Level Up Your LinkedIn: A Practical Guide

Want internships, a practicum site, your first analyst role, or co-authors for a poster? LinkedIn can help you get there.

This guide distills the SPPH Student Association workshop led by Allie Murphy with a live profile walk-through by Sheheryar Ali into a short set of moves you can use today. The full slide deck is linked at the end.

1. Make your profile findable

• Headline pattern: MPH student, [focus] | [tools] | Seeking [role]
  Example: MPH student, Epidemiology | SAS, R, GIS | Seeking analyst roles
• About in 3 lines: impact you care about → methods/tools you use → what you’re open to.
• Custom URL: set linkedin.com/in/YourName for clean sharing and search.

2. Connections that create opportunities

• Add faculty, guest speakers, practicum preceptors, and peers you’ve collaborated with.
• Follow and connect with agency and company employees you admire. Texas DSHS and similar orgs recruit heavily on LinkedIn.
• After conferences, use the program PDF trick by treating the agenda as a directory and connecting with presenters and organizers while the interaction is fresh.
• Unsure whether to connect or follow? Start with follow, then connect with a one-line note when you engage with their work.

3. Posts that show substance

• Simple formula: hook line → one insight or result → tag people/orgs → add one image → optional link.
• What to share: practicum wins, capstone milestones, posters, short reflections after seminars, and credible news with your takeaway.
• Aim for one good post per month and weekly micro-engagement (comment or congratulate).

4. Use the Jobs tab like a tool

• Create job alerts for titles you want (Public Health Analyst, Epidemiology, Program Evaluation).
• Turn on Open to Work if you’re actively searching.
• Use Easy Apply only after your profile sections are complete and artifact links work.

30-minute checklist

1. Refresh headline, About, and custom URL
2. Add practicum and one project with a file or link
3. List five skills and request two endorsements
4. Connect with two speakers or agency staff you respect
5. Set two job alerts and follow three target orgs

Get the slides: Review the workshop deck for screenshots, examples, and step-by-step visuals.

Connect with the presenters: Find Allie Murphy and Sheheryar Ali on LinkedIn to see real profiles and posting styles in action.