**Course Title:** Essential Soft Skills for Programmers **Section Title:** Networking and Professional Development **Topic:** Create or update your LinkedIn profile and GitHub repository.(Lab topic) **Objective:** By the end of this lab topic, you will have a professional LinkedIn profile and an up-to-date GitHub repository that showcases your skills and experience to potential employers, recruiters, and collaborators. **Why is this important?** As a programmer, having a strong online presence is crucial for networking, job searching, and career advancement. LinkedIn and GitHub are two of the most popular platforms for professionals in the tech industry. A well-crafted LinkedIn profile and GitHub repository can help you: * Establish your personal brand * Increase your visibility to potential employers and recruiters * Network with other professionals in your field * Showcase your skills and experience * Stay up-to-date with industry trends and news **Step 1: Creating a LinkedIn Profile** If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, sign up for an account at [www.linkedin.com](http://www.linkedin.com). If you already have a profile, review and update your information to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date. * **Profile Picture**: Upload a professional profile picture that represents you. * **Headline**: Write a clear and concise headline that describes your current role and industry (e.g., "Software Engineer at XYZ Corporation"). * **Summary**: Write a brief summary that highlights your experience, skills, and achievements ( maximum 2,000 characters). * **Experience**: List your work experience in reverse chronological order, including job titles, company names, and dates of employment. * **Skills**: List your relevant skills, including programming languages, technologies, and tools. * **Education**: List your highest level of education completed. **Step 2: Updating Your GitHub Repository** If you don't have a GitHub account, sign up for an account at [www.github.com](http://www.github.com). If you already have a repository, review and update your information to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date. * **Username**: Choose a professional username that represents you or your brand. * **Profile Picture**: Upload a profile picture that represents you or your brand. * **Bio**: Write a brief bio that describes your interests, skills, and experience (maximum 160 characters). * **Repositories**: Create or update your repositories to showcase your coding projects and contributions. **Tips and Best Practices** * Use keywords relevant to your industry and role in your LinkedIn profile and GitHub repository. * Keep your profile and repository up-to-date and accurately reflect your current skills and experience. * Use high-quality images and consistent branding across both platforms. * Engage with your network on LinkedIn by commenting on posts, sharing articles, and participating in discussions. * Contribute to open-source projects on GitHub to demonstrate your coding skills and collaborate with other developers. **Lab Exercise** 1. Create or update your LinkedIn profile and GitHub repository using the steps outlined above. 2. Review and provide feedback on a peer's LinkedIn profile and GitHub repository. 3. Share your updated profiles on Slack or a designated discussion board for feedback and review. **Additional Resources** * LinkedIn's official guide to creating a strong profile: [www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin) * GitHub's official guide to setting up your profile: [help.github.com/en/articles](http://help.github.com/en/articles) **Next Steps** After completing this lab topic, you will have a professional LinkedIn profile and an up-to-date GitHub repository that showcases your skills and experience. In the next topic, we will cover effective presentation techniques for presenting your ideas, projects, and yourself to others. **Leave a Comment or Ask for Help** If you have any questions or need help with creating or updating your LinkedIn profile or GitHub repository, please leave a comment below.