Your LinkedIn profile’s about section is one of the most important parts of your profile. This section allows you to showcase your personality, skills, experiences and goals to prospective employers and connections. For college students and recent graduates, writing a compelling about me section can help you stand out from other applicants and land internships, jobs and networking opportunities. Here are some tips on how to write an engaging about me as a college student on LinkedIn.
Keep it concise
While you want to include important details, you also want to be brief and avoid rambling. College students should aim for an about me section of 3-5 short paragraphs or bullet points. This maintains the reader’s interest while highlighting your qualifications.
Tailor it to your audience
Your about me is a chance to connect with professionals and potential employers. With that audience in mind, your content should be tailored to what they would find most interesting and relevant. Keep the focus on your academic accomplishments, relevant skills and professional goals.
Use keywords strategically
Incorporate keywords related to your industry, job titles you’re targeting and skills you possess. This helps your profile get found in recruiter searches. Tools like LinkedIn’s Skills section make it easy to add keywords.
Showcase achievements
Employers want to know what makes you stand out as a candidate. Feature impressive accomplishments like a high GPA, internship experience, leadership roles and special projects or research. Use quantitative facts and data when possible to back up claims.
Demonstrate soft skills
While listing your technical abilities, also highlight soft skills like work ethic, communication, teamwork and creativity. These traits make you a well-rounded candidate that employers value. Consider backing them up with anecdotes and examples.
Communicate your personality
Help the reader get to know you on a personal level by conveying your personality and interests. Share hobbies, passions, values and personality traits that make you unique. This extra dimension makes your profile engaging and memorable.
Explain your career goals
Articulate your short and long term career goals, and how your education and experience align with those aspirations. Showing you have vision and direction is impressive to potential contacts.
Here is a 500 word sample about me for a college student:
As a third year marketing student at University of Michigan, I’m passionate about leveraging data and analytics to develop innovative brand strategies. My goal is to apply these interests in a summer marketing internship where I can gain valuable industry experience.
Through my coursework and extracurriculars, I’ve developed expertise in consumer research, digital marketing and competitive analysis. As VP of my university’s American Marketing Association chapter, I coordinate networking events and led a team that placed 2nd in AMA’s nationwide Case Competition. I also gained hands-on experience during my digital marketing internship at XYZ Company.
What I enjoy most is using analytics to uncover strategic insights to inform branding decisions. For example, my capstone project utilized R and Python to analyze consumer data and provide data-backed rebranding recommendations that increased sales projections by 15%. I’m excited to apply these skills as an intern this summer.
Outside academics, I’m an avid runner who volunteers for Race for the Cure each year. Travel is another passion of mine. Exploring new cultures while studying abroad in Spain sparked my interest in international marketing. I’m looking to combine my love of travel, analytics and marketing in my future career.
As a strategic thinker and dedicated team player with strong data and communication skills, I’m confident I can provide value as a marketing intern. My goal is to gain experience at a leading consumer brand known for pioneering innovative campaigns. If you’re seeking a motivated self-starter, please don’t hesitate to connect!
Key elements:
- Concise at just 500 words
- Focused on marketing skills, projects and goals tailored to industry
- Includes data, stats and specifics to showcase achievements
- Demonstrates communication, strategic thinking and other soft skills
- Conveys personality through hobbies, interests and values
- Explains career goals aligned with marketing
Tips for writing an impressive about me section:
1. Lead with your best self
The opening of your about me is prime real estate. Hook the reader by highlighting impressive facts, achievements or skills right off the bat. You want them to be intrigued to keep reading.
2. Show, don’t just tell
Anyone can claim they possess certain skills or traits. Back up claims with proven examples, data and stories to add credibility. This demonstrates you truly have these abilities.
3. Quantify achievements
Attaching measurable outcomes or figures to accomplishments makes them more concrete. For example, state how you “increased social media engagement by 15%”. Numbers pack a punch.
4. Focus on value provided
Rather than just listing responsibilities, emphasize the impact you made in roles. How did you save money, boost efficiency, increase sales or help your employer? Highlight payoff.
5. Align with job requirements
Note the key skills and requirements for positions you’re interested in. Then intentionally showcase how you meet those same qualifications in your about section.
6. Be authentic
While professional, also let your personality shine through. Share unique hobbies, passions and beliefs that provide a genuine sense of who you are.
7. Proofread thoroughly
Grammatical or spelling mistakes will reflect poorly on you. Ask others to proofread as a final step before publishing your about me.
Common questions to address:
Here are examples of key questions you may choose to answer within your about me section:
What is your background?
Briefly cover your academic status, major/minor, relevant coursework, academic projects and GPA if it is high. Mention transferable skills gained from jobs, internships, volunteering or extracurriculars.
What are your goals?
