After creating a STARR account, I browsed through upcoming workshops and I found the LinkedIn 101: Profile Development workshop that was taking place on November 16th from 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM. I was particularly curious about LinkedIn and networking so I looked forward to attending the workshop. At the workshop, the speaker, Senesi Blake discussed the elements that are essential to a good LinkedIn profile. The LinkedIn profile should include a professional picture, your location, the industry you work in, your contact information, and a headline that is descriptive with keywords that addresses what makes you different or what you want to be known for. For the summary portion of LinkedIn, Blake suggested to include media and to write in a friendly tone. He also gave us questions to consider such as what our top skills, personal attributes, passions, career values, career goals, top career accomplishments were, as well as to state what makes us unique. To expand our networking space, Blake recommended endorsing others professionally, as they might endorse you too, as well as to only contact/connect with people who you know, have mutual connections with, or have worked with professionally, to join groups, and to stay active by updating your status. In addition, Blake addressed the differences between a LinkedIn profile, comparing it to an electronic flip rotary business card holder and a resume. Information on a LinkedIn profile can be expressed in a personable tone and be more general as opposed to the way information is conveyed on a resume. Attending this workshop was very helpful. I gained a good amount of insight on networking and the importance of connections. LinkedIn is a good resource for getting started on internships and you can even reach out to previous Baruch alumni who are working at a firm/for a company or in a field you are interested in and would like to acquire more information about.
