –  posdef Commented Oct 3, 2017 at 7:45
• Wow, in what field can you finish a PhD in three years?! –  Konrad Rudolph Commented Oct 3, 2017 at 9:24

4 Answers 4

List it in both.

The Education section is typically just a list of degrees and dates. It states the official certifications that you have received and can prove with documentation. This should include your field and maybe a focus area, but not much detail. You might also include your dissertation and any other papers in a separate Publications section.

Work Experience lists all of the jobs and positions you had during that time. This is where you explain in more detail your research, job responsibilities, and professional skills. I would list your Work Experience higher than Education if you are applying in industry.

Applying for jobs in academia is completely different than industry, and for that I would look for advice from Academia SE on how to properly organize a CV.

I am wondering where I should list the three years of PhD on my LinkedIn profile

Chose Option 3

The third bullet you provided is the way to go, put it in both locations. It looks like, and is work experience while at the same time you were able to obtain your PhD. That is a fortunate set of circumstances you found yourself in, being able to accomplish both the PhD and obtaining work experience.

• What I am/was afraid is that it looks too pretentious or it looks like I "over-exploit" a single experience. I.e. I don't want people to feel I'm swindling them by listing twice a same period. –  ebosi Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 15:20
• 3 I don't this this is an issue in your case sir. –  Neo Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 15:21
• 1 Also, if putting a PHd on your resume is overselling a single experience, then the same could be said for people who (like me) leave their education off of their resume. I gained multiple skills at the jobs I've been to and have no education, but what really qualifies me is how my skills match those of the job. –  Anoplexian Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 15:47
• 3 @Anoplexian I'm not sure I understand your comment. I get the point (and agree) about the fact that what matters is the 'skills vs. job'-fit rather than education. Yet I'm not sure I get the comparison as you seem to remove some part of your CV (education), when I'm afraid of duplicating one part... –  ebosi Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 16:12
• 1 @Ebo It's essentially saying that emphasizing a single point on both sections is fine as long as it applies. Rather than education, I list certifications and other education I've received, despite them being a part of my job. Perhaps I initially explained myself poorly. It's really no different for you, although the education versus work experience is in a way reversed. –  Anoplexian Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 16:35

As the others have answered, I would put it in both. Format it to be something like:

Experience Teaching Assistant - University of XYZ - 2014-2017 Responsible for supervising undergraduate students in their research Led recitation for 3 sections of underwater basket weaving courses Saved the professors life from a deadly chemical explosion Secured funding from a private donor worth 50 bajillion dollars Education PhD, Swimming - University of XYZ - 2017 Thesis: "The impact water Pokemon have had on the ancient aliens and their influence on underwater basket weaving in the 18th century"

Note: Please don't copy this verbatim. It's meant to be humorous and serves only as a template.

• 1 To be honest, listing it like this is pretty worthless. Modern CV are usually expected to include more details about what the job entailed, the job title is not enough any more (and mostly meaningless anyway). –  Konrad Rudolph Commented Oct 3, 2017 at 9:26
• 1 @KonradRudolph I agree with you. I just didn't feel like writing a full CV for OP. But, I'll update it just for you. –  Michael Commented Oct 3, 2017 at 12:40
• 2 Haha, oops. I should have known that it was abbreviated. In my defence I think that a lot of junior job seekers routinely make this mistake, so having a more fleshed-out example is probably very pedagogical. So thanks for that. Also, superb example. –  Konrad Rudolph Commented Oct 3, 2017 at 13:12

Normally, I'd expect to see this in the Education section, but also listed as a qualification.

In summary, state the fact you have it near the top, detail at the bottom.

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10 Stunningly Good Graduate Student LinkedIn Summary Examples

How much thought did you put in while crafting your LinkedIn profile, more importantly, your LinkedIn student summary? You probably did a good job, but are you interested in seeing 10 stunningly good summary graduate Student LinkedIn Summary Examples? If so, read on!

Much like Facebook and Instagram serve as our social identities, LinkedIn cultivates our professional identity and serves as a professional database for our digital footprint.

We all have digital footprints, whether we create them intentionally or unintentionally. Businesses, entrepreneurs, HR recruiters, and industry leaders have increasingly started recruiting professionals and freelancers from LinkedIn.

Setting a good first impression is of the utmost importance, and a LinkedIn profile that you created hastily will cast a negative light on your professional identity. So, if you’re looking for lucrative opportunities to market your skills and explore career advancement opportunities, your LinkedIn student summary is a crucial element that needs to be perfected. 

