Melanie Kloosterman
Melanie Kloosterman
Learning Goals
What are the best
professional online
networking platforms?
What are the advantages
of successful online
networking?
What are the ways to
become a successful
networker?
I like to say that Twitter is like a bar, Facebook is
your living room and LinkedIn is the local
chamber of commerce
LinkedIn is the largest professional networking site with over 225 million users
In the “answer” section have experienced professionals express their opinions, helping you make corrective decisions for your career
Find your dream job; everyday there are job postings where companies are hiring
Stay Informed Find people & knowledge Control your professional identity
Market yourself Find useful contacts & work projects Find your dream job
A professional social networking site
created in Germany in 2003
Has over 13 million members
The way the site works is very similar to
It displays how each member is
connected to any other member,
creating a “small-world” effect
The largest social networking site with
1.11 billion users
Targeted to everyday users, not as a
professional networking site
Is a great way to build your personal
network
A great way to advertise your business
and reach millions of people
Social networking giant Connects people Advertise your business
It’s not what you know, but who you know
Business Leads
Networking is a great way to obtain new business leads. Using the contacts you make can open up new business opportunities
Career Opportunities
Networking can expose you to jobs that are not posted online. In fact, approximately 70% of jobs obtained are through networking
Personal Opportunities
Networking can build relationships that can be helpful for everyday life. For example, you can use your network to find a mechanic to fix your car
Identify Best Practices
Networking is a great way to identify business practices and industry benchmarks. By learning from what others do is a valuable business strategy
New Business Trends
Networking can help you
stay ahead on
technology and business
trends. This can give you
an advantage over your
competition by applying
new and fresh ways of
doing things
All of these benefits can help you advance
your career!
You are what you share
Create an up-to-date profile. While looking for a job you would never have an incomplete resume. Therefore, keeping a current up-to-date profile is important to attracting new contacts
Ensure your profile has a professional picture. A quality headshot and appropriate work attire is best
Get recommendations. Recommendations provide confirmation of your experience/skills and increase your chances of being contacted by recruiters
Don’t air your dirty laundry. Keep your complaints about companies or individuals off social networking sites. Once it is out there, you cannot take it back. Keep all your posts professional
And most importantly, business networking is about what you can do for others. Building a good rapport is only beneficial. Without fail, what goes around comes around
Conclusion
With the explosion of social media, the importance of online networking is greater than ever before. There are many platforms available to users, but LinkedIn and Xing are geared towards building a professional network. There are numerous advantages such as gaining business leads or career opportunities. It is essential to keep your profile up-to-date and only post professional content to receive the full benefits that online networking can offer. As you can see, successful online networking has a correlation with career advancement. So, get socializing!
References
Buddy, Entreprenuer. Entreprenuer Buddy. 26 April 2011.
connaughtexec. Online Professional Networking. n.d.
Forbes. How to Network Like a Pro Online. 09 August 2007.
Heathfield, Susan M. About.com: Human Resources. n.d.
LinkedIn. LinkedIn. 2013.
Networking Today. A guide for business professionals and college graduates. n.d.
The Thriving Small Business. What are the 5 advantages of professional networking. 2013.
twitter140characters. Blogspot. 3 December 2012.
Wikipedia. Facebook. n.d.