LinkedIn is just one more story you get to write, except this one’s about you. If you’re looking to enhance your LinkedIn presence or if you’ve just signed up, there are ways to stick out amongst fellow student media nerds. 

In this guide, we’ll give you the tools to successfully highlight your student media experience, from the basics to the details you didn’t know hiring managers would notice. 

‍Not another club

Being a part of student media isn’t like being a part of any other organization on campus. 

Your position is unique because you get to navigate real-world events as part of your training and education. You are the ones breaking campus news, reporting from events, working with clients to generate revenue, and managing your peers. 

Complete the basics

This seems like a self-explanatory recommendation, but ensure that the basic profile features are completed. You don’t want to be the candidate a recruiter sees as “LinkedIn user” that doesn’t have a profile picture. 

Select a professional profile photo and background cover: Use the headshot you use for your press pass or website. If you don’t have one, consider asking a favor from your photo editor. 

For your cover image, try creating a collage of the stories or photos you’ve taken. 

Add a headline: This can include your current position within your student media organization, state your student status at the school you’re attending, or that you’re open to working.

Customize your URL: When you first create an account, your profile URL is randomly generated. Go to your LinkedIn profile, click the "Edit public profile & URL" option, and modify it to just your first and last name (if available).

Add links to the feature section: Highlight class projects, current bylines, portfolio, and/or a portfolio website. Customize this section to the projects you’re proud to showcase.

Clips from student media organizations are valuable, and it's OK if you don't have professional journalism work samples. As you progress through your college career, you’ll have more to add or replace in this section. 

The about section

So, you know how people used to write “objectives” at the top of their resume? Well, you shouldn’t do that anymore — but you should write an objective (or summary) for your LinkedIn profile. 

Some talking points to consider when writing your about section:

• How long have you been involved in student media?
• What are some stories or projects that you’ve worked on that you're proud of, and why?
• What is a piece of media that has inspired you the most? This could be the reason you’ve chosen to pursue a career in media. 
• What is the kind of work you want to accomplish either now in student media or in the future?

This is the part of your profile where you can really let your creativity shine. 

Describing the work

Student media is special because you interact with your peers and your school in a way that is entirely different from other organizations. You are getting the inside scoop, working directly with the administration, and navigating the feedback you get from both. 

Unique student media scenarios to highlight:

• Breaking campus news
• Navigating pushback from the administration; story coverage, media operations, university scandal, etc. 
• Connecting with the campus community and building a loyal audience
• Monitoring public response
• Managing your peers

Position student media as a reliable and integral part of your school’s ecosystem. Fun fact: The places you will be applying to won’t always be familiar with how student media works, so this is your chance to present the impact you’ve made and why it’s essential. 

Work experience: how do I talk about myself?

That part-time cashier job you worked when you were 18-years-old, if you worked at H&M in between semesters, and your position at your student media organization are all points you should highlight. 

You may think that experience won’t resonate with the roles you’re looking for, but each of these previous positions has soft and hard skills that can be transferable to any job you apply for. 

Focus on impact statements over task-based statements.

• Instead of saying “I oversaw the financial operations of my organization.” Try, “I oversaw revenue generation and budgeting of $300,000+ yearly, ensuring stable and strategic allocation of resources.” ‍
• Instead of “I wrote 2-3 daily news articles,” try, “Conducted in-depth interviews covering local policies and changes in the __ community for daily coverage.”

Structure your statements by asking yourself what the task and situation you were given were, and what the impact of your efforts was. 

Next steps

Take a look at your current profile, edit your experience descriptions, and try updating your about section.

 Need a second pair of eyes? Reach out to your account manager for a quick 1:1 chat. We’d be happy to check out your page.