Whether you are hunting for an internship, hoping to break into your dream industry or just starting to think about your professional career, LinkedIn is no longer optional for college students — it is essential. The platform has become a first stop for recruiters and is one of the most accessible tools for building a network before you graduate college.
At “Penn State Connect: Pittsburgh Student Networking event,” the Personal Branding workshop offered students an inside look at how to strategically use LinkedIn. It featured expert guidance from guest speaker Jackie Beatty, whose session focused on building a strong digital presence.
Beatty is a proud Penn State graduate who currently works as a sales consultant and owns her own sales consulting business. A part of her job involves a lot of hiring, and she has heavily relied on LinkedIn to learn about potential candidates. Beatty wants students to rethink how they present themselves on LinkedIn and learn how to use their personal brands as a competitive advantage.
“I would encourage all students to realize that there is an element of selling in any job and in any major that you’re studying,” said Beatty in an interview with VALLEY. “You’re always selling yourself.”
Profile Insights
During her workshop, Beatty talked students through the core components of a strong LinkedIn profile. She explained the importance of sharing who you are as a person and intentionally shaping your personal brand, rather than letting other people define it. Beatty also noted that you do not need years of job experience to look professional — you just need evidence of your skills, potential and willingness to learn.
A strong headline: Beatty advised to think of your headline as a personal statement to convey who you are, what you do and the value you provide. This is one of the first parts of your profile the recruiters see, so you need to make it engaging enough so that they want to continue scrolling. Her formula: Field/Interest + skills + career direction
A compelling “About” section: Beatty provided another easy-to-follow formula for a captivating “About” section: Who you are + what you are studying/working toward + what opportunities you want. However, she said to save job-specific experience for the “Experience” section.
Feature yourself: A feature section is one of the most underutilized sections. Beatty shared this can be a place to highlight your relevant and most impactful content long term. This can consist of well-written articles, podcasts or webinars/videos.
Your experience: Here is the perfect opportunity to provide evidence of your skill set. Experience can consist of past jobs, positions held and leadership roles, but also capstone work, group presentations, research, case competitions, freelance or portfolio pieces.
Do’s, Don’ts And Common Mistakes
When it comes to the background image at the top of your profile, Beatty said having one is a must, along with a professional profile photo.
“Keep in mind, this is not any old social platform,” said Beatty. “This is meant to be a professional platform where employers are looking for you, so you should present yourself that way. Photos and background photos should be very professional and clear.”
Additionally, she advised to never leave a section blank or incomplete. Most importantly, you should ensure the information is relevant and always up to date. Anything related to what you are studying or interested in, as well as any specific industries or roles is important to include.
“The more specific and clear that you can be in your profile, the easier it will be for people who are searching for students like you,” said Beatty.
Another common mistake that Beatty often sees is students sending a connection request without a personal message. She shared that the message could be as simple as a sentence explaining why you are interested in connecting.
Posting Strategies
Positing and connecting on LinkedIn can be stressful, yet it is extremely important when building your network. A frequently asked question Beatty gets from students is, “What should I even be posting?” She advised to not overthink it.
Ideas to post include any highlights from a class in your major, a project you worked on, any awards or recognition you received, a conference or workshop you attended or a gratitude post. Beatty’s formula is what you did or learned + why it matters + what’s next or a meaningful takeaway.
LinkedIn is so much more than a digital resume — it is a storytelling platform where your presence becomes your competitive advantage to share what makes you unique and memorable.
Beatty included to not be afraid to ask people for their time. She said that many people are eager to help as long as you are respectful of their time and have clear intentions.
“Don’t assume people are too busy to meet with you because you’d be surprised,” said Beatty. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
Want to share any networking LinkedIn tips? Share with @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
