Overview: In this week, you will learn how to identify and effectively present your strengths, values, and interests. You will also learn how to utilize different online platforms. This will especially be handy when you want to make lasting professional connections with academics and fellow colleagues.
Objective: Presenting yourself with confidence and precision.
Key topics: Linkedin, online profile, communication
Activities
1- Elevator pitch
- Task: create an elevator pitch and present it to a friend/family member
- What is it: 40-45 seconds introduction to you!
→ Who you are
→ What you’re studying
→ What you’re interested in professionally
→ Something that makes you unique
Sample:
“Hi, I’m Lena, a third-year psychology student at the University of Groningen, with a strong interest in how culture influences cognition and behavior. I recently completed a minor Culture and Cognition, where I explored topics such as cross-cultural psychology, cultural identity, and how different cultural frameworks shape perception and thought. I’m looking to connect with professionals and researchers interest in the dynamic relationship between culture and the mind.
2- Master Linkedin
- Task: Create or perfect your Linkedin profile
- We all know that Linkedin can sometimes appear to be really complex and therefore feel overwhelming. Luckily, with this week’s module you can learn the ins and outs of this popular platform.
- Create your profile
- Learn the basics first
Profile photo
- Your profile photo is one of the first things people see, and it can communicate a lot. While it’s great to show some personality, keep in mind that LinkedIn is a professional space. Choose a clear, high-resolution image where you look polished and approachable.
- Wear appropriate attire, smile naturally, and look directly at the camera—this conveys confidence and helps establish trust.
- Background photo
- Opportunity to display your research interests, specialization or your institution.
- Common photos options include;
- Personalized images
- Photo of you giving a presentation
- Photo from your research (e.g. microscopy images)
- Generic images
- Image that relates to your field, for example; a stock image of the brain for neuropsychology
- You can find some free stock images from https://pixabay.com/.
- Another commonly used option is putting the picture of your university or city (see example profile)
- Personalized images
- Create a custom URL
- Linkedin automatically gives you an URL with random numbers e.g:www.linkedin.com/in/1727237
- To create your own custom URL, simply go to the “Edit public profile & URL” section on your LinkedIn profile and choose a version of your name or something close to it that’s easy to share e.g; www.linkedin.com/in/basak-saracoglu
- Headline
- Your LinkedIn headline is a key element of your profile
- It shows up right under your name and in search results, making it one of the first things people notice.
- You have up to 220 characters (including spaces) to make your introduction count.
- A strong headline should reflect your current academic interests, skills, or future career goals. Including relevant keywords can help increase the chances of appearing in recruiter searches or when others are browsing LinkedIn.
- There are generally two approaches you can take:
- Role-based: Simply state what you’re doing now, like:
“Master’s Student in Environmental Policy | Researching Sustainable Urban Design” - Aspirational: Focus on your broader interests or goals. For example:
“Exploring the intersection of psychology, society, and policy” - You can also combine both:
“Final-Year International Relations Student at University of Amsterdam | Interested in Global Development & Human Rights” - While you’re free to write your headline however you like, avoid overloading it with every job title or big-name institution you’ve been associated with;phrases like “ex-UN, ex-Oxford, ex-Deloitte” can come across as a bit showy. Instead, keep it clear and authentic; let the rest of your profile fill in the details.
- Tip: The Linkedin algorithm works by keywords; you get recommendations based on the words you put in your headline and you appear on other people’s feeds in a similar way.
- So keep it short and simple, only including actually relevant keywords
- Summary
- Use the summary to briefly introduce yourself, highlight your key skills, and share your career goals. Keep it clear, personal, and professional.
- Include relevant keywords to get noticed and end with a call to action, like inviting people to connect or collaborate.
- Make it engaging but concise about 3-5 sentences is perfect.
- Some people like to write a whole essay but it usually is not the most important aspect of your profile.
- It is also common to not put anything to the summary section.
- Skills
- Highlight the most important skills that align with your academic background and future career ambitions.
- These can include technical abilities; data analysis tools, statistical software, or research methods; as well as interpersonal skills such as teamwork, leadership, or public speaking.
- Arrange your skills so that the ones most relevant to your goals appear first. It’s also helpful to ask classmates, lecturers, or internship supervisors to endorse your skills, which can boost the credibility of your profile.
- Key takeaways
- A clear, confident introduction helps others connect with you.
- Your elevator pitch is a quick, powerful way to present who you are.
- A strong LinkedIn profile builds your professional presence; focus on clarity, relevance, and authenticity.
- Visuals matter: choose a polished photo and meaningful background.
- Keep your summary and headline simple but purposeful.
