Oct. 12 "Using the web to weave a network": I cut out this article by Lauren Marinigh (Talent Egg) in the Metro on Sept. 17, 2014.
Social media is a tool that can unlock a world of potential.
With just the click of a mouse and 140 characters, you can instantly connect with professionals, recruiters and prospective mentors.
If you’re new to your field, you may not be sure how to approach social media for professional use. These tips can help you successfully network on social media.
Seek out connections
Start by seeking out connections that are of interest to you.
A good place to begin is by using the search bar on your chosen social media platform.
Search things such as the industry you’re in, companies that you’d like to work for and their employees, and thought leaders within your industry.
Remember, people are not usually open to connecting with strangers on networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
Start off with a platform like Twitter that allows you to follow and connect in a casual and less-direct fashion.
Once you’ve got a sense of which new connections are professional leads, you can reach out to them and explore connecting on more formal platforms, like LinkedIn.
Have a plan
There are a lot of conversations (and a lot of people) on social media, so it’s easy to feel intimidated.
The easiest way to get ahead online is to set aside some time to create a plan for your digital networking.
Are you hoping to land your first job after graduation? Trying to build experience in a new industry? Looking to build a professional network?
Setting an overall objective for your online engagement will help you identify the opportunities that match your interests — and help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Focus on relationship-building
Although you may plan to use social media as a tool to land a job, focus on building relationships first.
Jumping straight to discussing your career goals or professional plans will likely alienate your new connection — after all, you’re a stranger.
Start out by interacting with your new connections, commenting on their posts or activity and contributing to their discussions.
This is a much more effective way to build a good relationship and make a good impression with someone than just jumping the gun.
Share relevant content
If you follow professionals within your industry and you want them to follow you back, you need to show them that you’re contributing to relevant conversations and that you’re committed to your area of focus.
Keeping your profile up-to-date and consistently posting regular and useful content will help build your reputation in the online world.
These activities are a great way to build a portfolio and practice professional self-representation — as well as helping you shape your short- and long-term goals.
"Employers, remember my name!": I cut out this article by Lauren Marinigh (Talent Egg) in the Metro on Sept. 24, 2014. Here's the article:
A personal brand is an invaluable tool that can help you throughout your career — particularly when you’re trying to land a first job or move between industries.
Personal branding can be crucial in helping sell yourself to potential employers and stand out from the crowd. Luckily, getting started on developing your brand is easier than it might sound.
Create a theme or image for yourself
Choose a theme that will be carried throughout both your online and offline presence. This theme may include a series of colours, fonts, and images that will be used across all platforms.
Consistency is key for branding: Use the same colours on your resumé and cover letter as on your Twitter profile and personal website. When you move from document to portfolio to resumé, or to Twitter and LinkedIn, everything should reflect a consistent visual message.
Build your online presence
Having an online presence is crucial for any modern job-seeker, and absolutely vital when it comes to presenting your personal brand.
While you’ll need to use and present your personal brand in your offline life and in the workplace, having your brand online is an excellent way to put yourself out there — and it may lead someone to contact you to offer a top job opportunity or networking connection.
As you build your presence online, be sure to be actively involved in the online community. Don’t just create profiles — follow, like and join, too.
Generate content
A great way to develop and fine-tune your personal brand is to produce content that reflects your areas of expertise. This content may appear on your blog, your social networks or shared directly with others in your industry. You can even identify promising conversations that focus on your chosen area and offer your content there — building new connections in the process.
Generating unique content and contributing to ongoing discussions will help build your image.
Build yourself offline
Your offline professional activities play a big part in introducing specific people to your personal brand (and directing them to your online presence, as well). Networking and building an image for yourself offline are key steps to building your brand. Create branded business cards, and attend conferences, classes, workshops, and other events to give you an opportunity to network.
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