Why is a LinkedIn student summary so important? 

Your LinkedIn student summary is the most significant element of your entire LinkedIn profile. It should be engaging, impressively written, well-structured, and, most importantly, it should be grounded in reality.

HR recruiters, mentors, and executives have a keen eye for professional aesthetics and content regarding  LinkedIn  profiles. 

Recent graduates and students seek to build up their resume, refine their digital footprint, and engagingly present their professional LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn graduation posts have become increasingly popular across student LinkedIn accounts, and they serve a significant purpose. 

Recent graduates enter the industry with an innovative and upgraded skillset, enhancing their  marketability  for talent Scouters and firms that recruit fresh talent. Many students create LinkedIn profiles to keep up with the trend, and their LinkedIn student summary sections are either blank or consist of one-liners and odd phrases. 

Students who are just about to embark on their professional journeys need to focus on cultivating their digital profile and marketing their skillsets as early as possible. The global job market has become increasingly competitive, with freelancers and remote professionals claiming immense prominence-because of their ability to market their services and skills effectively. 

It’s crucial to set aside all distractions and focus on crafting a LinkedIn graduation post. Your post should be inspiring, detailing your experience and skills, and reflecting your ambitions and life goals. 

This article will walk you through ten impressive LinkedIn summary examples for graduates, alongside some pro tips to craft an engaging LinkedIn student summary for your profile. Take a look:

Compelling LinkedIn Student Summary Examples 

• Mikaila V. Smith 

In a highly impressive profile, Mikaila has detailed her academic and professional achievements in a truly engaging manner. This is one of the best LinkedIn summary examples for students who wish to attract professional opportunities and market their skillset strategically. 

• Samantha Manguiat

This is a cleverly crafted LinkedIn student summary. It allows Samantha to outline her academic experience, professional capabilities, and passions with a well-written introduction. It’s a great example to follow if you’re finding it difficult to craft your LinkedIn summary. 

• Maks Fraszka

Here’s an excellent example of taking inspiration from infusing your LinkedIn student summary with creativity. Maks Fraszka tells his life story in a brief yet engaging student summary. He details his academic and professional pursuits with a lighthearted banter that reveals his personality and interests. 

• Tiffini Simmons

This is another impressively detailed profile and a highly presentable LinkedIn summary for students to learn how to market their skills effectively. Tiffini outlines her academic exposure, skills, and work experience by just getting to the point. 

• Megan McDonnell 

Here’s an example that reveals that an impressive LinkedIn student summary doesn’t necessarily have to be lengthy to make an impact. You can impact engagement by focusing on engagement and highlighting the strengths that will make you an excellent asset for any firm and industry. 

• Anthony Fioretto

Anthony Fioretto has used his LinkedIn student summary to discuss his academic pursuits, professional experiences, and interests. He has used this crucial LinkedIn space to reflect his personality, share his passions, and underscore the factors that motivate his ambitions. This LinkedIn student summary example can help you craft a brief yet impactful summary to make your Student LinkedIn account appear highly promising!

If you still have a few years of academic learning left and want to build up your resume with prestigious internships and volunteer opportunities, here’s a compelling LinkedIn student summary to check out. Matt Pell has outlined his academic and professional experiences and his future goals, with a well-written summary that reflects his ability to market his skillset effectively. 

• Noah Delumpa

One of the most inspiring LinkedIn student summary examples shared in this article, Noah Delumpa’s summary, is highly engaging and moving. With great craft, Noah has outlined his academic and professional pursuits. Instead of boring the reader with heavy jargon and big brand names, he talks about his professional values, ethics, and drives.

• Kaitlyn O’Connor

Another excellent example for students who are still navigating through their academic journey. Kaitlyn’s LinkedIn student summary does not include any prestigious internships, but it is just as impressive because she candidly shares her motivations behind her academic pursuits. 

• Will Hubber

Are you looking for good internships while completing your academic journey? Will Hubber’s LinkedIn student summary offers a lighthearted introduction to his academic pursuits and professional values and strengths. An excellent strategy to get noticed and make a lasting impression without using too many words! 

Tips to Write an Impressive LinkedIn Student Summary 

We’ve explored some examples to walk you through the contents of an impressive Linkedin summary for students. Now, let’s turn our attention towards some tips that can help you craft one for yourself. 

• Define your academic journey

Your LinkedIn student summary must reveal your academic pursuits and the motivations that inspired you to embark on your chosen degree. Recruiters, mentors, and observers are not just interested in the institutions you are affiliated with or the degrees you have completed. 

