7 LinkedIn Tips for Military-Affiliated Students

Like it or not, networking is part of the long game in the civilian world, and you don't get a pass because of your veteran status. You may, however, have a leg up on your classmates because you already have a network: the military.

Many veterans can use their network to help them decide where to go to college or what to study. Some use connections to find an apartment or a part-time job when transitioning. And some savvy ones are building connections to their network's network for career advancement years down the road.

Luckily, there is an easier way to network than attending mixers and luncheons. You're already using it: social media. Beyond the videos of TikTok and the photos on Instagram, there's a whole social media platform designed just for professional networking. Yes, we're talking about LinkedIn.

If you check, you may even see you have a profile already, but if it's not gaining you any traction or generating networking leads, then it's time to do a little polishing. Here are seven tips for veterans that you should get to work on right now.

Use a professional-looking headshot.

Including a headshot is a must: headshots make you 14 times more likely to be seen by recruiters. And be mindful of your appearance in it. You know the saying a picture is worth 1000 words? A 2023 study conducted by Photofeeler provides pretty convincing evidence that this is more than just pop psychology. Take some time to groom yourself and assemble an industry-appropriate outfit. Find a location in your home or at school that is well-lit with a plain background (one solid color) and ask a friend or family member to snap a photo. 

Include a background photo.

While there is yet to be a published study proving the necessity of a background photo or banner, there is ample research in peer-reviewed publications (Personnel Psychology, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Journal of Managerial Psychology) to support the power of first impressions, especially on LinkedIn. In short, better safe than sorry, so do something to customize your background photo. Canva offers some slick-looking free templates, but something as simple as a landscape or cityscape photo will do.  

Include a location.

It's essential for those following you to know where you are looking for work or attending school. Add your current city and state or change it to that one if you're moving within the next month. If you're open to relocation, include that in your headline or summary.

Write a headline.

The headline is the first thing people will see. You want it to be clear and concise and answer the question, "why am I here, and what do I want?" For example, "Military Logistician, Seeking Opportunities in Supply Chain Management." You want to stand out, but keep in mind that you don't need to overuse military terms to do that.

Speak civilian.

Read through the information you're putting into your profile. Will your mom understand it? If there are acronyms, decide if you need to use them and spell them out. Describe your military jobs in a way that anyone will understand. You cannot copy and paste from your latest evaluation; you have to tell us what that means.

Focus on results.

You'll hear this in every resume writing class, and it's true on LinkedIn as well. Don't just state what your job was. Tell the reader what you accomplished. Did you successfully transport a company to and from Afghanistan with millions of dollars of equipment? Say that instead of "commanded company on deployment." Be specific in the results related to the field you want to work in.

Connect with others.

You don't have to accept every invitation on LinkedIn, but you should be strategic with those you do. Find people in your field with whom you have a mutual connection or a shared interest that can connect you. Learn to distinguish between spam and sales profiles and deny those. Join groups and participate in conversations.  

Start building your LinkedIn Profile today and connect with others as you build your network for future opportunities. 

Join a strong community of military veterans and their family members by connecting with other military-connected students and alumni at The New School.