On Monday, May 17, the YES program hosted the YES LinkedIn Webinar. At the webinar, attendees learned about how to build their professional brand, form connections with professionals over LinkedIn, and make their profile stand out from the millions of others. Webinar participants also learned about connecting with the YES community through LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools available to network and connect with experts and professionals around the world. LinkedIn provides a platform to showcase work experience, educational background, recommendations, and awards; make professional connections; and build a personal brand. There are over 740 million members in more than 200 countries, which means not only are users advertising themselves, but they are also creating connections with thousands of people. LinkedIn provides an avenue for members to explore potential career paths, find mentors, and pursue job opportunities. That's why the company calls itself "the world's largest professional network."

According to LinkedIn, 93% of recruiters use LinkedIn to recruit and research candidates, so this webinar provided the perfect opportunity for YES students and alumni to rework their LinkedIn profiles! Attendees learned from guest speaker Tarin Rickett, a Senior UI Engineer on LinkedIn's Growth team and a LinkedIn Coach, about the various ways in which they could leverage the LinkedIn platform to pursue career opportunities. Following the webinar, interested YES alumni signed up for one-on-one sessions to receive personal consultation on how to develop a strong LinkedIn profile from Tarin and her team at LinkedIn. 

Download the YES LinkedIn Webinar Resource Guide. 

Tarin Rickett is a Senior UI Engineer on LinkedIn's Growth team in San Francisco. When not coding, she spends time as a LinkedIn Coach, introducing newcomers to the platform in an effort to close the network gap. Before joining LinkedIn, she spent time in France, working with start-up non-profit Konexio to promote the inclusion of refugees in the workforce through tech skills training and community building. She is a strong believer in the power of mentorship and volunteers with TechWomen as a professional mentor to uplift fellow women in tech worldwide.