Nancy Stubblefield, Career CoordinatorMiddle Tennessee State University

Career Development Centerwww.mtsu.edu/~career

Are you Linked In?Using Social Networks to Create Your Online Presence

• Creating your online presence• Careers of the Future• Linked In Groups• Linked In Applications• Facebook groups• Facebook applications• Promoting yourself• What not to do online• Cover Letter Basics

Online Networking Topics to Cover

Networking – Social vs. Business?

• Casual/Professional• Friend Contacts/Work Contacts• Social Need/Job Need

What is the difference between social networking and business networking?

Why Network Online

Recent Recruiting Changes• Job Niche Boards• Social Networking Sites• Online Groups• New Technology for Recruiters• .jobs domain• Click monitoring on job traffic• Employee referrals – best return on investment

Why Should I Network Online?

WhyWhat Careers are Hot in the Future?

• Freelancing from home – see trends

• Offices of the future – IBM BlueSpace

• YouTube – Shift Happens video Plans for the future office include a spatially flexible

environment, in which workstations and meeting areas can be easily moved, added or taken away. Credit: CMU/IW project

Why Future Trends/Future Careers

• Fashion will go wired (new fabric and cell phone trends)•World population by 2050

may grow larger than previously expected, due in part to healthier, longer living people•More decisions will be made

by non-human entities

• Public Relations Managers• Data Communication

Analysts• Technical Writers• Teachers – “Teach

Tennessee Program”• Green Jobs

What are the best sites for online networking?

What is Linked In?

• World’s largest professional network with over 43 million members in over 200 countries around the world

• Network that helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with your trusted contacts.

• A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, and about half of our members are outside the U.S.

• Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members.

  

Founded: : February 4, 2004

Facts:•More than 200 million active users•More than half of Facebook users are outside of college•The fastest growing demographic is those 30 years old and older

Company Overview:facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.

Millions of people use facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

Creating Your Online Presence

• Profile (replaces Employment)• Bio about yourself (replaces Cover

Letter)• Specialties (replaces skills area on

resume) • Recommendations (replaces

references)• Documents (replaces portfolio)

Creating a Profile in Linked In

NOTE: Be careful not to include address and personal information

LinkedIN Groups/Applications

Groups• Allowed to join up

to 50 groups• Email can be turned

on or off for notifications of blog traffic

• Join groups which are in your career interest area

Applications• Ten applications• Allows you to post

documents• Most free, some

have extra fees

What features are available in Linked In?

Your Online Portfolio should have….• Good industry connections• Relevant skills specific to your industry • Power phrases/Key words• Coursework/Professional Training• Accreditations and Licenses

Online Portfolio Tips

• Profile will not be complete until someone else has recommended you and you have recommend others

How do I complete my profile?

Who can I ask to give me a recommendation?

Who can I recommend?

• Don’t directly inquire about a job• Ask….Who do you know who would

know anything about (your field)?

“College students are like cute puppies and kittens….everyone

wants to help them. Alumni are like stray dogs, they appear desperate!”

(Asher, 2008)

How can I ask about jobs online?

Don’t be caught with these photos online!

Successful Networking = Job Success!

• Employers anticipated a 22% decrease in hiring due to recession in 2009

• Are your networking skills ready for your future job search?

Cover Letters

• a.k.a. application letter, prospecting letter, networking letter, letter of inquiry

• Copy your resume header to compliment

• Use proper business letter formatting

• Like an objective, the cover letter should be specific to the position - if known

• Traditional format letter - job openings where you know the contact and are familiar with the company

• Blind job lead format – newspaper ads which give little detail

• Never use personal references, they are not considered “credible” (unless military or government requested)

• Include three to five references on a separate file (or sheet of paper)

• Ask your references before committing them to your contact list

• Include the person’s name, title, company, address, phone number, and email address

References

Questions? Questions?

BibliographyAsher, D. (2008, February 26). Seven Secrets to the Hidden Job Market.

Gerlach, NV, USA.

Hoffman, R. (2009, July 27). Linked In. Retrieved July 27, 2009, from www.linkedin.com: http://press.linkedin.com/about

National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2009, Spring). A study of 2008-2009 beginning offers. Salary Survey , 48 (2).

Zuckerberg, M. (2009, July 27). facebook. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from www.facebook.com:http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics#/press/info.php?factsheet