A row of students sit along a table. A woman stands in front of them, looking away from the camera to a screen with a Powerpoint presentation.

UTA Libraries Hosts Workshop to Teach Students the Ins and Outs of LinkedIn

U T A with star in the center, used when staff photo is unavailable

by Alexandra Pirkle

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This article was written by our editorial assistant, Sophie Spruce.

On Feb. 15, students gathered in the first-floor classroom located in the newly opened Studios at the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries to attend a workshop where they learned how to utilize LinkedIn as a viable resource and network for job opportunities.

This workshop is part of a UTA Libraries initiative to provide opportunities for learning so students can create and maintain a successful presence online and make professional connections.

“UTA Libraries offers workshops such as these to give students practical skills for the future,” said Milaun Murry, Experiential Learning and Outreach Librarian. “Our hope is that they apply what they learn for a greater chance of success.”

Two students sit at a table with their backs to the camera, watching a woman give a presentation.

Milaun Murry, Experiential Learning and Outreach Librarian

Utilizing LinkedIn is vital not only to job opportunities, but also for lasting connections with professionals across the globe. Rishabh Thakur, a senior studying computer science, attended the event hoping to learn how to make his LinkedIn profile stand out to potential employers.

“I was under the impression that I wouldn’t need to update anything,” Thakur said. “But a few tips discussed in the session, for example, profile bullet points and the about section, can help me expand my network and job hunting.”

Two students sit at a table. A can of Pepsi sits in front of one of them. They converse with another person, who is presenting the workshop.

Rishabh Thakur discusses LinkedIn with Murry

Attendees were also able to network during the event. According to Matthew Swingler, a junior in aerospace engineering, the networking session was important because he was able to apply what he had learned and leave with real connections.

“I was able to reach out to multiple people during the workshop and connect with them,” he said.

The connections students make at UTA may become important in the future. Murry hopes the workshop will inspire students to critically think about their profiles, as well as challenge them to be creative in their approach to potential successes.

“We believe in teaching students to create beneficial and lasting relationships,” Murry said. “LinkedIn is a place not only for people to find jobs, but also a place for the exchange of ideas and information.”

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