Many of our executive clients at Think Bespoke come to us for their own LinkedIn strategy, profile writing or mentoring. Over time, some also ask whether we can support their adult children as they take their first steps into the professional world.

The transition from student to emerging professional can be exciting, but it can also feel uncertain. Most students, graduates and interns know they need a LinkedIn profile. They are less sure what to say, how to describe their experience, or how to present themselves without sounding too formal, too generic or too self-promotional.

This is how we approach it.

The starting point

A recent client came to us preparing for graduate and internship applications. Like many people at this stage, they had more experience than they realised. It simply was not showing clearly on their profile.

Their LinkedIn needed to communicate who they were now, what they were working towards, what experience they already had, and the kinds of roles they were seeking. Part-time work, casual roles, internships, volunteering — none of it was landing the way it could.

The challenge was not to make the profile sound more impressive than it was. The aim was to help them see the value in what they had already done and express it clearly.

What we worked on together

The headline

We moved away from a generic “Student at…” headline and shaped it to include their area of interest and the direction they were moving towards. This helps recruiters quickly understand whether someone is relevant for a graduate role, internship or early-career opportunity.

The About section

We rebuilt this as a short, honest early-career story: who they are, what they are studying, what they are interested in professionally, what they can already point to, and what kind of opportunity they are looking for next. Clear and specific matters far more than long.

Making experience work harder

Retail, hospitality, administration, customer service, student leadership, club involvement and internships can all demonstrate communication, reliability, problem-solving, teamwork and initiative. We reframed each role to focus less on tasks and more on what the experience showed. This is often where early-career professionals begin to see their own value more clearly.

The profile basics

Profile photo, location, contact details, custom URL, role titles, education, skills, certifications and Open to Work settings. These details seem small individually, but together they determine whether a profile feels complete and job-ready.

Using LinkedIn beyond the profile

We covered how to use LinkedIn to research interviewers, understand organisations, prepare sharper questions and send considered connection requests after conversations or interviews. LinkedIn is not just an online CV. Used well, it is a professional research and relationship-building tool.

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LinkedIn Profile Tips for Grads and Interns

Access our Professional Profile Checklist and work through each part of your LinkedIn Profile. Focus on these areas:

• Headline goes beyond “Student at…” and reflects your area of interest and direction 
• About section tells a short, honest professional story with a clear focus on what you are looking for next 
• Every role, including part-time, casual and volunteer work, is written around what it demonstrated, not just what you did 
• Professional photo that is clear and recent 
• Location, contact details and custom LinkedIn URL are filled in 
• Education section is complete and accurate 
• Skills, certifications and memberships are listed 
• Open to Work setting reviewed and set appropriately 
• Know how to research interviewers and companies using LinkedIn before applications and interviews 
• Have a plan for sending connection requests thoughtfully after conversations and interviews

A profile that reflects where you are headed

Early-career professionals do not need a perfect LinkedIn profile. They need one that is clear, honest and thoughtfully presented. One that shows they are serious about their professional path and makes it easy for employers and recruiters to understand who they are.

For parents, it can also be a relief to know their adult child is receiving practical, independent guidance from someone who understands how LinkedIn works and how employers assess early-career talent.