The Role Of LinkedIn in the Gen Z Hiring Process

By: Alli donnelly

Photo Courtesy of Airam Dato on Pexels

For Gen Z, the hiring process has gone digital in a way no generation before us has experienced. We’ve grown up online, and our digital presence has become part of how we get hired. While platforms like Instagram or TikTok help shape personal identity, LinkedIn has become the most important space for building a professional one. It’s no longer just a résumé site; it’s where opportunities start and networks form.

Why LinkedIn Matters for Gen Z

More young professionals are posting regularly on LinkedIn, sometimes even more than on their personal social accounts. Sharing achievements, projects, or even everyday career lessons puts people in front of professionals who can influence their path, such as recruiters, managers, mentors, and peers.

I experienced this firsthand at my current internship. My manager saw a post I made about work I was doing in a student news organization. Because of that post, they discovered a skill set I hadn’t mentioned outright at work and gave me a specialized assignment related to it. A simple post turned into a new responsibility that might never have been offered if I hadn’t shared what I was doing outside the office.

Your Digital Presence Is Your Living Portfolio

One of LinkedIn’s biggest advantages is that it acts as a constantly updating portfolio. You don’t need to wait for an interview to explain your experience; you can show it as it happens. These posts don’t have to be massive accomplishments. Progress updates, event takeaways, new responsibilities or reflections on challenges all show how you and your career are evolving.

This kind of visibility matters more than you think. I met a recruiter at a career fair who might have forgotten our interaction if I hadn’t stayed connected through LinkedIn messages and occasional updates about my involvement on campus. Those posts kept me on their radar, and eventually that connection turned into an actual job offer. If I hadn’t been active online, that opportunity likely would’ve ended at the career fair table.

Meeting Recruiters Where They Already Are

Recruiters and hiring managers spend a large amount of time on LinkedIn. They’re searching for potential candidates and paying attention to what early-career professionals are doing. Posting regularly means you’re showing up where they already are, which is most likely your LinkedIn feed.

And they’re not just looking at your résumé. They notice your posts, comments, interactions, and network. Being active communicates consistency, connectedness, and ambition, all of which are attractive qualities for new hires.

How Gen Z Can Stand Out on LinkedIn

• Post consistently. Share projects, events, lessons learned, or ideas that inspire you. 

• Show your process. Hiring managers love to see how you think.

• Engage actively. Comment, congratulate, and share content that's meaningful to you.

• Follow up with connections. A short message can turn a brief interaction into a real relationship.

• Make yourself accessible. Keep your profile updated and let your personality show.

  
  

If You Don’t Show It, They’ll Never Know

Ultimately, your skills and accomplishments only help you if people can see them. LinkedIn gives Gen Z the chance to make those strengths visible long before an interview. By showing up authentically and consistently, you make it easier for opportunities, mentors and employers to find you.

If you don’t show it, they’ll never know. And LinkedIn is the best place to start.