Wed, 14 May 2025 â—Ź Empowerment â—Ź By Ntanganedzeni Phidzaglima

Building Your Personal Brand, LinkedIn & CV Tips

A Message from GKSS_UWC

At Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS_UWC), we had big plans to host a LinkedIn and CV Building Workshop this semester in collaboration with partners, mentors, and alumni but due to time constraints and overlapping schedules, we couldn’t bring the event to life just yet.

We know this might be disappointing for those who were looking forward to the session, but we haven’t forgotten our goal:

To help students become innovative, industry-ready, and visible to opportunities.

To make it up to you, we’ve put together practical advice and insight that you can start applying today to improve your personal brand whether you’re applying for internships, jobs, or hackathons.

LinkedIn Tips

Stand Out Where Opportunities Live

LinkedIn is more than a digital CV, it's your professional online brand. Here's how to optimize it:

1. Write a Compelling Headline & Summary

Instead of just “Computer Science Student,” say:
 â€śAspiring Software Engineer | Passionate about AI & Community-Driven Tech | Final Year CS @UWC”


 Your summary should answer:

  • What are you passionate about?
  • What problems do you want to solve?
  • What are you currently working on?

2. Profile Picture & Banner Matter

Your profile picture should be professional, clear, and friendly. A custom banner with your name, field, or society involvement makes your profile memorable.


3. Add Your Projects and Certifications

Include GitHub projects, hackathon work, class assignments, or anything that shows initiative.
 Got Microsoft, IBM or Google badges? Add them under “Licenses & Certifications.”

4. Get Recommendations & Skills Endorsed

Ask classmates, lecturers, or society peers to recommend you or endorse your skills. It shows credibility.


5. Engage Professionally

React to content, reshare job opportunities, and write about your journey people notice active, thoughtful users.

CV Writing Tips

Your CV should not just say “I studied this,” but “Here’s how I applied what I learned.”


1. Keep It Short & Tailored

Your CV should be:

  • 1–2 pages
  • Clean design
  • Customized for each role (use keywords from job descriptions)


2. Use Strong, Action-Oriented Language

Instead of:

“Was responsible for GitHub.”
 Say:
 â€śManaged version control and team collaboration through GitHub across 3+ projects.”


3. Include a Skills Section

Separate technical (e.g. Python, HTML, Firebase) and soft skills (e.g. communication, leadership, problem-solving).


4. Show Your Involvement

Clubs, societies, events you’ve helped organize, or volunteer work all count. Don’t leave them out.


5. Don’t Lie But Sell Yourself

Be honest, but confident. Use metrics when you can:

“Built a chatbot used by 30+ students for student legal guidance.”

Need help now?
Reach out to any of our GKSS_UWC executive members. We’re happy to review your CV or LinkedIn and give feedback!