By : Denise Leo
So you want to do more online networking for career advancement or job hunting. Whether you are Internet-experienced and comfortable with making things happen online, or you have little knowledge beyond using email, it can be daunting trying to determine where your online networking efforts should be focused.
In exploring the online networking world, I quickly realized one thing. This is a world where your own personal preference matters a great deal. The key is to find a site or two that feels right for you, and go from there. I can share with you a few of my own observations as I evaluated some online career networking options, but the rest is up to you.
Is Partying the Priority?
Most of us have heard about social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Friendster. Though these sites are usually used for socializing, sharing photos, and staying in touch with friends, they also have subject-specific discussion groups — so I decided to see if any of them might benefit a jobseeker.
On MySpace.com, I checked out the professional societies and discussion groups, and quickly found a list of 276 MySpace members interested in civil engineering. At first blush, I was impressed. However, that changed when I clicked on the first group member, whose page greeted me with "Who wants to party?" and a paragraph that included a curse word, all on a background photo of money. Under the MySpace group for "Law, Lawyers, and Legal Matters," the first member I noticed had a racy photograph on her page. Turns out, she’s a junior in college studying theater, with no background in law whatsoever.
Obviously, social sites like MySpace aren’t the best places for career networking. These sites just aren’t very densely populated with people who have a goal of true, business-focused online networking. You need a site designed with that goal in mind.
LinkedIn
By contrast, when you go to LinkedIn.com, you will be greeted with: "Our mission is to help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have." Now that’s more like it. Here’s what you can do with LinkedIn:
* Create a professional summary/profile.
* Find and be found by future employers, existing connections, and new business contacts.
*Build a network, which will eventually consist of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know – potentially linking you to thousands.
Though you can join LinkedIn for free, you may also choose to pay for a premium service that might enable you to reach people beyond your immediate network.
Networking For Professionals
At NetworkingForProfessionals.com, you will find a similar approach to LinkedIn. You can:
* Create a profile for others to see.
* Add other members to your "My Contacts" list.
* Send and receive emails from members.
*Give & receive endorsements of other members.
At present, membership in NFP is free to residents of all US states, except New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois and Georgia.
Ryze
If you become a Ryze.com member, you receive a free networking-oriented home page and can send messages to other members. You can also join special networks related to your industry, interests or location. If you spring for a paid subscription, you can take advantage of more advanced services such as contacting distantly connected Ryze members.
Executive Networking
ExecuNet.com is based on paid memberships. The site bills itself as the peer network for business leaders seeking connections and executive-level jobs. Membership fees run about $400 a year, with plans as short as one month.
Pulse
If you are more interested in a combined (career and personal) networking experience, Pulse (at plaxo.com) may be the place for you. Created by a company called Plaxo, Pulse is a networking tool designed to span professional and personal life. It’s based on the idea that the people you know, both personally and professionally, are creating and sharing interesting content online. They’re writing blogs, bookmarking sites, recommending things, and sharing items of interest. Your experience with Pulse will be greatly affected by whom you have in your network and how active they are in sharing.
Getting Started
Most of these sites won’t yield much until you start populating your page with connections. This means you’ll need to send invitations to people you know, past co-workers and bosses, and friends or family with business connections. You’ll want to set aside time each week, not only to build a good-sized network, but more importantly to tend it frequently and stay in touch with your connections.
In the networking world, both in person and online, you must give to receive. Don’t wait to be asked for information or connections; actively reach out to others by finding things of value that you can share. And don’t expect a perfectly reciprocal relationship to form instantly – the person you gave information to today may not be able to help you tomorrow or next week or ever. But if you give easily, selflessly and often, you will find over time that you occasionally receive links to interesting articles, possible job leads, or a new connection that could lead to your next big career move.
Networking Sites Gaining Employers’ Attention
Social networking sites are gaining popularity among employers interested in finding and recruiting new college graduates for their workforces, according to a report published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Nearly 17 percent of employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2008 survey reported plans to use social networking sites as part of their recruiting efforts. In a similar survey conducted in Fall 2006, only 11 percent of employers reported such plans.
How employers use the sites is also evolving. "Previously, employers indicated they were using the sites to check profiles of potential hires," reports Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. "Now nearly two-thirds of those who expect to use the sites say they plan to advertise there, and more than half will use the sites to network with potential candidates."
With more companies checking in, jobseekers need to be extra vigilant about the content of their online pages. Nearly 38 percent of employers using social networking sites in their recruiting efforts say they will check candidate profiles.
Despite the increased interest in social networking sites and the variety of high-tech tools now available to employers, the majority still favor ‘high touch’ recruiting methods, including on-campus recruiting, internships, cooperative education programs, and employee referrals.
"These results demonstrate that personal interaction is essential to recruiting success," says Mackes. "Although they can’t replace face-to-face communication, social networking sites provide employers with another option for building personal relationships with potential employees."
