An Empirical Study on Students’ Utilization of Linkedin for Generating Career Leads

In the contemporary digital era, professional networking platforms have become integral to career development and employability enhancement, especially for students and young professionals. LinkedIn, as the world’s largest professional networking platform, plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional opportunities. This research paper presents an empirical study on students’ utilization of LinkedIn for generating career leads. The study aims to analyze usage patterns, purposes of engagement, level of awareness, effectiveness in obtaining career opportunities, and challenges faced by students while using LinkedIn. Primary data was collected from a sample of 30 students through a structured questionnaire. The study employs descriptive statistics, percentage analysis, graphical representation, and hypothesis testing to interpret the data. The findings indicate that students who actively engage on LinkedIn by maintaining updated profiles, networking with professionals, and participating in platform activities are more likely to generate career leads such as internships, job referrals, interview calls, and mentorship opportunities. However, lack of guidance, inconsistent usage, and limited understanding of platform features restrict its effectiveness for some students. The study concludes that LinkedIn has significant potential to enhance students’ career prospects when used strategically, and recommends institutional support and structured training to maximize its benefits.