As a student, choosing the right industry to list on your LinkedIn profile can be confusing. Your industry should reflect your career goals and academic focus, but you aren’t working yet. The good news is that LinkedIn provides options for students to accurately represent themselves.
Why your industry matters
Your industry on LinkedIn matters because it helps you connect with the right people and opportunities. Specifically, listing an industry helps in these key ways:
- Helps you get found for opportunities. Recruiters and hiring managers search LinkedIn for candidates by industry and keywords. Putting down an industry ensures your profile gets surfaced for relevant openings.
- Connects you to the right people. You can grow your network by linking with professionals in your desired field. LinkedIn will suggest relevant connections based on shared industries.
- Shows your career interests. The industry you choose lets viewers quickly see the general field you want to get into after graduation.
In summary, your industry gives context about your goals and helps direct your profile to the appropriate audiences. It’s an important signal in your LinkedIn presence as a student.
LinkedIn’s industry options for students
LinkedIn provides three main industry options appropriate for students:
- Higher Education
- The industry you want to work in
- Your major or program focus
Let’s explore the pros and cons of each approach:
Higher Education industry
Choosing the higher education industry directly communicates your student status. It’s a safe, accurate option for all students.
Pros:
- Clearly conveys you are currently a student
- Applicable to all students regardless of major or goals
- Opens up connections with others in higher ed industry
Cons:
- Very broad – doesn’t indicate your specific career interests
- Limits you to higher ed-related opportunities only
The higher education industry is a sensible fallback if you aren’t yet sure of your post-graduate path. However, choosing a more specific industry has additional benefits if possible.
Your desired career industry
Ideally, your industry should reflect your career goals after graduation. For example, selecting the software industry for a computer science major looking to work in tech.
Pros:
- Shows your targeted career field
- Surfaces your profile for relevant job opportunities
- Connects you to professionals in your desired industry
Cons:
- May seem premature if you don’t have direct experience yet
Listing your intended industry helps align your profile with your aspirations. Just be sure it accurately represents interests you want to genuinely pursue.
Your major or program
For students who aren’t positive on career direction yet, listing your major or degree program is a middle ground option. For example, an “Accounting” industry for an accounting major.
Pros:
- Shows your general academic focus and knowledge base
- Expands your connections with others in your discipline
- Leaves career options open across related industries
Cons:
- Less directly tied to post-graduate career goals
Your major or program strikes a balance between conveying useful context and remaining flexible if your goals are uncertain.
Tips for choosing your student industry
Follow these tips when adding your industry on a student LinkedIn profile:
- Select your aspirational industry if you have clear career goals. This optimized your profile for future jobs.
- Use your major or program if you want to keep options open. Your academic focus implies transferable skills.
- Default to Higher Education if you aren’t sure on career direction yet. You can always change it later.
- Check that your industry is validated on LinkedIn’s list. Type it into the Industry field when editing your profile.
- Avoid listing multiple industries. Pick the one that best captures your current focus and future aims.
Additionally, incorporate keywords from your industry throughout your profile. Mention skills, roles, credentials and organizations relevant to the field.
Good LinkedIn industry examples for common student goals
Here are some examples of good LinkedIn industries for popular student career paths:
Career Goal | LinkedIn Industry |
---|---|
Software engineering | Computer Software |
Nursing | Hospital & Health Care |
Business management | Management Consulting |
Physical therapy | Health, Wellness and Fitness |
Digital marketing | Marketing and Advertising |
Accounting | Accounting |
Teaching | Education Management |
Psychology | Mental Health Care |
Choose established industries that hiring managers will recognize and search for. Avoid inventing new industry names that may be too narrow or confusing.
Changing your industry as your goals evolve
As you progress through school, you may refine your interests and career objectives. It’s common for students to change direction. LinkedIn allows you to edit your industry at any time to match your evolving aspirations.
Here are some scenarios where updating your industry makes sense:
- You originally listed Higher Education but now have a specific career field in mind. Change to your target industry.
- You declared a major focused on one career, but now want to pursue a different path. Adjust your industry accordingly.
- You graduates but haven’t found a job yet in your intended field. Consider switching back to Higher Education temporarily.
Don’t forget to revise other sections of your profile as your goals change to tell a consistent story to viewers.
Adding other context about your student status
In addition to your industry, make sure other parts of your profile communicate your current student status. Here are some key areas to emphasize you are still in school:
- Headline – Include your degree program or year, such as “Accounting Student” or “Computer Science Major, Class of 2024”
- Education – List your degree with expected graduation date
- Description – Note that you are currently pursuing your degree
- Experience – List any student clubs, societies, projects or internships
- Skills – Add class projects, research, on-campus jobs, volunteer work etc.
Reinforcing you are a student throughout your profile establishes context for viewers. Just be sure your industry itself reflects your post-graduation career goals.
Conclusion
As a student, thoughtfully selecting your LinkedIn industry provides focus for your profile and future career trajectory. Consider both your short and long term goals when making this choice. Higher Education, your major, and your target career field are all solid options. Remember to update your industry as your academic and professional interests evolve. By showcasing a clear, intentional industry, you can maximize your opportunities and connections on LinkedIn as a student.