Explain short and long term career ambitions. Show how your current path aligns with future goals. Mention specific companies or job titles you aspire to.
What are you passionate about?
Share interests, hobbies or beliefs that bring you joy outside of work. This provides a glimpse into what drives you. Tie it back to your career when possible.
What are your strengths?
Highlight hard and soft skills that make you a strong candidate. Back them up with concrete examples and achievements that showcase those abilities.
Why do you want to work here?
If targeting specific companies, note why you’re interested in them. Point out shared values, a desire to work on specific projects, or how their mission aligns with your goals.
About me examples:
Here are two about me section examples for inspiration:
Example 1:
Pursuing BS in Computer Science at MIT with a passion for developing innovative solutions to improve healthcare access. Seeking internship opportunities to apply my programming skills to impactful projects.
Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Database Systems, Web Development, iOS Mobile App Development
Experienced in: Python, Java, SQL, Javascript, Swift
President of MIT’s Hackathon Club (1,200+ members) – Organized statewide healthcare hackathon attended by 50+ student developers and healthcare professionals
Avid reader and youth chess coach in my hometown. Excited to leverage my technical abilities and problem-solving skills as a software engineering intern.
Key elements:
- Leads with impressive school, major and passion
- Highlights relevant coursework and technical skills
- Quantifies leadership achievement
- Conveys personality
- Aligns value with internship goals
Example 2:
Dynamic business student at Ohio State pursuing a career in product marketing. Led a cross-functional team to launch a new granola bar sold in 2,000+ stores, contributing $3M+ in first year sales.
Relevant Experience:
- Digital Marketing Intern at Nestle – Optimized SEO to increase site traffic by 20% in 3 months
- Brand Manager for student-run business – Rebranded products and store, boosting sales by 10%
Strengths:
- Market Research – Adept at leveraging data and analytics to derive strategic insights
- Project Management – Coordinated product launch timelines across 5 departments
- Creative Thinking – Developed viral social media campaigns that expanded reach
Passionate about leveraging my diverse skill set in an associate brand manager role for a CPG company like P&G.
Key elements:
- Grabs attention with achievement
- Summarizes experience and provides stats
- Lists key skills and provides examples
- Communicates passion and career goals
Tips for each section:
Here is a breakdown of tips for effectively writing each key section of your about me:
Introduction:
- Start with a strong hook – impressive fact or achievement
- List your degree, school, major and year
- Summarize your passions and career ambitions
Skills:
- Include hard and soft skills
- Back up with quantifiable examples and data when possible
- Align skills with job/industry requirements
Experience:
- Highlight internships, jobs and leadership experience
- Emphasize skills gained and impact made
- Use metrics like dollar amounts and percentages
Awards & Projects:
- Mention academic, extracurricular and volunteer accomplishments
- Describe key details of noteworthy projects
Interests:
- Keep it brief – 1-2 sentences
- Share unique hobbies, passions and beliefs
- Allows readers to connect with you
Key takeaways:
Here are the key takeaways for writing an engaging LinkedIn about me section as a college student:
- Concisely summarize your background and goals in 3-5 paragraphs
- Showcase relevant skills, achievements and experience with quantifiable details
- Demonstrate soft skills like communication, teamwork and creativity
- Explain short and long term career ambitions
- Convey personality through hobbies and interests
- Use keywords and tailor content to target jobs
- Keep it professional but also authentic
- Check carefully for any errors before publishing
Following these best practices will help you craft an about me that makes a strong impression on recruiters and sets you up for success in your career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a student’s LinkedIn about me be?
For college students, an about me section of 3-5 concise paragraphs or bullet points is recommended. This provides ample space to showcase your background and skills without being overly lengthy. Stick to about 500 words maximum.
How do I highlight skills on LinkedIn about me?
List your applicable hard skills and soft skills in bullet points or within the paragraphs. Quantify skills with stats and examples when possible. Also add skills to LinkedIn’s Skills section.
Should I include volunteer experience on LinkedIn about me?
Yes, summarizing relevant volunteer work or causes you care about provides insight into your passions and values. Just keep it brief, like 1-2 sentences.
Should I put my GPA on LinkedIn?
If you have an impressive GPA (3.7+/4.0) it is recommended to include this in your about me or education section. This quantifiable achievement helps you stand out.
How do I come across as professional on LinkedIn?
Stick to proper spelling and grammar. Avoid slang or excessive emojis/personality. Be concise and focused on skills and goals relevant to your target career and industry.
Conclusion
An impactful LinkedIn about me is key for college students seeking internships and jobs. By being concise, showcasing achievements and skills, conveying your personality and goals, and customizing content to your desired roles, you can craft an about me that helps you put your best foot forward. Use the examples and tips in this guide to develop a compelling profile that captures attention. With a stellar about me that markets your background, you can take full advantage of LinkedIn for networking and career advancement.