In collaboration with Francis Marion University, Charlee Rhodes held a meeting with students on Oct. 22 in the Harris Auditorium at the School of Business and Education. The topic of discussion was LinkedIn and how students are able to use this platform to shape their future careers.
The meeting began at 4 p.m. with seven people in attendance. Rhodes, a graduate of FMU, started off by sharing her own professional experiences and how she uses LinkedIn in her daily work life. She provided deep insights into the platform’s benefits, particularly its capacity for networking and polishing resumes to attract potential employers
“LinkedIn is a starting ground for the professional relationships you are going to build,” said Rhodes.
She spoke on how the platform can improve the visibility of resumes and serve as a valuable tool for professional development. She explained it helps users polish their profiles, allowing for them to stand out among other resumes. Rhodes emphasized the importance of LinkedIn’s connection feature, explaining its similarities to the “follow” feature on other social media platforms. By connecting with individuals in a desired career field, it allowed for users to access a broader range of opportunities.
As the meeting progressed, Rhodes continued to engage with the audience, asking about their career aspirations and whether they had LinkedIn accounts or not. She also advised those who had not yet created their accounts to do so during the meeting so she could help them polish them.
Thereafter, Rhodes introduced the concept of the “Three Ls”: learning, laughing and liking. These three simple words helped to highlight LinkedIn and its role in career development. The “learning” aspect of LinkedIn allows users to discover job and internship opportunities in their field. By actively checking the platform, individuals can stay informed about openings that match their career interests and even internship opportunities. The second element, “laughing,” connects to making a positive workplace environment. A friendly atmosphere can lead to strong bonds among colleagues and make the workplace an overall enjoyable environment. Lastly, Rhodes spoke of “liking” as an essential strategy for building connections in one’s professional realm. Engaging with posts and connecting with others in the industry can create valuable opportunities for networking and mentorship.
The session concluded at 5 p.m., but not before Rhodes allowed a 10-minute work session to answer any questions the audience had as well as assisting with the creation of a student’s LinkedIn profile. Rhodes concluded by encouraging those in attendance to engage with LinkedIn—not just as a job search tool, but as a platform to build professional relationships that can lead to their future career growth.
For more information about LinkedIn, students can sign up through the LinkedIn website. To reach Rhodes or ask general questions about the event, students may contact the event organizer, Student Life Specialist Andy ‘Fisher’ Matthews.