A few years ago, LinkedIn felt more meaningful people took it seriously and conversations felt genuine. Now it often feels like noise, with people posting occasionally and disappearing or sharing overly polished “lessons.”

Yet, despite this shift, recruiters and industry professionals still keep repeating the same advice on forums and panels: MBA students should start building their personal brand early.

Not in the influencer sense, but in terms of developing an executive presence online especially on platforms like LinkedIn.

The logic behind it is that an MBA program is short (often just 1-2 years), and during that time you’re trying to signal to recruiters, alumni, and peers what you’re good at and what value you bring.

From what I’ve read and observed, a few things seem to come up repeatedly when people talk about building that presence:

1. Having a clear professional identity
Instead of just “MBA candidate,” some students try to define what they’re actually interested in solving. For example, a marketing-focused student might position themselves around data-driven brand growth or consumer insights, while someone in finance might highlight valuation, strategy, or analytics.

2. Treating LinkedIn as more than a digital resume
Many people optimize their profiles with clear headlines, detailed project descriptions, and internships. Some even highlight MBA coursework, consulting projects, or case competitions to show how they think and what they’ve worked on.

3. Sharing and curating industry content
Another common suggestion is to regularly share articles, case studies, or short insights about industry trends. The idea is not necessarily to go viral, but to show engagement with your field and how you interpret what’s happening in it.

4. Building a small professional footprint online
Some MBA students create simple blogs or personal websites where they document projects, publish case analyses, or write about strategy and business trends. It’s basically a way to show work instead of just claiming skills.

5. Networking more intentionally
Instead of randomly adding connections, some people join industry groups, comment on posts from professionals, and participate in discussions.
Over time, this can help build visibility and relationships with people already working in the field you want to enter.

6. Developing thought leadership (even in small ways)
This might sound like a big term, but sometimes it’s as simple as writing a short reflection on a case study, summarizing a project insight, or sharing lessons from an internship.

On the last note i say it’s not something you build overnight or outsource to someone else to manage and while it’s not mandatory for everyone, having a thoughtful presence can still be helpful in the long run.