Okay, let's be real for a moment—doing the extra work to stand out as an online student takes its toll. There's a perfectly curated LinkedIn page, a carefully produced Instagram, or even their own portfolio site that everyone's got. And it's difficult not to feel like you're supposed to do “all that” just to stay in the game. But hold on, you don't need to be an influencer or a techie to be popular. You simply need to be polite, concise, and clever at that.
Whether you're hunting internships, trying to network, or need your talent to speak for itself, this is your virtual handshake. Here's how to do it without waffle, strings, or beating around the bush.
1. What Do You Really Want People to Know About You?
Start off by sitting down for a bit and having the following question in mind: “What do I want someone to remember after browsing my profile?”
Knowledge is dictating all about your profile. From your very own self-definition to the kind of things you post, everything must give back to your message:
“Here's what I am and what I do.”
2. Don't Be Everywhere. Be in the Right Place.
You don't have to be everywhere there is. What you have to do is choose the one or two that are for you.
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LinkedIn - Professional networking, internship, and showing professional development.
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Behance/Dribbble - If you're a designer.
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GitHub - If you're a computer science student or programmer.
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Medium/Substack - If you're a writer or ad-hoc communicator.
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Notion or Carrd - fast and easy way to make an individual page or miniature portfolio.
Be *well-represented* in two spaces. That's a heck of a lot better than being half-present everywhere.
3. The Power of a Great Profile Photo
Your profile will be critiqued based on your photo by folks—it's just the nature of human beings. Don't fret about it, however. You don't have to break out and hire a photog or go out and purchase a ring light.
You can use something like a free profile picture maker and have something professional and clean in a matter of seconds. Natural light, serene background, and you being, well, you. Warm, crisp, and confident.
This little adjustment can get you read now and seen as more approachable and sophisticated.
4. Write Your Bio Like a Regular Person
Don't be afraid of this section, I promise. No buzzwords, no dictionary entries. Just tell us about you, what you do or are studying, and what you geek out about.
Here's an example that's totally relaxed: “Hey, I’m Mariam! I’m studying data science and love turning messy numbers into stories. Right now, I’m working on a project analyzing social media trends. I’m open to internships or just connecting with others in tech!"
See? Honest. Clear. Human. That’s the vibe.
5. Don’t Wait to Be “Experienced” to Share Your Work
You don't need years of experience to prove what you can do. That class presentation? That quick, off-the-cuff blog post you cranked out in seconds while racing against the clock? That student organization design you created? It *all* matters.
Make a folder or page in Notion that contains these clips. Document why the project was, what you learned, or what you are proud of. That way when someone is scrolling through your profile, they'll be looking at a student doing something—down, not a skills resume.
6. Make it Fresh
Profiles become stale in a hurry. Maybe your interests have shifted. Maybe you've made an amazing project. Maybe you just photograph differently than your two-year-old profile picture.
Don't overlook placing a reminder on your calendar to update your profile every few months. It's 15 minutes that will make you look considerably more current and confident.
7. Let Your Visuals Do the Talking
You don't need to be a designer to create images that are creative. It is all about the details. A Canva infographic of your project. A screenshot of a dashboard you've built. A mood board of your ideal brand.
8. Request a Second Pair of Eyes
Sometimes you’re too close to your own work to judge it clearly. Ask a friend, a classmate, or a mentor to look at your profile. Ask them what stands out, what’s missing, and what they’d change.
You might be surprised what fresh eyes can catch—and improve.
9. Let Your Personality Shine
You don't have to be someone else in order to be "professional." Be strange if you're strange. Share anecdotes if you can share anecdotes. If you don't yet know that, then say so.
Authenticity is what's remembered. Recruiters and mentors can smell passion and knowing yourself a mile away. That's more memorable than the dry sounding, cookie-cutter résumé.
Last Words
Creating an incredible student profile isn't a show to perform. It's you, with some forethought and some savvy tools.
Work with what you've got. Start where you're starting. Tools like a free profile picture maker, Canva, Notion, or LinkedIn are on your side. Emphasize your work. Emphasize your story. And don't be afraid to expand in the process.
You're not "just a student."
You're a voice that must be heard.
And the world is waiting to hear it.
You've got this.