They want to know more about why you choose a particular major and how you plan to use it. Luckily, your LinkedIn graduation post is the right space to explain why your chosen academic path inspires you. Modern-day employers seek fresh graduates who are inspired and motivated, and you can cast a powerful impression by presenting your drives and academic interests in detail. 

• Professional experience and pursuits 

Since LinkedIn is a professional database, your LinkedIn summary must outline your experiences, internships, and other accolades on your resume. Only listing down your experiences won’t make a desirable impact. You have to use each experience to outline what you’ve learned, and how that particular opportunity helped you grow professionally. 

Writing about professional experiences allows you to present your strength and even discuss crucial projects you’ve worked on. It is an opportunity to show your skills in a highly engaging manner and discuss your strengths by revealing how you have cultivated them. 

• Your values and ethics 

Do you consider yourself to be a natural-born leader? Or perhaps, you firmly believe in your abilities to cool off tensions and arbitrate disputes? Do you believe in teamwork and thrive in nurturing environments, or do you prefer to work alone? 

All of the LinkedIn summary examples for graduates introduced above discuss professionals’ values and ethics because employers are keen to extract knowledge that reflects your values. Instead of allowing them to make their own assumptions, you can directly demonstrate who you are. 

Use your student LinkedIn bio to present the qualities and values that make you an excellent fit for any organization. What do you have to offer as an employee, a colleague, a subordinate, and a community member? Your summary must touch upon your values and ethics, however briefly or expressively you prefer. 

• Humanize your profile 

Employers and recruiters are not looking for bots that can be programmed to perform specific tasks. They are looking for bright and talented graduates with vibrant personalities and the potential to make meaningful contributions to their organizations. It is instrumental in humanizing your account with a creative flair and a narrative grounded in your real experiences. 

Instead of mimicking the student LinkedIn summaries, you’ve seen in our list or elsewhere, concentrate on presenting your own experiences and struggles. What are the elements, passions, and values that define you as a person? What were the defining moments of your academic journey or professional experiences that clarified your professional goals? 

Where did you travel to study or work, and what are your interests other than exploring lucrative professional opportunities? It is crucial to present a human side to your professional profile to balance the narrative and cast a good impression. 

• Maintain clarity 

It is crucial to define the goals of your LinkedIn graduation post or student summary throughout the narrative. What are your professional goals? What is the nature of your skillset and talents? What kind of work environment are you looking for? Are you currently pursuing your education or looking to get hired by a reputable firm? 

Maintaining clarity is of the utmost importance, so avoid dragging out ideas too much. The best LinkedIn student summaries strike a balance between too short and too long and present just enough information to hook the reader without causing them to work too hard. 

• Focus on keywords 

Keywords are the most significant element to be mindful of as they will make your LinkedIn student summary optimized for search results. LinkedIn has a considerably higher ranking in Google’s search results, and focus keywords will help you enhance your digital footprint and, consequently, your marketability. 

Be sure to incorporate the most relevant keywords to your professional skills, industry, institution, and interests. It is ideal to do your research on your keywords before you start writing the draft. There’s a dashboard located right below the summary, where you can find “search appearances” to identify the keywords used by your searchers. 

Scoop up all the keywords relevant to your professional goals and career pursuits, but be sure to avoid jamming them into the summary tactlessly. 

• Originality and uniqueness

It may seem overwhelming, but once you start writing, it will get more comfortable and you can work on refining your draft. It is crucial to go through all the LinkedIn summary examples for students given above and take notes of the keywords, narration, and themes. 

This will help you create a mental structure of the summary you want to introduce your academic and professional pursuits and offer an impactful glimpse into your personality. There’s no point in imitating these LinkedIn summary examples since uniqueness and originality are of the utmost significance to make you stand out. 

Cultivate your own unique blend of creativity and focus more on humanizing your experiences. Often, when we admire the experiences and portfolios of others, we unconsciously end up judging ourselves against them, which can be quite destructive if practiced routinely. It is crucial to take pride in everything you have accomplished so far and present it with confidence. 

Be sure to outline your personal goals, professional values, and use this summary to display your unique blend of intellect, wisdom, and creativity. Be sure to add an action point at the end of your LinkedIn summary, encouraging people to contact you for a collaborative and rewarding professional relationship. 

Focus on creating a narrative that reflects your personality and outlines your academic and professional goals, not like a resume. Still, like a fun introduction, one would give at an orientation meeting. 

