Admission to the University is increasingly selective — but for many students, the competitive application process does not end with an acceptance letter. Whether applying to major programs, Contracted Independent Organizations or internships, many students continue to navigate competitive selection processes throughout their time on Grounds.
In an environment where resumes and accomplishments often carry significant weight, LinkedIn has emerged as a key platform for students to present their experiences, build professional networks and market themselves to potential employers.
With over 1.3 billion members, the platform allows both professionals and aspiring professionals to showcase their academic and career trajectories. Aside from allowing users to post academic achievements and connect with mutuals and potential employers, many companies allow LinkedIn members to apply for jobs directly through the platform.
To better understand how students navigate these competing realities, The Cavalier Daily interviewed three University students to learn more about their experiences with the online networking platform.
According to rising second-year College student Shaniya Gray-Jackson, while LinkedIn can be a helpful networking tool for students, it can also become a source of added stress due to the constant comparison it invites.
Gray-Jackson created a LinkedIn account in the beginning of her first-year to display her accomplishments and give herself a leg-up in starting to network for her future.
"I kind of use it as … an online resume. [It’s filled with] things that I put on my resume, like I went to this medical conference," Gray-Jackson said. “[Things] I feel like … [employers] will want to see.”
As she spent more time on the platform, Gray-Jackson said she noticed that many posts followed a similar formula, often beginning with the same trite words and phrases. This so-called “standard” LinkedIn structure creates a formulaic style of communication that Gray-Jackson said can make it difficult for students to distinguish themselves.
“Even if it is a professional platform, I feel like people should learn to be more authentic on there,” Gray-Jackson said. “I feel like I look through like people's posts and [they’re] the same … [starting with] ‘I'm excited to share.’”
Thus, in order to differentiate themselves from the multitude of other profiles on the site, as well as from the thousands of other accomplished college students vying for similar professional positions, some students at the University have begun employing creative strategies to stand out from their peers and to employers.
For instance, rising second-year Engineering student Kenny Anderson said he treats LinkedIn as a laboratory for experimenting with his posts and network interactions by creating posts that differ from the typical, corporate-buzzword format of many LinkedIn updates. Anderson said that he believes the platform is an opportunity to present not only his achievements but also aspects of his personality.
Anderson has a creative means of addressing the network he has built on the platform. He said he begins every post with a variation of “Hello Forest.” Just as forests thrive through networks of organisms that work together and support one another, Anderson said he sees LinkedIn as a community built on connection, collaboration and mutual growth.
Anderson said he hopes this greeting not only allows his page to stand out, but also displays appreciation to everyone who has “connected” with him. He explained how the image of a forest became an illustrative symbol of the network he has developed on LinkedIn — a diverse web of connections that grows stronger with size.
“Forests aren't homogeneous. They're very, very diverse, and that's what my connections are [like] as well,” Anderson said. “It's not just one individual group from U.Va. … [It’s] people from all over.”
Anderson’s creative efforts on his LinkedIn account proved successful when he received an ambassador role from Autodesk, a design and engineering software company. After reviewing Anderson’s account, an Autodesk employee reached out to both applaud his creativity and inform him that he would be a “good fit” for an ambassador position with the company. After applying, Anderson was given the ambassador role and has since extended his network.
According to Anderson, if a user is willing to take the time to make thoughtful posts, directly message professionals and interact with their network of connections, then the algorithm will provide them with the resources and opportunities that could be beneficial for their future careers.
“[LinkedIn] is really difficult to master, but it can be such a useful tool, and I don't think a lot of people are using it to its full potential,” Anderson said. “It is a networking website, but you also want to be networking with intent.”
Anderson said he believes that using LinkedIn “to its full potential” means being willing to both start and engage in conversations that benefit one’s future, even when doing so may seem intimidating. These conversations could begin with simply sending a message to recruiters at target organizations, reaching out to someone from a high school alumni association who works in a field of interest or asking a question about a program a business offers, he said.
“Starting that connection and trying to foster that relationship between you and somebody else in the company can really put your foot in the door and get you where you want to be with your professional development,” Anderson said.
However, Anderson is not the only University student who places an emphasis on differentiating their LinkedIn posts through creativity. Third-year College student Bella Brown said she foregrounds her personality on her LinkedIn account through a focus on storytelling. Brown explained that as she became more involved in her areas of interest, such as research and advocacy, her LinkedIn developed into more than just an online resume.
“[LinkedIn] became a place where I could tell my story and connect with people whose work inspired me,” Brown said. “I also [learned] how to communicate with professionals about my passion and my different experiences.”
As an extensive LinkedIn user, Brown expressed a similar sentiment to Gray-Jackson — many posts on the platform seem formulaic and monotonous. She explained her belief that personal stories and anecdotes can be critical aspects of LinkedIn posts, as they allow users to present aspects of their personality to their network. In a sea of similar posts, Brown said she believes these stories provide a unique and deeply human way to connect with people — both on and beyond the platform.
Though students like Anderson and Brown have found techniques to distinguish their LinkedIn profiles, they said they understand that the platform can still be a scary and intimidating place for some users. Brown explained how some users may feel anxious about what is appropriate to post, or feel trepidation about sharing an opportunity if it does not seem as impressive as that of their peers.
“You open LinkedIn, and you see people announcing internships, fellowships, leadership positions, all this other stuff, and it can make you feel like you're falling behind, even when you're not,” Brown said. “U.Va. is already a competitive [place], and so adding this on top of it can cause a lot of anxiety.”
According to Brown, the platform’s sheer amount of highly-qualified students and professionals can make it feel overwhelming, fostering anxiety and self-comparison for some users. For other users, such as Gray-Jackson, the platform serves as a source of motivation rather than stress.
Gray-Jackson explained how as she scrolls through others’ achievements on LinkedIn, she makes a point of not comparing herself to her peers. For her, seeing accomplishments from people in the fields she’s interested in motivates and inspires her to seek similar opportunities.
Whether individuals use the platform like an online resume — such as Gray-Jackson — or as an empty canvas to showcase their creativity and personality — like Anderson and Brown — the platform offers room for a variety of approaches.
For students, especially first-years navigating both Grounds and LinkedIn for the first time, Brown emphasized that the platform is ultimately a tool for discovering opportunities, building connections and exploring career paths — not a site that turns professional development into a competition.
“At the end of the day, LinkedIn is a tool to help you grow and connect and learn, not make you feel like you are constantly competing with everyone around you,” Brown said. “It's a tool. It shouldn't be your end goal.”
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