Professional Social Networking Career Advising Southern Connecticut State University

Professional Social Networking Allows Students to… Build Online Presence and Personal Brand Network with personal and professional connections Job Search Access resources and information in specific career field Expand skill set with technology world 5 Rules for Success.. Know Your Platform Customize Everything Ask for Something Specific Take it Offline Whenever Possible

Type of Networking Sites LinkedIn- world’s largest professional network with over 100 million members connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals. 60 million professionals 200,000+ organizations Over 150 industries 2.1 million students 37,000 university groups Facebook- largest social networking site with over 400 million accounts intended to connect friends, family, and business associates. Twitter- an information network, with real-time information that connects you to the latest information about what you find interesting. Simply find the public streams you find most compelling and follow the conversations.

Why Should You Join Networking Sites? Connect with classmates, faculty, and family professionally Find new opportunities for internships and full time positions Manage what potential employers learn about you from the Internet

What LinkedIn is NOT vs. What LinkedIn IS A place for party photos A place to update the status of anything other than work related information A traditional job board LinkedIn IS… A Professional Social Networking Site Best social media platform to reach business decision makers A network that allows you to make the most out of trusted professional networks

Job Seekers Tips to Best Utilize LinkedIn Ensure your profile is complete and up-to-date Your connections should represent your “real world” network Search on LinkedIn Jobs Message Key Network Contacts Demonstrate Your Expertise on LinkedIn Answers.

LinkedIn Connection Requests Example 1 Hi Laurie… A friend of yours, [insert name here] suggested I connect with you as I am new to LinkedIn and just learning the ropes. I would appreciate any help you may offer. Thanks [insert your name] Example 2 Last September I had the pleasure of meeting you at the Web 2.0 Conference in NYC. While I knew no one you took the time to talk with me and offered some places to visit while I was in your town. Thanks so much and I look forward to reconnecting. [insert your name] Brief is fine, just make it PERSONABLE! - Beyond Social Media

Common LinkedIn Mistakes Among College Students The generic invitation to connect Shows lack of effort into building a relationship Lack of Sensitivity Like a resume, a profile should be brief and targeted Spelling/grammatical errors, inconsistencies Just as you would carefully review your resume, you should check your profile Weak Headline Clearly identify yourself and your career interest No Recommendations Recommendations serve as a powerful resource for potential employers to see previous colleagues endorse you.

Facebook Began as a social networking experience for college students. Has grown into an experience for everyone including those who seek a professional networking experience Tips: Decide if your Facebook Page will be social or professional Choose what information on your profile business contacts or prospective employers should see Create a simple profile (or clean up existing one) Limit the photos you post Post content relevant to your job search or career Use Facebook e-mail to build relationships with your Friends Choose your Friends wisely

Twitter Helps build connections with interesting and relevant people around the world who are working and talking about topics related to your interests. Tips: Make your profile public Choose a Twitter name Fill in real location Create a strong bio Choose a photo that is more of your face Start a following slowly Don’t just follow anyone Pay attention to other’s tweets Retweet Judiciously

Finals Thoughts Professional Social Networking is a tool to assist in your job search and networking experience. Recruiters still expect candidates to apply with a resume and a cover letter via the company web site or a job board site. In order to have a well-rounded search, you still need to search for jobs and take time to apply.

All juniors, seniors, and graduate students Aimee Piccin Associate Director of Academic and Career Advising PiccinA1@SouthernCT.edu Wintergreen Building (203) 392-6517 All juniors, seniors, and graduate students Kelianna Bonn Graduate Assistant BonnK2@SouthernCT.edu Wintergreen Building (203) 392-6539 All freshmen and sophomore students Search: Career Services