On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, a community service activity titled “Utilizing LinkedIn for Personal Branding” was successfully conducted at SMA Negeri 9 Semarang. The objective of this event was to introduce the LinkedIn platform, raise awareness about its importance, and provide insights into effective ways of utilizing it. The initiative was led by two Japanese Language and Culture lecturers from the Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University, Mr. Zaki Ainul Fadli, S.S., M.Hum., and Mrs. Fajria Noviana, S.S., M.Hum., along with a team of their students. The event commenced at 12:30 PM and was attended by students from class XI MIPA 7 at SMA Negeri 9 Semarang. The opening remarks were delivered by the class teacher, Mr. Joni Kurniawan, M.Pd. Following the introduction, the speakers, Ghina Puan Maliha and Siti Nur Faizatul Maghfiroh, began their presentation on the effective utilization of LinkedIn for building personal branding.
During their presentation, Ghina and Siti highlighted that LinkedIn is an ideal platform to showcase one’s skills and accomplishments. By creating an appealing and well-organized LinkedIn profile, individuals can be easily discovered and accessed by those seeking candidates with specific criteria. They emphasized that LinkedIn could assist in establishing a strong network with other users related to one’s industry or specialization. Moreover, LinkedIn allows users to join groups, connect with former colleagues, and expand their network through commenting and messaging features. By effectively utilizing these features, individuals can increase business and career opportunities. LinkedIn serves as a platform to discover new job opportunities, participate in relevant events or seminars, or find mentors and potential clients. Ghina and Siti also emphasized the importance of having a strong personal brand. By highlighting their expertise and achievements through job descriptions, projects, and recommendations from others, individuals can strengthen their reputation as experts in their field. A strong personal brand leads to increased trust and recognition from colleagues, clients, and job recruiters.
The Q&A session proved to be a highly beneficial moment for the participants, as they engaged in direct discussions with Ghina and Siti to gain further insights into leveraging LinkedIn for personal branding. The participants displayed high enthusiasm, asking various questions ranging from crafting compelling job descriptions to building relevant networks on LinkedIn, and strategies for enhancing profile visibility. Ghina and Siti patiently answered each question, providing concrete examples and practical tips. During the Q&A session, the importance of maintaining an online reputation was also emphasized. Ghina and Siti highlighted that in the digital era, employers, clients, and colleagues often conduct online searches before engaging in partnerships or recruitment. Therefore, maintaining a professional and consistent LinkedIn profile aligned with the established personal brand is crucial in creating a positive impression.
The “Utilizing LinkedIn for Personal Branding” activity provided valuable insights to the students. They became aware of the significance of building a positive digital footprint and harnessing platforms like LinkedIn to expand their future opportunities. With newfound knowledge on optimizing the use of LinkedIn, it is expected that the students will be able to create compelling profiles and enhance their chances in the professional world. Mr. Joni Kurniawan, M.Pd., as the class teacher of XI MIPA 7, expressed his appreciation for the activity. He expressed his hopes that the students would apply the knowledge gained in their lives and continue to develop themselves through the effective use of LinkedIn. The participants also provided positive feedback regarding the activity. They felt inspired and motivated to update their LinkedIn profiles, expand their professional networks, and utilize the platform as a tool to strengthen their personal branding.