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
So you want to do more online networking for career advancement or job hunting. Whether you are Internet-experienced and comfortable with making things happen online, or you have little knowledge beyond using email, it can be daunting trying to determine where your online networking efforts should be focused.
In exploring the online networking world, I quickly realized one thing. This is a world where your own personal preference matters a great deal. The key is to find a site or two that feels right for you, and go from there. I can share with you a few of my own observations as I evaluated some online career networking options, but the rest is up to you.
Is Partying the Priority?
Most of us have heard about social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Friendster. Though these sites are usually used for socializing, sharing photos, and staying in touch with friends, they also have subject-specific discussion groups — so I decided to see if any of them might benefit a jobseeker.
On MySpace.com, I checked out the professional societies and discussion groups, and quickly found a list of 276 MySpace members interested in civil engineering. At first blush, I was impressed. However, that changed when I clicked on the first group member, whose page greeted me with "Who wants to party?" and a paragraph that included a curse word, all on a background photo of money. Under the MySpace group for "Law, Lawyers, and Legal Matters," the first member I noticed had a racy photograph on her page. Turns out, she’s a junior in college studying theater, with no background in law whatsoever.
Obviously, social sites like MySpace aren’t the best places for career networking. These sites just aren’t very densely populated with people who have a goal of true, business-focused online networking. You need a site designed with that goal in mind.
By contrast, when you go to LinkedIn.com, you will be greeted with: "Our mission is to help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have." Now that’s more like it. Here’s what you can do with LinkedIn:
* Create a professional summary/profile.
* Find and be found by future employers, existing connections, and new business contacts.
*Build a network, which will eventually consist of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know – potentially linking you to thousands.
Though you can join LinkedIn for free, you may also choose to pay for a premium service that might enable you to reach people beyond your immediate network.
Networking For Professionals
At NetworkingForProfessionals.com, you will find a similar approach to LinkedIn. You can:
* Create a profile for others to see.
* Add other members to your "My Contacts" list.
* Send and receive emails from members.
*Give & receive endorsements of other members.
At present, membership in NFP is free to residents of all US states, except New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois and Georgia.
Ryze
If you become a Ryze.com member, you receive a free networking-oriented home page and can send messages to other members. You can also join special networks related to your industry, interests or location. If you spring for a paid subscription, you can take advantage of more advanced services such as contacting distantly connected Ryze members.
Executive Networking
ExecuNet.com is based on paid memberships. The site bills itself as the peer network for business leaders seeking connections and executive-level jobs. Membership fees run about $400 a year, with plans as short as one month.
Pulse
If you are more interested in a combined (career and personal) networking experience, Pulse (at plaxo.com) may be the place for you. Created by a company called Plaxo, Pulse is a networking tool designed to span professional and personal life. It’s based on the idea that the people you know, both personally and professionally, are creating and sharing interesting content online. They’re writing blogs, bookmarking sites, recommending things, and sharing items of interest. Your experience with Pulse will be greatly affected by whom you have in your network and how active they are in sharing.
Getting Started
Most of these sites won’t yield much until you start populating your page with connections. This means you’ll need to send invitations to people you know, past co-workers and bosses, and friends or family with business connections. You’ll want to set aside time each week, not only to build a good-sized network, but more importantly to tend it frequently and stay in touch with your connections.
In the networking world, both in person and online, you must give to receive. Don’t wait to be asked for information or connections; actively reach out to others by finding things of value that you can share. And don’t expect a perfectly reciprocal relationship to form instantly – the person you gave information to today may not be able to help you tomorrow or next week or ever. But if you give easily, selflessly and often, you will find over time that you occasionally receive links to interesting articles, possible job leads, or a new connection that could lead to your next big career move.
Networking Sites Gaining Employers’ Attention
Social networking sites are gaining popularity among employers interested in finding and recruiting new college graduates for their workforces, according to a report published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Nearly 17 percent of employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2008 survey reported plans to use social networking sites as part of their recruiting efforts. In a similar survey conducted in Fall 2006, only 11 percent of employers reported such plans.
How employers use the sites is also evolving. "Previously, employers indicated they were using the sites to check profiles of potential hires," reports Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. "Now nearly two-thirds of those who expect to use the sites say they plan to advertise there, and more than half will use the sites to network with potential candidates."
With more companies checking in, jobseekers need to be extra vigilant about the content of their online pages. Nearly 38 percent of employers using social networking sites in their recruiting efforts say they will check candidate profiles.
Despite the increased interest in social networking sites and the variety of high-tech tools now available to employers, the majority still favor ‘high touch’ recruiting methods, including on-campus recruiting, internships, cooperative education programs, and employee referrals.
"These results demonstrate that personal interaction is essential to recruiting success," says Mackes. "Although they can’t replace face-to-face communication, social networking sites provide employers with another option for building personal relationships with potential employees."
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
No comments:
Post a Comment