We hope that this guide was helpful and inspiring in crafting a creative and impactful LinkedIn student summary. If you need further guidance about perfecting your LinkedIn profile as a recent graduate or student, please check our online training section and profile optimization service. We’re always happy to help young adults at the cusp of professional greatness! 

Main Photo by inlytics | LinkedIn Analytics Tool on Unsplash

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Effective LinkedIn headlines for master’s students (+ examples)

LinkedIn headlines matter: what you include in the headline tends to be people’s first association with your name on the platform. Master’s students can benefit from effective LinkedIn headlines if they know what elements to include and what to avoid.

Why LinkedIn headlines are important for master’s students

LinkedIn headlines are extremely important for establishing a network and for personal branding, which are essential for master’s students in the preparation for entering the labour market.

A LinkedIn headline is the only text that appears next to one’s name and profile picture in numerous instances, including

Furthermore, when someone googles your name, your LinkedIn profile shows up in the results with – guess what? Your LinkedIn headline as a preview.

Elements of effective LinkedIn headlines for master’s students

Your student status.

As a master’s student, you are, well, a student. Thus, it makes sense to include it in your LinkedIn headline. However, just writing that you are a student – even if you add the university – is not very informative. Unfortunately, it is very common:

Your current work

For example, it won’t be beneficial to emphasise your part-time gig as a babysitter or bartender when your ultimate goal is to work in banking…

Your focus area

Your ambition.

And lastly, be clear about what you are looking for. If you are looking for a job that is. This can be an internship, entry-level position, senior CFO position, etcetera.

What to avoid in LinkedIn headlines as a master’s student

Example linkedin headlines for master’s students.

The first fictional master’s student Valeria studies Clinical Psychology. She clearly emphasises her focus on autism and early childhood development, which is important as clinical psychology is a vast field of study and practice. Furthermore, she states what she is looking for and where:

The last example showcases the LinkedIn headline of fictional master’s student Carlos. In contrast to the previous headlines, Carlos included his current position as an intern. Looking at the keywords in his headline, this makes sense as the position is related to finance and can increase his chance of finding a traineeship in FinTech, which he is looking for:

Master Academia

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Incoming CS PhD Students

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This page details the schedule of orientation events sponsored by the Computer Science Department. We encourage students to explore many other campus-wide orientation events. Please visit the Graduate Life Office website (in September) for detailed information.

PhD Student Orientation Schedule

• Date : Thursday, September 19, 2024 
• Time : 10:00 am (PST) - 5:00 pm (PST) 
• Location : Gates Building, Room B01 and B03
• This meeting is mandatory for all PhD students, including students with a change of degree and those with additional degrees.
• The PhD Program Chair, Director of Finance and Operations, and CS PhD Program Director will be available to answer questions and distribute information during the PhD information session. 
• This meeting leads into a month-long series of specially designed seminars for all new PhD students, which introduces the faculty and their respective research areas/groups.

PhD Additional Information

• The first day of classes is September 23rd , and we recommend that you arrive one week before this date. If you are looking for housing, consider arriving earlier than one week before the first day of classes. 
• If you are an international student and will be attending the orientation activities at the Bechtel International Center (I-Center), please check the I-Center's website (in mid-August) for detailed orientation information. 
• Your student advisor is your student buddy, as mentioned in your admit letter. This student advisor is in addition to your faculty advisor and will provide you with less formal and more broad-ranging help. We encourage you to get to know your student advisor, as they can assist with various issues: academic, social, and more. They can connect you with other students and faculty members and inform you of departmental news.
• Email  [email protected]  if you need clarification on your specific PhD Student Buddy.
• Contact Jayanthi Subramanian ( [email protected] ) for inquiries regarding the PhD program.

Incoming Ph.D. Students

Welcome to uw-madison.

You are an integral part of our community and your contributions to research, teaching, and outreach activities will help shape the success of this department. We look forward to having you join us in Madison in Fall 2024.

The faculty and staff look forward to being part of your journey as you develop your unique scientific personality and contribute to the broader scientific community.

Onboarding Information

• Important Dates More
• Orientation 2024 Faculty Talks More
• Orientation Schedule More
• New Student Checklist More
• International Student Information More
• Department Business Services Overview More
• Payroll/Benefits Information Fall 2024 More

Program Information

• First Year in Graduate School More
• Chemistry Department Handbook More
• Course Descriptions More
• Dept Expectation for Students More
• Catalyst More
• Community & Diversity More

More Information

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Instructions for Registering for Fall 2024 Courses during the Summer

Starting on June 24, 2024, incoming graduate students can register for fall courses. Please register for 8 credits in the research course, Chem 990, before you arrive on campus. Registering for 8 credits of research in the summer will make you a full-time student in the fall and allow you to get your UW-Madison ID card as soon as you arrive on campus. During Orientation, you will receive guidance about which lecture courses you should take for the fall 2024 semester. At that time, you will sign up for  a total of 15 credits and may need to change the number of research credits.

