By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
photo | Wade Barillaro
Students focus in on President and Founder of Executive Consultants of New York, Corp, Maria Themistocleous-Frey reviewing her LinkedIn profile on Oct. 9.
According to a recent survey of 2,500 undergraduate students by College Pulse.com, 58% of students who currently hold an internship or full-time job or are looking for one say LinkedIn is a helpful tool.
To allow students to get familiar with LinkedIn and create their own professional online presence, the School of Business Career Springboard Center and Maria Themistocleous-Frey, hosted “Creating you I-brand with LinkedIn.”
President and Founder of Executive Consultants of New York, Corp Maria Themistocleous-Frey walked students through how to navigate the app on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The session, which ran from 12-2 p.m., allowed students to gain full insight on how to create an effective profile.
LinkedIn, the social media platform that focuses on business and employment, is seen as a valuable tool for students to build a professional network.
Themistocleous-Frey described LinkedIn as, “the ‘Facebook’ of the business community.”
Despite being seen as a social media outlet, there is a format that Themistocleous-Frey is an expert in.
Themistocleous-Frey said that a student’s profile should allow employers to see what they bring to the table.
“Personality is very critical. It shows who you really are outside of the confines of a resume,” Themistocleous-Frey said. “Your profile should allow me to see who you are, your personality, your witt, what you’re involved in, what volunteer work you do.”
To showcase their best selves, Themistocleous-Frey also said that students should identify their top three core skills.
Themistocleous-Frey said that regardless if they are “soft skills,” such as communication and teamwork, they should not be underestimated.
“Post-COVID those soft skills have taken a front seat to hard skills,” Themistocleous-Frey said. “These are the skill sets you practice in school.”
For students that do not have a long list of experience or volunteering on their resume, Themistocleous-Frey said that school projects and outside endeavors can satisfy this category.
“If you have experience as a student that isn’t related to your major, it shows that you’re working towards your goal which is admirable,” Themistocleous-Frey said.
Learning how to navigate LinkedIn can be beneficial to students, especially those that are entering the workforce soon.
Art and design major Jaizier St.Hilaire, a senior, said that he joined to begin the job searching process.
“I am trying to be more active on my social media awareness and be able to network with others,” St.Hilaire said.
Interdisciplinary studies major Sarah Khan, a senior, said she found ways to improve her profile, such as adding testimonials about her experience. Khan also said that the session was very helpful.
“I think they taught really good life skills in your career, and you learn how to achieve what you really need, which is not taught in classes,” Khan said.
