LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 700 million members. Creating a LinkedIn profile as a high school student is a great way to start building your professional brand and making connections that can help you in your future career. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a stellar LinkedIn profile as a high schooler.
Why Should High School Students Be on LinkedIn?
Here are some of the key benefits of having a LinkedIn profile as a high school student:
- Get a head start on building your professional brand and online presence
- Connect with professionals in fields you are interested in pursuing
- Find internships, mentorships and volunteer opportunities
- Join Groups to expand your learning and connect with like-minded individuals
- Discover new career paths and gain insights into industries you may want to work in
- Stand out on college applications by showcasing achievements and activities
- Develop useful skills like profile building, networking and communicating professionally
The earlier you start cultivating your professional network, the more opportunities will be available to you by the time you graduate high school and college. LinkedIn provides a place to build your brand and connections well before you enter the job market.
Step 1: Sign Up for a LinkedIn Account
To create your LinkedIn profile, you first need to go to www.linkedin.com and sign up for an account. LinkedIn allows anyone over 13 years old to join. Here are the steps to sign up:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and click “Join now”
- Enter your first and last name
- Select your country/region from the dropdown menu
- Enter your email address and create a password
- Enter your birth date using the dropdown menus
- Select your gender identity from the options
- Click “Join now”
LinkedIn will send a confirmation email to your inbox. Click the confirmation link to verify your email address. And you’re all set! Now it’s time to flesh out your LinkedIn profile.
Step 2: Add a Professional Profile Photo
A profile photo is the first thing people will see on your LinkedIn page. Make sure to use an appropriate, high-quality headshot of yourself in professional attire. Tips for your LinkedIn photo:
- Wear professional dress like a suit or nice shirt
- Smile and look directly at the camera
- Ensure proper focus and lighting
- Use a plain background – no selfies or group shots
- Avoid cropped photos or excessive editing
You can upload a JPG, PNG or GIF image file up to 8MB in size and 800×800 pixels in resolution. LinkedIn will add a frame around your photo to make it look clean and professional.
Step 3: Customize Your LinkedIn URL
You want a LinkedIn URL that is customized and professional. Your default profile URL will be random numbers and letters like www.linkedin.com/in/abu273hdus. To create a custom URL:
- Go to your profile and click “Edit public profile & URL”
- Click “Edit” next to the URL and type in the custom URL you want
- It should be short and contain your name. Examples: www.linkedin.com/in/jimjohnson or www.linkedin.com/in/mary-roberts.
- Click “Save” and your new custom URL will be activated
This makes your profile much easier to share and remember.
Step 4: Make Your Headline Descriptive
Your headline appears right below your name at the top of your LinkedIn profile. It’s valuable real estate to communicate who you are. For high school students, use your headline to describe:
- Your high school and grade level
- Academic focus or major activities
- Future college and career plans
Examples of good LinkedIn headlines for high schoolers:
- High school student looking to study engineering at ABC University
- Science enthusiast and STEM Club President at Capital High School
- Aspiring lawyer and mock trial team member at Parkview High
Your headline gives people a glimpse into who you are and what you care about. You can change it anytime to reflect your evolving academic and professional pursuits.
Step 5: Build Out the About Section
The About section is where you can share your background, interests, academic coursework and goals. Treat it like a short profile biography. Share details on:
- Your high school, grade level, and where you live
- Academic concentration or major activities
- Clubs, sports teams, and other extracurriculars
- Job experiences, internships, or volunteer work
- Awards, honors, scholarships, or special recognitions
- College and career goals
- Hard and soft skills developed through coursework and activities
Showcase what makes you unique and use keywords related to your interests. Keep it concise and scannable with bullet points, lists, and highlights. You can expand on key items in other profile sections.
Step 6: Add Your Educational Experience
Highlight where you go to high school and your academic accomplishments. To add your high school:
- Go to the “Education” section of your profile
- Click “Add new school”
- Search for your high school’s name
- Select the correct institution when it appears
- Choose your grade level, expected graduation date, field(s) of study, clubs and activities, certificates, and honors
- Click “Save”
Don’t forget to include awards, honors, relevant coursework, sports/clubs, and leadership positions. This shows colleges your academic and extracurricular engagement.
Step 7: Showcase Skills and Accomplishments
In the “Featured” and “Accomplishments” sections, highlight specific skills, achievements, and credentials that exhibit your strengths. These can include:
- Proficiency in software, programming languages, instruments, etc.
- Badges or certificates earned in or outside school
- Presentations given, publications, or art displayed
- Academic and creative awards won
- Athletic feats or dance performances
- Community service hours completed
- Key leadership roles held
Back up claims with specific metrics, figures, and examples whenever possible. For instance, instead of “Achieved honor roll” say “Achieved honor roll with a 3.8 unweighted GPA.”
Step 8: Build Your Network
An important use of LinkedIn for high school students is expanding your network. Connect with:
- Family, friends, peers, teachers, coaches, etc.
- College alumni and students at schools you are interested in
- Professionals working in fields or companies you want to pursue
- Leaders of student clubs, teams, and organizations you are part of
Send personalized connection requests explaining who you are and why you want to connect. Be professional. Expand your network carefully and intentionally, not just randomly.
Step 9: Join Relevant LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn Groups based on your interests are a great way to join like-minded communities, network, and participate in discussions. As a high school student you can join Groups like:
- College alumni and student groups
- Academic subject Groups (engineering, pre-law, etc.)
- Student club/activity Groups (robotics club, dance team, FBLA, etc.)
- Geographic location Groups (your school, hometown, etc.)
- Industry/career interest Groups
Follow Group activity and join conversations when you have something meaningful to contribute.
Step 10: Seek Recommendations
Getting recommendations on your LinkedIn profile from teachers, coaches, employers, and others can boost your credibility.
To request a recommendation:
- Click “Ask for a recommendation” under your name
- Choose who you want to request the recommendation from
- Write a customized message explaining why you are asking them
- Consider offering to write a draft testimonial for them to approve
Focus on quality over quantity when getting recommendations. Feature those that will impress colleges and future employers.
Step 11: Complete Your Profile
Finish up your LinkedIn profile with these final steps:
- Add contact info, languages, publications, certifications, volunteer work, etc. if applicable
- Upload files, presentations, images, videos, and work samples to your profile
- Personalize your background photo – keep it professional
- Expand your network and join more Groups over time
- Set notifications to see profile views and engagement
Keep your profile updated regularly as you take on new experiences and accomplishments. Treat your LinkedIn as an evolving record of your academic and professional development.
Tips for High Schoolers on LinkedIn
Here are some additional tips for creating a stand-out, professional LinkedIn presence as a high school student:
- Craft a unique, memorable personal brand that reflects your passions and values
- Showcase your soft skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, etc.
- Use keywords that college admissions teams may search for
- Highlight academic projects that demonstrate real-world skills
- Get creative and show who you are beyond test scores and grades
- Utilize multimedia like podcasts, images, and videos
- Follow companies and thought leaders to stay up-to-date on your interests
- Share articles and content to build your expertise and network
Conclusion
Creating a robust LinkedIn presence takes time but can pay major dividends for high school students. Use it to document your achievements, build your brand, network, and explore careers. Maintain a professional presence that you can leverage both now and in the future. With a complete LinkedIn profile, you will have an edge on internships, college admissions, and job opportunities down the road.