YOUR GUIDE TO PROFESSIONAL ONLINE NETWORKING

A LinkedIn tutorial provided by the Center for Life Calling and Leadership

Online Networking?

• Networking - the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business!

• Online networking is the here and now of our generation!

"networking." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009.Merriam-Webster Online. 10 September 2009

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/networking>

What is LinkedIn? ?• LinkedIn is one example of a social network that allows you to

connect with like-minded professionals.

• Did you know? – Nearly half of all employers will use Google to vet new

hires. LinkedIn allows you to direct their online search to your professional profile.

To learn more– http://learn.linkedin.com/– http://grads.linkedin.com/– ‘09 Grad Guide Video (video for students by LinkedIn)

Benefits• Stay in touch with classmates and professors to maintain and open up

additional professional networks.

• Connect with professionals who are willing to assist you in expertise requests and career opportunities.

• Networking opens up options for new ventures and business deals, no matter what your major.

• Employers prefer to work with someone who is known over over an unknown individual

So Why Not?• It only takes 30 minutes to design a fully developed, professional profile.

"Position yourself as a center of influence - the one who knows the movers and shakers. People will respond to that, and you'll soon become what you project." Bob Burg

Getting Connected

• Once you’ve initially set up your profile, the next step is to utilize the website for getting connected

• The most effective way to establish connections is through networks and your existing connections

• Look at the connections of someone in your network, you can request from that person to be introduced to someone in their network. Also, look for groups to join that will expand your network.

• Imagine your network as a tree. Once you have even one connection, through that connection, you can gain two more connections. And from those two connections, you could gain four more! In no time your network will have grown exponentially!

For more information on how to get started, check out the link: New User Starter Guide

Connecting Professionally• When requesting to be introduced by someone in your network to one of

their connections, you must remain professional

• Through the request, It will leave you an option to leave a message for both the person in your network along with their connection so that everyone’s aware

• In the message, it is important to professionally introduce yourself and how you might know them or have come to find their profile

• You might also include why you are interested in adding them to your network or what level of their experience interests you

Becoming a member of the Enterprise Zone Group

• A good way to start or fortify your online networking experience is to join the Enterprise Zone Group on the LinkedIn website

However, there are several criteria you must sustain:• Fabricate yourself as a professional individual when presenting yourself through your profile and

building your online network

• Remember that you are representing yourself as an individual as well as the Enterprise Zone

• Review this PowerPoint entirely and sign the Student Networking Contract upon completion

Things to remember

Things to avoid

• Research information about someone who you might want to add to your network before inviting them.

• Decide what information you would like to obtain from that person and possibly prepare a list of questions you would like to have answered.

• Update your profile information regularly to appear regularly on other connections feed and be involved.

• Do not send out messages to your network asking for a job or internship (Ask for advice, information, and other contacts)

• Do not spam with multiple e-mails or stalk with multiple phone calls

• Do not ask your contacts to mass distribute your resume

Hiatt Career Center. "Hiatt Networking for Students." Brandeis University. Web. <http://www.brandeis.edu/hiatt/students/careertoolbox/networking/index.html>.

Advertise yourself…

• We hope that through this tutorial you’ve been able to recognize the effectiveness and power behind an online network like LinkedIn.

• If you have any additional questions about LinkedIn or would like assistance setting up an account or building your network, stop by the Center for Life Calling and Leadership during our workshop hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 6-9pm.

• Contact Ryan Krueger at ryan.krueger@student.indwes.edu or Chris Curless at christine.curless@indwes.edu for additional information.