February 19th, 2015: As online profiles have become the new generation CV, students from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have been learning about the importance of establishing themselves in the marketplace through the world’s largest professional network, LinkedIn.
Mr. Rajai El Khadem, Head of Government & Alliances (MENA) at LinkedIn, visited CUD to share his expertise with students on how to create their own online brand. The workshop, organized by Student Affairs, guided students from the School of Business Administration through the process of creating a professional profile and configuring it to their own requirements.
The workshop particularly targeted graduating human resource management students, who not only need to look into establishing their own profile, but might also be considering the network from the point of view of the recruiter.
Dr. Rommel Sergio, Chair of Human Resource Management, said, “Social networking platforms feature strongly in our employment discussions in class and the session was very beneficial to the HRM students who are now more aware about the features of a profile that attract potential employers.”
A second workshop targeted at the entire student body highlighted the value of tools such as LinkedIn for networking as well as job search, and also for professional learning and development.
Assistant Professor Jeanette Teh said, “Students often don’t realize the importance of networking and that they should actually be creating their own wasta while they are still in school - making contacts and building relationships with their classmates who will be their future business partners, bosses, colleagues, clients, and employees.
“In addition to networking, continuous life-long learning is a practice that should be cultivated in our students, and LinkedIn provides easy access to articles and information shared by others in one’s industry and by thought leaders such as Bill Gates or Deepak Chopra. Some of my own most insightful learning has come from articles recommended, or wisdom shared, by those in my industry and professional groups.”
With almost all recruiters now utilizing LinkedIn to search for talent, and nearly 90% having used the network in some capacity to hire employees, it’s vital to have a strong and comprehensive professional profile.
Mr. Michael Todd, CUD’s Work Placement and Career Services Manager said, “When used professionally, LinkedIn is one of the most powerful job searching tools today. It can help you learn about potential employers, the jobs they are looking to fill, and most importantly, the people who work there. Building a strong and meaningful network on LinkedIn can get you in the door for the job of your dreams and even help you prepare for the interview.”
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