NGU workshop: Equipping students with LinkedIn skills for career success
Photo by Treasure Hardwick
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
On Wednesday, November 20, at 11:15 a.m., Mary Mayhan, the coordinator for student calling at North Greenville University, conducted a LinkedIn workshop to assist students in building a professional presence on the popular social networking platform.
LinkedIn is an essential tool for career development, with over 58.4 million companies listed and 15 million job openings, according to Omnicore agency. The platform’s popularity is evident, as 49 million users search for jobs weekly, and every minute, six people get hired through LinkedIn.
In the workshop, Mayhan emphasized that creating a LinkedIn profile is helpful for all students, regardless of their major or year because it provides access to internships and job opportunities in their field of interest.
She began by recommending that students uniquely customize their profiles to attract potential employers by showcasing their experiences and educational background in their bios. She showed examples of profiles where the user utilized graphic design websites such as Canva to add a personal touch to their account.
Next, Mayhan noted the importance of building a network of connections. She explained that connecting with others in a desired career field leads to more relevant opportunities and connections.
Mayhan encouraged students to keep their profiles up to date by adding new experiences, such as jobs, internships or coursework. She shared her personal experience of refining her job descriptions over time to reflect her evolving responsibilities and skills.
“As I gained experience, I would go back and add that work description,” Mayhan said. “I recommend updating your profile as soon as you’re hired for something new, so you don’t face the headache of trying to create a profile senior year because that is a stressful season.”
Once students have created and personalized their LinkedIn account, they can look through opportunities and began applying for the job that best fits their skills. LinkedIn’s job search function allows students to filter job listings based on location and salary.
As new connections arise, LinkedIn’s homepage will suggest more connections as well as new job listings.
The workshop’s goal was to help students succeed both during and after their time at NGU. It offered helpful resources and knowledge that went beyond the typical classroom setting.
Mayhan explained that NGU’s center for student success offers workshops like this frequently to better equip students for their futures and instill confidence in them that they are prepared for the next steps.
She said, “The center for student success offers workshops like this to help students inside and outside the classroom. We offer classes like this to give examples of what students should do to find a job . . . The purpose is to educate students further.”
