Connecting Students to Opportunity: SFP’s LinkedIn Workshop
On Sunday, September 7, 2025, Salaam Food Pantry hosted a LinkedIn workshop for high school students, aimed at preparing participants with practical tools for building a strong online presence. Maryam Naseer, a sophomore at San Jose State University, and Asiya Siddiqui, a freshman at UC Berkeley, led the two-hour session. The workshop focused on helping students create professional LinkedIn profiles and understand how to showcase their skills effectively. Participants also learned strategies for networking online, from connecting with mentors to linking with peers who share their interests and career goals.
Eight high school girls registered for the workshop, and each of them created and updated their LinkedIn profiles during the session. This hands-on experience gave them an early start in building their professional journeys while still in school, combining their education, career goals, and aspirations for the future. By beginning this process in high school, the students were able to lay a foundation for long-term success and prepare themselves to step into college, internships, and careers.
The session emphasized that LinkedIn is more than just a social platform; it’s a space for personal branding and long-term career growth. Attendees were encouraged to share their authentic selves, including their hobbies and sense of humor, while maintaining a professional presence and engaging thoughtfully with others. They also received guidance on posting strategies, commenting meaningfully on others’ content, and using curiosity as a way to explore industries and find opportunities.
One participant, Hafsa Noori, found the profile-building strategies particularly impactful. She shared, “What I liked most about the LinkedIn workshop was learning how to build a strong profile that really catches attention. The tips for writing a clear headline were especially helpful.” Hafsa also reflected on the importance of online networking: “The workshop helped me see how important it is to reach out and stay connected with people in my field. I’ve learned that online networking can open doors just like meeting someone in person.”
Another student, Haadiyah Pathan, valued the personalized feedback she received. “The most helpful part was someone looking over my entire LinkedIn profile and giving me suggestions to update it, because I made my profile on my own and I needed some guidance to fine-tune things,” she said. She added, “I realized that online networking can actually be helpful when it comes to making connections with mentors.”
By blending practical tips with personalized support, the LinkedIn Workshop left students confident in growing connections and presenting themselves authentically online.
Anam Hanif
Salaam Food Pantry Youth Ambassador