Please sign up for section 1 in the research course Chem 990 . Section 1 is the section for the incoming graduate students. The professor listed in section 1 is the associate chair of the graduate program and will serve as your advisor for the first semester.

Waiver for Prior Graduate Chemistry Courses

A graduate student can receive a waiver from the Department for up to 12 credits toward UW-Madison Ph.D. course requirements for graduate courses taken at other institutions. These courses will not appear on the UW-Madison transcript nor count toward the Graduate School cumulative GPA or credit requirements, but will fulfill the Department’s requirement toward coursework if approved. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

To confer credits, you will need to fill out the Chemistry Course Waiver Form and:

• Identify a graduate course at UW-Madison that is similar to the course taken at another institution.
• Identify a faculty member who has taught the UW-Madison course.
• UW-Madison course number and number of credits
• Course name, instructor, number of credits, grade, a short description, and syllabus of the course taken at the other institution
• Ask the UW-Madison faculty to email Graduate Program Office with permission granted and the number of credits.
• Submit the Chemistry Course Waiver form with the attached syllabus here .

Off-Campus Housing Services

To help you in the search for housing, please check out our University Housing website , off-campus housing services , the off-campus housing marketplace , and other housing resources . These resources are provided to help students navigate off-campus housing options and make the best choice for themselves and/or their families.

One of our graduate students additionally put together the attached spreadsheet with detailed information about a variety of rentals offices in Madison here . 

If you are trying to find a roommate, please fill out the Google sheet linked here . Check back occasionally to see who else has filled it out – and if you think that someone would be a good fit, reach out to them! The sheet also has a link to join the GroupMe (at the top of column L) if you would like to chat with others about finding housing/roommates. 

Additionally, the Wisconsin Student Parents Organization ( WISPO ) provides resources to student parents and can help support you during this transition. You can find many of their resources here .

Important:  You  must  be signed in with your wisc email in order to access the spreadsheets

Employment Verification

If you need verification of income to rent an apartment, please contact Marc Willadsen ( [email protected]  or 608-265-9227) or have the rental agency contact Marc.

Welcome Check

In September, the incoming graduate students will receive a Welcome Check of $1000 to help cover some of the transition expenses until the student receives the first full paycheck. The Welcome Check is in addition to the guaranteed stipend.

Health Insurance

Graduate assistants, including TAs and RAs, and graduate fellows have the option to receive excellent benefits through the university’s  state group health insurance plan . This is the same health insurance that covers faculty and staff. For the calendar year 2024, the typical state group health (HMO) insurance rates for graduate assistants are $56/month for an individual or $138/month for a family (including spouses and children).

For individuals and families who need the flexibility to select specific health care providers, or who need to access health care throughout Wisconsin or nationwide, the Access Plan provides a second option for coverage through the state group health insurance program. For the calendar year 2024, the monthly rates for the Access Plan are $133.50 for individuals and $331.50 for families.

Student Fees

Graduate students are required to pay student fees called University Segregated Fees , which amount to approximately $1,900 for the 2023-24 academic year (depending upon course hours enrolled). These fees are paid fall and spring semester and summer term.  The payment schedule is here.

Graduate students are supported by teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Most first-year chemistry graduate students receive teaching assistantships. Teaching experience helps strengthen the mastery of the subject matter taught and develops poise and maturity in working with individuals and groups. Students with fellowships benefit by doing some teaching, and can usually supplement their stipends. The department does not, however, require that graduate students teach. In later years, graduate students usually serve as research assistants for their thesis advisers. Summer support for Ph.D. candidates is routinely available.

A limited number of summer research and teaching positions are also available from the department for new students who have accepted the department’s offer for the following fall. Contact the Graduate Program Office for more information.

• Learn more about  UW-Madison Graduate School Financial Aid .

Graduate Student Life

Graduate Student Life is a microsite for new and incoming graduate students. It includes information on housing, transportation, living in Madison, being a student at UW–Madison, thriving in graduate school, and a section for international students.

Please contact the Graduate Program Office at [email protected] if you have general questions. Contact Marc Willadsen , payroll specialist, at [email protected] if you have questions about benefits or payroll.