LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers or seasoned professionals. It’s a powerful platform for students to build their personal brand, connect with industry leaders, and uncover real opportunities. Many students at ESSEC Asia-Pacific have used it to amplify their voice, showcase their potential, and land internships or collaborations before even graduating.

Here’s how you can do the same:

1. Build a Genuine Profile
   Start with a clear, friendly, professional photo and a headline that reflects who you are or where you’re headed. Your summary should introduce your background, what you’re passionate about, and what you’re looking for. Highlight academic projects, internships, or even volunteer work to show substance beyond your coursework.
2. Share Your Journey
   Posting about your experiences can help you stay visible and memorable. For instance, Kyra Poh, a Global BBA student, shared her achievement of making the Dean’s List. Posts like these don’t have to feel like bragging. They’re authentic stories that help others get to know you.
3. Engage With Your Network
   Connections aren’t just for show. Engage with your peers, professors, and professionals by liking, commenting on, and sharing thoughtful responses to their content. These small actions build relationships and open conversations. Someone who sees your comment today could become your mentor or hiring manager tomorrow.
4. Seek and Share Opportunities
   LinkedIn isn’t just for showcasing. It’s for discovering. Use it to follow companies, join student groups, or find internship openings. And when you come across something valuable, share it. Helping others stay informed shows that you’re resourceful and community-minded—traits that leaders and recruiters notice.
5. Reflect and Inspire
   You don’t need to have all the answers to add value. Share what you’re learning, a challenge you overcame, or how a cultural experience reshaped your perspective. One ESSEC student reflected on her time in Singapore and how it broadened her worldview. Posts like these not only connect you with others who are going through similar journeys, but they also demonstrate emotional intelligence and growth.

Why It Pays to Start Now

The earlier you begin building your digital presence, the more momentum you gain. LinkedIn isn’t just a place to find a job after graduation; it’s also a valuable resource for networking and professional development. It’s a launchpad for shaping your professional identity from the moment you step into business school.

Your classmates are future collaborators. Your professors are often well-connected. The guest speaker in your next seminar might be hiring. By showing up online with clarity and purpose, you invite new opportunities into your life, often without even realising it.

Start small. Be consistent. Stay curious. And remember: your LinkedIn profile isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s about showing the world who you’re becoming.