Social media is here to stay and will continue to grow! – Karen Underhill (Learning and Development Consultant, MN Dept of Natural Resources)
It’s never too late to start developing your personal social media strategy, but no matter what social networking site you utilize—have a purpose. Denise Felder (Editor, MnCareers, iSeek Solutions/Career OneStop) and Karen Underhill provide tips on how to get started. First and foremost, it’s important to know the audience of each social networking platform as well as the message you are delivering. Once you know your audience, start building your profile.
Karen Underhill and Denise Felder emphasize how important it is to have a complete profile that is proofread before connecting or requesting followers. Keeping in mind that everything you post online is public, all your profiles should have consistent messages, appearance and names/labels.
When you are up and running, don’t just promote yourself, promote other people’s stuff and share information. Both the gurus suggest setting-up Google feeds and alerts for your name, nicknames and company name so you can hear what is being said online.
Are you an introvert?
Denise Felder provides useful tips on how to become a social media extrovert. Don’t be afraid to join in on the social networking platforms, it could be just the outlet for you to introduce yourself to new contacts. Networking online provides you with an opportunity to find your networking style before meeting people in person. Denise suggests being an information broker by sharing news articles and blogs with contacts or simply ask good questions- Introverts have the strength of being a good listener. You can always be the matchmaker by introducing your contacts to others they should know. Begin communicating and connecting in ways that work for you!
Keeping an active online presence…
A recent graduate of the University of St. Thomas, Diane Kulseth, offers some best practices for students on networking:
- Use a QR Code for your Business Card – A QR Code can redirect to a current resume and contact information, saving the hassle of making new business cards after job/internship changes.
- Ask to be Recommended – There are plenty of people who can attest to your work ethic, so don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn.
- Export contacts into an address book – Take your networking to the next step. Export your LinkedIn connections to an address book where you can include important notes and birthday reminders.
- Keep in touch with supervisors – You never know when they will hear about an opportunity that’s perfect for you.
- Create a Career Dashboard on Tweetdeck – Generate private lists on Twitter of companies that you want to work for and engage in conversation when appropriate.
Content adapted from a panel presentation, “Using Online Networking to Create Real-World Relationships” at the Minnesota Association of Colleges and Employers Conference, Spring 2011.
