Level Up Your LinkedIn This Summer

A few small changes now can help you get noticed this fall. Here's how to update your profile with purpose.

Polish Your Profile. Open New Opportunities.

Last July, a student I worked with named Jordan felt behind. They didn’t have an internship and weren’t sure how to make progress toward their career goals.

We didn’t start with applications. We started with their LinkedIn profile.

Jordan updated their headline, rewrote their About section, and added a summary of a recent leadership experience. Then they posted a short update about what they were learning this summer.

Nothing dramatic happened overnight. But within a few weeks, Jordan was connecting with alumni more confidently and even landed an informational interview that helped clarify their next steps…and eventually led to an opportunity in the fall.

Try This: The 5-Step LinkedIn Refresh Plan

If your profile hasn’t been touched since spring, these five updates will help you stand out in under an hour:

1. Headline
Go beyond your major. Try something like:
Marketing Student | Research Assistant | Exploring Careers in Brand Strategy

2. Profile Photo
Use a clear, friendly image with good lighting. Avoid group shots or graduation photos.

3. About Section
Write a short paragraph about who you are, what you’re working on, and where you’re headed. Keep it first-person and real.

4. Experience
Add your most recent job, internship, or campus leadership. Use a few bullet points to show what you did and what you learned.

5. Skills & Interests
Select 5–10 skills aligned with your goals. Follow relevant companies and thought leaders to shape your feed.

Your Move This Week

Choose one section of your LinkedIn profile and update it by Friday.
Then ask a friend, mentor, or coach for feedback.

Bonus: Share a short post on LinkedIn about what you’re learning this summer. That’s how real opportunities start.

Coaching Corner

Want a LinkedIn profile that stands out…and a strategy that actually fits you?

GradLanding’s 6-week coaching program is customized to meet you where you are. Whether you’re exploring career paths, trying to make sense of job descriptions, or ready to polish your brand, we’ll help you:

• Clarify your direction and what roles are a real fit

• Analyze job postings and internships to uncover what actually matters

• Craft STAR-based stories from your experience to strengthen your resume, LinkedIn, and pitch

• Build confidence in how you talk about your skills and goals

You’ll walk away with tools, language, and a plan…not just advice.