LinkedIn for High School Students

You may view LinkedIn as “social media” for college graduates and career professionals, and you’re not wrong! However, high school students can benefit from creating a LinkedIn account and becoming familiar with the platform, even before starting college. 

Check out all you need to know about using LinkedIn while in high school.

Should high schoolers sign up for LinkedIn?

Yes!! Whether you use your account to network, discover internship and job opportunities, find scholarships, or research colleges and universities, LinkedIn is a great way to jump-start your future goals.

We’ll cover how to do that now.

Setting up your LinkedIn account

You’ll need to start by creating your LinkedIn account. Use a professional email address and headshot photo, and make sure you fill out your profile with important information about yourself. 

Even though you are in high school, you have had valuable experiences that you can add to your profile. For example, add your education, any part-time jobs or internships you have experienced, and any volunteer work you have done. 

If you participate in extracurricular activities or have held any leadership roles in school or community organizations, add those, too! For your “headline,” you can add your future career goals or passions that you hope to pursue. 

You can choose to make your profile public or private, but keep in mind that keeping your profile public is best for others to see and consider you for opportunities. 

Guide to setting up your LinkedIn account

Check out ProResource’s LinkedIn Profile Checklist for High School Students here. This helpful guide will help you add important information, such as honors and awards, special skills like proficiency in a language, or certifications like CPR. 

Networking with LinkedIn

Once you create your account, start connecting with or following other people. Your teachers, relatives, and peers are great people to connect with.

You can also follow local companies or organizations, companies you aspire to work for, or professionals in your career field of interest. This is how you will see updates and opportunities that may pique your interest. 

Staying professional & authentic

Remember: your LinkedIn profile is a professional social media site. Like any other social media platform, it’s important to be mindful of what you post on LinkedIn so that others see you as a professional. 

Of course, your profile should be authentic to you, but keep in mind that first impressions matter (even on social media!). 

Posting on LinkedIn

When considering what to post to your profile, think about small and big milestones that you want to share. Many high school students share updates such as completing a job shadowing opportunity, what they learned at their summer internship, or ways they volunteer in their community. 

Getting recommendations on LinkedIn

LinkedIn also includes a recommendation feature where you can request recommendations from teachers or professionals who are willing to endorse you. 

Recommendations on LinkedIn are very different than those you need for college applications. 
With recommendations for college applications, you may need your recommender to submit a formal recommendation letter through another platform (such as Common App, Naviance, or another application management system). 

But requesting recommendations through LinkedIn is much easier and far less formal. You can choose to ask someone within the platform. You’ll find the option to do that once you navigate to the recommendations section of your profile. 

While you might be hesitant to ask for recommendations, having them will help you when you look for internships or paid positions. But, asking for recommendations on LinkedIn now will also tell you who might be willing to write a college letter of recommendation for you when the time comes. 

Finding opportunities on LinkedIn

Following the right people and accounts on LinkedIn is essential to see the types of opportunities that will fit your interests. Many accounts post their job and internship opportunities via LinkedIn, and this could help you be the first to find out about a potential opportunity. 

You can also follow scholarship organizations, both local and national, to keep up-to-date on deadlines and best practices for submitting the strongest scholarship applications. 

Don’t be afraid to use LinkedIn’s messaging feature! If you are seeking an opportunity with an organization and know who is recruiting or hiring for the role, introduce yourself through a short and professional message. 

Making a personal connection could help you find out about new opportunities that help you develop your skills as you work towards pursuing your high school diploma and consider your future career pathway. 

While you may not check your LinkedIn account daily, remember to log in and check for new updates or messages every few days so you don’t miss out on the many opportunities posted daily! 

Finding colleges on LinkedIn 

Almost every college or university has a LinkedIn account where you can learn more about campus culture, student and alumni networks, and pre-college programs. Follow the schools you are most interested in applying to, and even consider following admissions professionals or professors so you can begin networking early. 

Colleges often post highlights about athletics, annual events such as homecoming, and the accomplishments of their professors and students. Discovering colleges through LinkedIn is a helpful way to see if they are a match for you! 

“You can even research alumni of the school to see their professions and learn which companies they work for,” Lance Whitney with PCMag shares. “If you're considering applying to this university, you can ask your connection for information, advice, and feedback on the school.” 

No matter your age or education level, creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile can benefit your current and future goals. Remember to keep your profile up-to-date and professional, and you’ll soon be on your way to networking with others and learning about your potential opportunities. 

It's never too early to think about your future

Once you create your LinkedIn profile, life after high school will feel closer than ever. The next step in your journey is researching colleges to find some that align with your goals. 

With a free Appily account, you'll access information about colleges and universities, including tuition costs, scholarship opportunities, application deadlines, and acceptance rates. 

Start planning your college journey now by clicking the button below. You'll unlock the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education!