Why High School Students Should Be On LinkedIn

Why High School Students Should Be On LinkedIn

By Brittany MaschalMay 18, 2020

No, admissions officers are not specifically looking for applicants to have LinkedIn profiles yet, although some colleges do have a space for a profile link (or other media link, like your YouTube channel, GitHub, or blog) on their Common App “Questions” section. 

Building a comprehensive LinkedIn profile is a vital first step to setting yourself up for max exposure in your early career, and maintaining a presence on the site is just as crucial as you navigate career changes, pivots, launch new ventures, and make other notable moves.

So why create one in high school? 

Even prior to COVID-19, students were online, and colleges were there, too. But today, and likely moving forward, online platforms are going to become increasingly important for sharing information — and not just between friends and family. Colleges have been trying to meet students where they are (in the past, Facebook and Snapchat, today, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok), but many students are not taking advantage of the forum for connection that LinkedIn provides. We believe they should!

Beyond connecting with colleges and having a formal (and lifelong) space to record your career and extracurricular progression (extra coursework, publications, volunteerism, etc.), LinkedIn is the perfect place to connect to favorite teachers, coaches, counselors (me!) and mentors, and make it easy to stay in touch. “Networking” (aka building meaningful relationships) does not start when you enter the workforce, it starts now. 

LinkedIn publishes guides for students. Here is one to get you started:

https://university.linkedin.com/content/dam/university/global/en_US/site/pdf/TipSheet_BuildingaGreatProfile.pdf

A few additional tips:

  • Keep your profile current! If there are only two things you always keep updated, make sure you have an accurate headline and location. Set a calendar reminder to update your profile every 3-4 months.
  • Customize your public profile URL. Mine is https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanymaschal. Fancy!
  • Use professional and accurate photos. No cropped shots where the shoulder of your best friend shows in the corner! Invest in a professional headshot, have a friend take one that looks like a professional headshot, or use your school photo/yearbook photo. Including a simple background photo is also a nice touch.
  • Don’t be shy! Showcase your accomplishments, ask people who have taught you or who you have worked with for recommendations, and connect with everyone you know!

Want help setting up your LinkedIn profile? Contact me today!

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Weekly News Roundup

By Brittany MaschalMar 24, 2017

What I’m reading related to high school, college admissions, grad school, careers, and more.

College applicants: your social media game can help you get into college, not hurt your chances if you play it right! We recently launched a new service aimed at helping high school students (and college students starting the internship/job hunt process) do just that by making the most of their digital footprint. (Here & Now)

Humans have an average eight-second attention span. With that in mind, I’ll just link to this article on becoming a better listener and not say much else as you might be near the 8-second mark right about now. (Fast Company)

The sole admissions criterion for some of NYC’s top specialized high schools is a student’s score on the multiple-choice admissions test. As this NYT’s op-ed states, “The traditional hallmarks of a great student — consistently excellent grades, critical analysis skills, leadership and even performance on other state-mandated tests — are all irrelevant under the admissions policy.” Not unlike college admissions at many schools…. (New York Times)

Often, I’m a fan of going against the grain. A new prize for disobedience, funded by LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman, wants to reward creative nonviolent protest by activists or government officials who stop illegal acts. The award, a $250,000, no-strings-attached cash prize, will go to a person or group responsible for an “extraordinary” example of disobedience for the good of society. (Fast Company)

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