Build your LinkedIn from Year One

by Dr Daphne Ng

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TIP 1: START SMALL – DROP A COMMENT ON POSTS THAT INTEREST YOU

Hazel Hua, a fresh chemistry & biological chemistry grad, landed two full-time job offers after recruiters approached her on LinkedIn.

Building your LinkedIn presence isn’t about curating a perfect image, but showing who you are and what excites you. A great first step is engaging with posts related to industries you’re interested in.

Start by commenting on the ones that resonate with you. Ask an open-ended question about a project or share a genuine takeaway. This shows curiosity and helps you start conversations with professionals in the field.

"I've received mentorships, networking invites and more – just from putting myself out there," says Hazel. "It’s opened doors in industries like fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceuticals, which I’m keen to work in."

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TIP 2: CRAFT A HEADLINE THAT SELLS YOUR STRENGTHS AND SHOWS YOUR CAREER GOALS

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TIP 3: CULTIVATE YOUR LINKEDIN CIRCLE

Class of 2025 graduate Koh Horn Ray's LinkedIn posts about his passion for history and music helped pave the way to a coveted internship.

If you come across someone whose interests align with yours, don’t be shy – reach out, says Horn Ray. Connecting with like-minded people and following those who inspire you is a great way to stay updated and gain new perspectives.

When sending a connection request, include a short, thoughtful message. Horn Ray suggests something like: “Hi! I saw that you’re also passionate about local heritage and education. I’d love to connect and learn more.”

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TIP 4: USE LINKEDIN AS YOUR LEARNING JOURNAL

Write about your interests and reflect on what you’ve learnt from your experiences – whether from school projects, CCAs or personal encounters – to build your personal brand.

Doing so can also help you clarify your professional direction, says Horn Ray.

After reading his LinkedIn posts, an acquaintance shared an opportunity to create a podcast for Singapore’s annual heritage festival in 2023.

"Organising that programme turned out to be a key achievement in my portfolio," says Horn Ray. "It helped me get my internship with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and even formed the foundation of my final-year project at NTU."

Horn Ray got noticed on LinkedIn after producing an audio tour on the history of several landmarks in NTU for the Singapore Heritage Fest two years ago.

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TIP 5: POST LIKE YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A TEAMMATE, NOT A RECRUITER

Jonathan Liew's presence on LinkedIn led to an invitation to organise a conference. The 2025 bioengineering graduate used to be the President of the NTU Biomedical Engineering Society. 

To grow your network of professional connections on LinkedIn, don’t just list your wins – tell the stories behind them.

Share lessons from a failed group project, a challenge that shifted your perspective or a moment that sparked personal growth. Give credit where it’s due – acknowledge teammates, mentors or even setbacks that shaped your journey.

Thoughtful, authentic posts like these create space for others to add to the conversation or discussion.

For instance, instead of simply announcing that you won an award, reflect on what the experience taught you or use it as a call to action to inspire others to make a difference.

Under Jonathan’s leadership, the NTU Biomedical Engineering Society won an award for its community impact – a milestone he shared on LinkedIn, along with reflections on the journey and lessons learnt. 

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This story was published in the Jul-Aug 2025 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.