Feb. 16 “Managing online persona key to success”: I cut out this article by Rebecca Walberg in the National Post on Nov. 27, 2012. This is a good article with tips on how to use Linked In and other social media websites to get a job. It’s a bit more to college students, but it could be used for any professional. Here it is:
Managing online networks and presence is going to be an integral part of internships as well as full- time employment, and we make sure students know this
'If you're not online, do you even exist?" asks Leigh Gauthier, director of careers for full-time MBA students at the Rotman School of Management. The rhetorical question helps shape the way she guides students branding and positioning themselves for successful job searches at the end of their studies.
"We know that all employers use the Internet and social media to find candidates for jobs," Ms. Gauthier says, "so we teach the skills and techniques to market oneself online and how to engage with social media."
This education begins even before students start classes. Upon admission to the program, students participate in programs that help them to set up an online presence. Then when they arrive on campus they participate in personal branding workshops, work on exercises such as a 360 assessment of their brand, and create a core identity to extrapolate across all different media.
Students have the ability to build an online network, and position themselves as potential employees, even before they graduate
"Students have the ability to build an online network, and position themselves as potential employees, even before they graduate," says Danielle Restivo, manager of corporate communications for LinkedIn Canada. "This is important, and it's new - it wasn't a possibility even 10 years ago."
LinkedIn has recently overhauled its profile configuration, and one of the results is a more student-friendly setup that facilitates populating a well-rounded profile even for students with minimal work experience. Members are prompted to enter information about relevant test scores, completed or ongoing projects, and recommendations and endorsements from teammates or teachers who can describe their skills and competencies.
As well as joining alumni and student networks on LinkedIn, Ms. Restivo says, students shouldn't overlook the importance of making contact in social media with fellow students.
"Three of the jobs I've had in my career have come from classmate connections," she says.
Catherine Awad, senior advisor for MBA career management at the Desautels Faculty of Management, agrees that social media are a crucial part of the job-search process for students and new graduates.
"Managing online networks and presence is going to be an integral part of internships as well as full- time employment, and we make sure students know this," she says.
A student guide to online success: Social media dos and don'ts for business students:
Know your platform
LinkedIn dominates the social media market for professionals, but Facebook is also launching a jobs app. Employers use topsy.com and meetup.com to find people with particular interests and skills in a specific geographical area. YouTube provides a venue for creating a personal presence that's heavier in video and audio, while posting slide decks at slideshare.com can serve as a professional portfolio online.
Be gracious
There is an etiquette involved in an online network, just as there is when meeting face to face. Don't push for connections with people you don't know, but do ask politely for introductions through mutual acquaintances, and always follow up with a "thank you." What's particularly important for students is establishing a sense of reciprocity. "You might not be in a position to do a favour or provide an introduction in return right now," points out Ms. Restivo, "but always make it clear that you're happy to do so if and when you can, and then follow through."
Keep it real
"A recruiter told me about meeting a student and being very impressed, and then being put off when the photo and tone of his online profile didn't have the same vibe," says Ms. Gauthier. This wasn't a case of an inappropriate photo or inaccurate information, she emphasizes, but simply a casual and informal online persona that seemed slightly at odds with the professional, buttoned-up demeanour the recruiter saw in person.
Know your Internet footprint
"Every time you comment on something personally or professionally online, with the right search engine it can be found," points out Ms. Gauthier. Interests, politics, personal beliefs and social activities can all show up to potential employers, and for younger students, who are used to living online and have less work experience to round out the picture, this is particularly important. Self-censoring isn't necessarily the answer, but self-awareness is essential. "Some students will keep more personal information off their profiles and remove comments from blogs," says Ms. Gauthier, "while others will say, 'This is who I am, and if a potential employer won't hire me because of it, then that's probably not the place for me.'"
Use social media for research
"If you have a specific employer in mind, look at the LinkedIn profiles of people who are already working there," suggests Ms. Awad. Looking at junior employees, their credentials and education builds a picture of who's being hired for entry-level positions, while looking at the work histories of more senior staff shows some potential career trajectories. Checking out who industry leaders are following on Twitter and other platforms also provides a window into how senior managers think.
Kill the boilerplate intro
"I wish I could talk to LinkedIn and tell them to take off that pre-filled-in text asking to connect," says Ms. Gauthier. "Not enough people are taking the time write their own request, and it's like a form letter. Nobody wants to connect with you if you're not going to bother to personalize your request."
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