Transcript Social Media Meets Career Development: Effectively

Social Media Meets Career
Development: Effectively
Networking with LinkedIn
Mike O’Connor
Director of Career Planning
The Sage Colleges
Facts
• World’s largest professional network on the Internet with more
than 100 million members in over 200 countries and territories.
• More than half of LinkedIn members are currently located outside
of the United States.
• Nearly two billion people searches on LinkedIn in 2010.
• Management team is comprised of seasoned executives from
companies like Yahoo!, Google, Microsoft, TiVo, PayPal and
Electronic Arts. The CEO of LinkedIn is Jeff Weiner.
• Available in nine languages: English, French, German, Italian,
Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Turkish and Romanian.
• Started off 2011 with about 1,000 full-time employees located all
around the globe, up from around 500 at the beginning of 2010.
Source: http://press.linkedin.com/about
Why Use
?
• “Old Way” of Applying Doesn’t Work
– Companies average hundreds to thousands of resumes
submitted for each entry-level position
– Most organizations don’t post their positions publicly, or
pay to have them advertised via Monster or Career Builder
• Expansion of your professional network and relevant
networks
– 70 percent of all jobs found through networking (Bureau of
Labor Statistics)
• Increases marketability and exposure
• Era of the “Personal Brand”
Starting A
Account
Building Your Profile
• Easiest Way - Upload an
edited professional
resume
• Include any “relevant”
job or experience
• Choose professional
picture or headshot
• Get recommendations…
Networking On LinkedIn
• Targeting Contacts
– Connect with friends, faculty members, and
professionals in target field
– Increases LinkedIn Network and potential exposure to
many more professionals…
• Best Strategy – JOIN GROUPS
– THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of Groups – Includes
professional associations, alumni and affinity groups,
and even specific employers
– Give you access to professionals in target fields
– Connect with individuals in a position to help you and
your career
Networking On LinkedIn
• Networking vs. Handouts…
– It’s BOTH what you know and WHO you know…
– Networking: Mutual Beneficial Process. Not about
Me, Me, Me…
• Informational Interviewing
– Networking strategy to talk to people in target
fields…
– Goal: get industry specific information and more
contacts in target field
Request for Informational Interview –
Sample Message
Dear Ms. Jacobsen,
I’m an English major in my junior year at Sage College of Albany, and I
have interest in pursuing a career in the field of television and film
production. I was excited to see that you are currently employed by
MTV as a producer. I would very much like to learn more about your
experiences in the industry and any advice you’d be willing to share
with regards to succeeding in the field.
Would you be willing to speak with me for 15-20 minutes about your
experiences in media production at a time that’s convenient for you?
Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Beverly Hillbilly
Resources
• Guide for New Users
– http://learn.linkedin.com/new-users/
• Guide for Students and Recent Graduates
– http://learn.linkedin.com/students/step-1/
• Guide for Job Seekers
– http://learn.linkedin.com/job-seekers/