Students might not seriously consider LinkedIn until their final year of college, when graduation suddenly feels close and the pressure to find a job becomes real. 

But Cleveland State University faculty and students who regularly use the platform say LinkedIn is most effective when students begin building their presence early in their college careers.

For these students, LinkedIn has become a long-term career-building tool rather than serving only as a place to upload a resume. Students can use it to show their projects, internships and class work over time.

Olivia Stein, a sophomore journalism and public relations major and president of PRSSA at CSU, said she created her LinkedIn account in fall of 2024 but began using it regularly in summer of 2025.

“I joined because I wanted to network and gain more career opportunities,” Stein said. “I liked the idea of a website that I could put all of my professional experience on, post about what I’m doing for my career and document my educational and career journey all while applying to jobs and being seen by future employers.”

She uses LinkedIn daily to read posts, connect with professionals and apply for jobs. That consistency paid off, she said.

“I got my summer internship with J.M. Smuckers, a Fortune 500 company, by applying on LinkedIn and interviewing,” Stein said.

Prof. Elizabeth Thomas, Ph.D., associate lecturer and JPR division director at Cleveland State explained why getting onto LinkedIn early matters.

“It’s your online presence that employers and future employers can look at and get an idea of what you did in college, what skills you learned and what experiences you’ve had,” Dr. Thomas said. “Anybody and everybody can look you up, and that can absolutely influence how they see you.”

Beyond job applications, early use of LinkedIn allows students to build professional connections long before they need them. Thomas encourages students to connect with people they meet at campus events, career fairs, as well as professionals working in industries they are interested in.

“Those connections matter,” Thomas said. “You might not need them today, but later on that person could remember you, recommend you or connect you to someone else. That’s how opportunities often happen.”

For students planning to move after graduation, LinkedIn can be especially valuable. By searching for other Cleveland State graduates working in a certain city or industry, students can begin building networks even if they do not yet know anyone personally.

“I’ve been able to connect with job shadow professionals just by sending a simple invitation,” Stein said. “You can message people you’ve never met and learn about their job or company, which makes the process less intimidating.”

Still, many students hesitate to start early, often believing LinkedIn only matters once they are close to graduating. Thomas said this is one of the most common  mistakes she sees. 

“Students think they have plenty of time,” she said. “Then graduation comes faster than expected. If they had started in their freshman or sophomore year, posting even occasionally, they would already have a strong professional presence.”

For CSU students, starting early and staying consistent may be one of the simplest ways to invest in their future.

“Anything you can do to help yourself in the job market is worth it,” Thomas emphasized.