There it is again, the dreaded question “What are you going to do after you graduate?” rolling in faster than you can respond. Your palms sweat, your throat tightens, and you try to swallow the anxiety bubbling in your chest. On top of that, LinkedIn, often called the “social media app of our careers” can add even more pressure. While it was created to ease the job search process, many college students find themselves asking: How can we use LinkedIn effectively as college students without losing our peace of mind as graduation approaches? Before we get into it, here are two things to keep in mind: First, no one is perfect on this app (even the ones who post constantly). Second: we’re students. Our job is to learn, grow, and gain real world experience. So, if that means downloading LinkedIn, then you must.

Entering the Career Popularity Contest

LinkedIn can feel like a career popularity contest. Scrolling through the feed, it’s easy to compare yourself to peers who are already interning at companies you dream about, and suddenly the overthinking begins: Am I behind? Should I have applied to more places? Should I already have my career figured out? These feelings are common, but they shouldn’t stop you from using LinkedIn to build connections and opportunities.

What You Don’t See Behind the Posts

As the pressure builds, we often forget to look at the bigger picture. Behind every “I’m excited to announce…” post is a college student who once thought they’d never get that offer. Behind those announcements are rejections, late nights spent tweaking resumes, and the fear we all know too well: If I don’t get this internship or job, what am I going to do? So please remember, no one’s journey is easy, and what we see on any app never tells the full story.

Let Your Profile Do the Talking

Your profile background isn’t just decoration, it actually says more about you than you realize. On LinkedIn, your background image and headline give the first impression of what matters to you. It doesn’t have to be anything serious, maybe a photo that represents your field of study, a project, your favorite work of art, or even your school’s campus. Whatever you choose, make it you.

Once you’ve established visuals, you must finesse what you want to say about yourself in the headline. Try not to write “Student at Marist University.” Instead, add something that brings a little spice. For example, “Fashion Merchandiser | Passionate about Digital Media and Private Label” is direct, niche, and presents you as a professional rather than just another college student with a degree. It’s not about perfection, but about authenticity.

Celebrate the Now, not the Future You

The mistake a lot of college students make on LinkedIn is this: we think we have to wait until we get the “big” job or that “I finally got an internship” moment before we can post anything. However, that’s not true. The things you’re doing right now, especially on campus, in class, or in your community, are just as important. If you’re on the board of a club, or even just an active member, post about it. If you worked on a project that challenged you, you should feel proud to share your new knowledge.

If you’re volunteering, teaching, writing, drawing, performing, or creating anything that makes you feel proud, post it. These opportunities, that may feel small, actually highlight your passions and skills, making you truly stand out. Your passions and words matter. Employers aren’t just looking for titles. They want to see your energy, your growth, and the kind of person you’re becoming. If posting doesn’t feel right at first, start small with a like, comment, or repost that resonates with you. Over time, you’ll find your own rhythm, even if it takes time. If LinkedIn makes you feel overwhelmed, remember you’re not behind or ahead, you are right where you need to be. The stress will get lighter when you stop treating LinkedIn like a competition and start treating it as an app for your career passions.

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