By now, most people are familiar with social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Hi5, and use them to keep in touch with family, friends, classmates, and colleagues. Fewer people, however, have embraced the career networking sites that connect business people with contacts and potential employers.
Professional networking has long been an important part of building or changing careers. As the old adage goes, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” In today’s digital society, there are fewer opportunities to talk business over lunch or hand someone a business card at a cocktail party. More and more, job search networking is heading into cyberspace, so smart job searchers have to be prepared.
Here’s a look at the top professional networking sites and some tips for using them effectively.
Top Career Networking Internet Sites
Perhaps the most well-known career networking site so far, LinkedIn allows professionals to connect not only with their current and former colleagues but also with their connections’ other connections, quickly expanding an individual’s network. Profiles focus solely on professional backgrounds and interests, and former colleagues or clients can post references. According to LinkedIn, the site has over 42 million members in 200 countries, including executives from all Fortune 500 companies.
Popular in mainly in China and parts of Europe, Xing is quickly gaining popularity in North America. Its Jobs & Career section assists job seekers in connecting with potential employers, while the People Finder helps new members locate colleagues online, and the Global Networking section helps members manage their contacts. Xing currently has about 7 million members from over 200 countries.
In addition to “connecting business people” with its network, blogs, chat rooms, and other Internet resources, Ecademy offers offline events to foster face-to-face networking opportunities. Members can also pay to upgrade to a *BlackStar membership, which offers even more exclusive benefits.
Although an online networking site, MEETin.org connects people with the intention that they will then meet offline. The site is billed as a “friends social group” (actually, “the largest friends social group in the world”), but groups form mainly around common location and interests, so this is a great way to meet other job seekers or potential clients and employers in the local area. Once users have formed a group online, they can host an offline event, such as a cocktail party or an informal meet-and-greet.
Networking for Professionals “powerfully combines online business networking and real life events.” Profiles can include videos, articles (clips), and photos, and the site allows users to bookmark other profiles and create contact lists. Offline events include High Speed Networking and Power Lunch, and have taken place in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Miami and other locations, with more locations to come.
Online Networking Tips
E-networking may be new, but many of the traditional rules still apply. First impressions may be even more important in cyberspace because people can’t rely on time and the force of their personalities to win someone over. If a profile says something potential contacts don’t like, they’re not likely to look any further. Here are some tips for creating and managing a successful professional networking profile:
First, treat it like a business card. One should use one's professional name and one's business phone number and e-mail address.
Second, don’t make cold contacts. Trying to network with someone whose name was pulled off a list online is the equivalent of making a cold call offline: it’s nerve-wracking for the sender and potentially off-putting to the receiver. The whole point of networking is to get to know people, so don’t just contact a potential employer and ask for a job. Find a person or interest in common with the contact and build a relationship around that.
Third, be strategic. Manage both time and contacts well. Go to the site with a specific purpose and set a time limit. It’s easy to get distracted and waste valuable time, especially if a person has profiles on more than one site.
Above all, be professional. Any photos should be of the person who's profile it is and only that person, and he or she should be in business attire. Only post blogs, articles, messages, and other content that relates specifically to job targets or highlights skills. And finally, address new contacts formally, using titles and proper names, until invited to do otherwise.
In the days of Internet networking, an online profile is the equivalent of a handshake: the best ones are firm and professional.
 |
