LinkedIn and online presence
Your online presence is the image you portray to others through your public profile online. This could be through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn, or the information returned by simply searching for you online.
Thinking about your online identity is important. Creating a professional online presence can help when applying for opportunities. Many employers use LinkedIn to promote opportunities, engage with potential candidates and research applicants. Some employers may review publicly available online information on you as part of the recruitment process or before making an offer.
Creating a LinkedIn account also enables you to ‘brand’ yourself and present all of your achievements – essentially, it is a very thorough CV. Because it clearly sets out different sections, you can describe how each experience makes you an attractive candidate, what skills you developed, and what you learnt.
Why should I use LinkedIn? Includes a video from our team
LinkedIn is one of the world's largest professional networking platforms. It allows you to showcase your skills and achievements, build professional connections, research employers and explore career opportunities. Developing your profile and using LinkedIn effectively can help you build your professional reputation throughout your time at university and beyond.
Read Hannah's career insight: Let me change your perspective on LinkedIn
Watch Luke Lynch’s video on the different reasons to use LinkedIn
In this video Luke Lynch, Employability Education Projects Officer, explains how you can make LinkedIn work for you and why this powerful networking tool is something you should be using right now.
Build a complete profile
A complete LinkedIn profile helps employers and professional contacts understand your skills, experience and interests. It also helps recruiters find you. Think of your profile as a professional showcase that develops alongside your CV.
Attend a Career Essentials workshop on LinkedIn
Who should I connect with?
Building your network is one of the most valuable ways to use LinkedIn. A strong network can provide insights, advice and opportunities throughout your career journey.
糖心原创 alumni
LinkedIn can help you find (from similar degree programmes) working in organisations, industries and roles that interest you. Looking at their career journeys can help you understand possible career paths and provide useful insights into different sectors.
Employers and organisations
Follow companies and organisations you are interested in working for. This will help you stay informed about vacancies, events, company news and industry developments.
Professionals in areas that interest you
Connecting with people working in roles that appeal to you can help you learn more about the skills, experience and qualifications valued in that field.
Groups and professional communities
Joining related to your career interests can help you engage with industry discussions, grow your network and keep up to date with developments in your chosen sector.
How do I use LinkedIn effectively
Creating a profile is only the first step. To get the most from LinkedIn, it is important to use the platform regularly and engage with content that reflects your interests and career goals.
You could:
Regular activity helps increase your visibility and allows you to develop your professional brand over time.
Watch video to learn more.
Top tip: If you find a vacancy on LinkedIn, check whether it is also advertised on the employer's website. Where possible, apply directly through the employer's website rather than through LinkedIn Easy Apply.
How do I manage my digital footprint?
Your digital footprint is the information about you that exists online. This includes social media profiles, posts, comments, photographs and information that appears in search engine results.
Review your online presence
Search for your name online and review what information is publicly available. Consider how this information might be viewed by employers, recruiters and professional contacts. Employers may look at publicly available information online before making hiring decisions, so it is important that your online presence reflects the image you would like to present professionally. provides practical steps for reviewing and managing your digital footprint.
Protect your privacy
You do not need to use every social media platform professionally. If you use accounts primarily for personal purposes, review your privacy settings and decide who can see your content.
Keep information up to date
Regularly review professional platforms such as LinkedIn to ensure your experience, skills and achievements are current and accurately reflect your interests and career goals.
I am so thankful for your advice to look at the interviewers' LinkedIn profiles. One of the interviewers was responsible for international matters so I researched that part of the business. This helped me to predict what type of questions they might ask.