Career Networking: Utilizing LinkedIn and Other Social Media Tools Brian White, College Relations Manager, Payless ShoeSource Sara Clayton, Assistant Director, University Career Center

Today’s Presentation  Introduction to Networking  Networking Online  LinkedIn: Recruit Your Job  University Career Center: How We Can Help

Introduction to Networking What is “networking”?  Connecting with others to build professional relationships and gather information Why should I be networking?  70-90% of all jobs are not posted  Survey of 45 large companies suggests 1 …  Most positions are filled internally but…  Referrals are the #1 source of external hires 1 Source: Crispin, G. & Mehler, M. (Feb 2009). CareerXroads 8th Annual Source of Hire Study: What Happened in 2008 and What It Means for Accessed October 8, 2009 at:

Networking Online What is “social media”?  Online networking platforms like…  Facebook  LinkedIn  Twitter  MySpace  YouTube  Blogs Why network online?  Easy to connect with those you know (and those you want to know)  Personal marketing tools – promote yourself

Networking Online Are employers really looking for me online?  45% surveyed by CareerBuilder are screening candidates on social networking sites 2  35% dismissed a candidate based on negative online information  18% solidified a hiring decision based on positive online information 2 CareerBuilder.com (2009). Forty-five Percent of Employers Use Social Networking Sites to Research Job Candidates, CareerBuilder Survey Finds. Accessed October 9, 2009 at:

Networking Online Clean up your online image…  Google yourself – what’s out there?  Delete inactive accounts & update active ones  Remove any “dirt”  Utilize privacy settings  Ask contacts to “keep it clean”

Networking Online Build your personal brand…  Who is your target audience?  What can you offer these people?  How can I connect with them online?

LinkedIn: Recruit Your Job Why LinkedIn?LinkedIn Build your profile on LinkedIn  Status: Your status message allows you to share professional updates with your network  Photo: Your professional photo allows those you’ve met and previously worked with to quickly identify you.  Summary: Summarizing your professional experience and goals allows other users to quickly learn about your background and interests.  Experience: Your professional experience is displayed along with any recommendations you have received. Similar to your resume.  Education: Your educational background is displayed along with associated activities and honors.  Additional Information: Your websites, interests, groups & associations and honors & awards.  Recommendations: Recommendations help illustrate your achievements, project credibility, and show why people enjoy working with you. Similar to references.  Q&A: LinkedIn Answers allows you to showcase your knowledge and interests.  Contact Settings: Your preferences for contact, types of opportunities interested in and privacy settings.

LinkedIn: Recruit Your Job Networking Search Strategy  Strategy: Plan your search strategy  Define who/what you are looking for: job titles, companies, locations  Define keywords: skills, certifications, associations, conferences  Define where you will look: search engines, networking sites, job boards  Search: Begin your search  Refine: Refine your search strategy  Filter: try different combinations  Fish: find more contacts in your results  Flip: what groups are your contacts in?  Build: Build your network – who else do contacts know?

LinkedIn: Recruit Your Job Build Your Network  Find current professional network on LinkedIn  Company Recruiters  Company Contacts  University Alumni  Use your network contacts to get introduced to others Join Groups  Participate in and/or post discussions  Network with group members – you can send messages to most  Join common groups with specific contacts you want to reach Q&A  Showcase your knowledge and talent

LinkedIn: Recruit Your Job Companies  View employees  Related companies  Check “new hires” section to see if still hiring  Jobs Advanced People Search  Location  Job Title  Company  School  Industry

LinkedIn: Recruit Your Job Market Yourself  Find the right contact: Hiring Manager, Recruiter and/or Key Department Contact  Develop your first impression: What will you say/write?  Identify contact information & make contact:  Network & Connect via LinkedIn  Ask for introduction through current contact  Send Inmail  Send invite to connect   Google search to find pattern for company Google search to find pattern for company  resume with cover letter  Phone Call  Find company phone number at site like Hoovers Find company phone number at site like Hoovers  Call and ask to be connected to name & position  Network: Every interaction is an opportunity to network

LinkedIn: Recruit Your Job Market Yourself  Build Your Brand:  LinkedIn  Facebook  Twitter  Blogs  Groups (LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, Yahoo, etc.)  Build Your Network:  Invite others  Ask for help  Brand your electronic signature

Recruit Your Job: Example (LinkedIn) Find top employers in Kansas City with Google  “top employers of Kansas” “top employers of Kansas” View Company Website Search LinkedIn for people from that company  Company “Garmin” & Location “66213” Company “Garmin” & Location “66213”  Network via LinkedIn (introductions, Inmail, invite) Workaround for contact info  Look for patterns Look for patterns   View Hoover’s View Hoover’s  Phone number

Recruit Your Job: Example (Position)  Find a position you want on a job board Find a position you want on a job board  Sample Job Posting Sample Job Posting  View Company Website View Company Website  Research Company  Search LinkedIn for people from that company Search LinkedIn for people from that company  Workaround to find Senior System Engineer at Symantec Workaround to find Senior System Engineer at Symantec  Advanced search LinkedIn for KU alum Advanced search LinkedIn for KU alum  Look for patterns Look for patterns  Start Networking!

Recruit Your Job: Bonus Idea! You can use Google to find interesting career information!  filetype:ppt elevator speech filetype:ppt elevator speech

University Career Center: How We Can Help Online Career Resources: KUCareerHawk.comKUCareerHawk.com Most content is open-access (non-KU students) KU Edwards Campus students visit us at… KUCareerHawk.com/EdwardsCampus KU alumni visit us at… KUCareerHawk.com/Alumni

Questions? Thank you!