From Code to Career: How UCG Students Are Using LinkedIn To Build Their Digital Futures

Professional success rarely begins with a handshake or a printed résumé anymore. In today’s tech-driven world, it often starts with a digital search. For high school students preparing for college applications, internships, or their first jobs, a clear, compelling, and professional online presence can shape whether they are noticed and how they are perceived.

At Urban Coders Guild, workforce development is not just a future goal; it’s a present reality. Our middle and high school students are the workers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow, and that future begins now. While students in our programs learn technical skills, we also guide them in building the confidence, communication abilities, and professional habits that will serve them well beyond the classroom. Developing a LinkedIn presence is one of the many ways we prepare them for what comes next.

This summer, we hosted two working lunch sessions focused on creating and enhancing LinkedIn profiles. These workshops introduced students to the platform as a practical tool for career-building, not just a social network. Our goal was to help students take ownership of their professional identity and begin shaping a digital presence that reflects both their talent and their ambition. While some students had never used LinkedIn before, others had started accounts but had not yet added much detail or direction. Together, we worked through each section of the platform and provided guidance on how to effectively communicate strengths, highlight experiences, and tell a clear story about their growing skills.

The workshops also built on earlier summer experiences. Just days before, students had professional headshots taken. For many, it was the first time they had posed for a photo meant to represent them in a professional setting. Adding these images to their profiles helped shift how they saw themselves. It was a tangible step toward becoming who they are working to become.

Technical skills are a foundation of our programs, but they are not taught in isolation. Students develop these skills through project-based learning and collaboration in a socially and emotionally supportive environment. At the same time, they are sharpening soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. These combined competencies are essential to long-term success in the modern workforce, even during times of uncertainty. They are central to how Urban Coders Guild approaches workforce readiness.

However, developing skills is only part of the process. Students must also be visible to the people, institutions, and industries that shape opportunity. A strong LinkedIn profile enables students to be discovered, share their story, and establish professional relationships early. For students in underrepresented communities, this kind of visibility is especially important. It helps level the playing field by giving them a platform to showcase their knowledge and direction.

This kind of preparation also reflects Tulsa’s broader priorities. The city’s designation as a federally recognized Tech Hub highlights the importance of cultivating a diverse, skilled, and forward-looking workforce. Regional leaders have set ambitious goals for 2030, and achieving them will require deep investments in local talent. Urban Coders Guild is proud to contribute by preparing students to step into those future roles. We are helping them access opportunities that currently exist while preparing them for jobs and industries that are still emerging.

Platforms like LinkedIn are a practical and strategic part of that preparation. Students use it to showcase certifications, connect with mentors, and begin visualizing their place in a professional ecosystem. By taking this step while still in high school, they start to understand that their learning matters beyond the classroom and that they have the power to shape their own narrative.

Urban Coders Guild has always been about more than just code. We focus on equity, identity, access, and opportunity. Through our programs, students build confidence, gain practical skills, and become ready to succeed in college, careers, and community leadership. That journey often begins with small, deliberate actions. One of those actions this summer was helping our students craft a profile that reflects who they are, what they know, and where they are going.