How to advance your career through social networks?
9 May 2011
Read by 2347 persons
Building your online reputation, developing your network, and ensuring good visibility, the British social media consulting firm, Link Humans, gives its good advice. The goal is to use social networks like LinkedIn smartly and advance your career.
Neither a "son of" nor a graduate of a grandes écoles, but I'm on a social network. For the past few years, they have revolutionized recruitment. No longer is it necessary to have your profile listed in the alumni directory of HEC, X or others to be noticed by headhunters. No, all you need is an internet connection, but also a dose of know-how to be the profile that is in high demand and advance your career. Link Humans, a British social media consulting firm, provides valuable advice on the proper use of social networks.
1. Have the right state of mind
You have to get it into your head: social networking is a bit more than just an online CV. Nothing is set in stone. The first step before any connection is to take stock of your professional and personal ambitions. For example: "I want to be a quality expert in the automotive industry and want to hold a management position in the coming years." Translated into social network objectives, this gives "I position myself on this LinkedIn as a person passionate about quality issues in the industry, I talk about it with links and I show that I am documenting myself on the subject. And also, in parallel, I contact via this network people holding management positions in this branch." This is the state of mind to adopt: fully grasp the interactive aspect of the network
2. Know how to present yourself
No need to repeat it, the social network will be your professional showcase. A glance at your photo should allow potential recruiters to visualize you in the workplace. Images of you in your swimming trunks or at the last New Year's Eve party are obviously to be avoided. For the title, no convoluted sentences, no extended metaphors, you go straight to the point. Example: "Quality expert in the automotive industry". Potential recruiters will then want to go further and look in more detail at the summary of your experiences.
AVOID RECOMMENDATION EXCHANGES
For this summary, don't take yourself for Proust. Follow the triptych rule: clear, concise and keywords. The presentation should be short, including both your achievements and precise examples of your daily work. Do not hesitate to use bullets to organize and clarify your message. Finally, keywords will make you visible to professionals in your field.
Recommendations from your clients, superiors or colleagues attest to your credibility. For this, they must be precise and detailed. The "Pierre is really a good person and is a quality asset for any company" don't serve much purpose. Link Humans also advises avoiding recommendation exchanges: "I'll give you one and you give me one". This maneuver is quickly discovered on the internet, and loses all credit.
3. Build your network
Link Humans advises building your network little by little. It is better, initially, to prioritize quality, quantity will come later. So enter your contacts of people who have worked with you in the former companies where you have worked. For example: companies in the automotive industry if you are a quality expert in the sector and you want to evolve in this branch.
80 MILLION MEMBERS
Then, you need to know how to update your data. Every day, the social network's homepage gives you the latest information on the members of your network. See who has changed jobs or positions.
Finally, a reputation is built every day and goes through several tools. First, use the status. Change it regularly to talk about your professional achievements that you are currently undertaking and that will be an asset for the position you are aiming for. Discuss articles or conferences you have attended that address the issues of the professional field and branch in which you are evolving or wish to evolve. All these elements show that you are informed and that you are investing in your work. Building a good reputation also involves groups. Select a few discussion groups related to your target profession to discuss and share with other members.
A network like LinkedIn has 80 million members. So you'd better know how to stand out.
Published March 28, 2011
Posted online May 9, 2011
emploi-pro.fr
Neither a "son of" nor a graduate of a grandes écoles, but I'm on a social network. For the past few years, they have revolutionized recruitment. No longer is it necessary to have your profile listed in the alumni directory of HEC, X or others to be noticed by headhunters. No, all you need is an internet connection, but also a dose of know-how to be the profile that is in high demand and advance your career. Link Humans, a British social media consulting firm, provides valuable advice on the proper use of social networks.
1. Have the right state of mind
You have to get it into your head: social networking is a bit more than just an online CV. Nothing is set in stone. The first step before any connection is to take stock of your professional and personal ambitions. For example: "I want to be a quality expert in the automotive industry and want to hold a management position in the coming years." Translated into social network objectives, this gives "I position myself on this LinkedIn as a person passionate about quality issues in the industry, I talk about it with links and I show that I am documenting myself on the subject. And also, in parallel, I contact via this network people holding management positions in this branch." This is the state of mind to adopt: fully grasp the interactive aspect of the network
2. Know how to present yourself
No need to repeat it, the social network will be your professional showcase. A glance at your photo should allow potential recruiters to visualize you in the workplace. Images of you in your swimming trunks or at the last New Year's Eve party are obviously to be avoided. For the title, no convoluted sentences, no extended metaphors, you go straight to the point. Example: "Quality expert in the automotive industry". Potential recruiters will then want to go further and look in more detail at the summary of your experiences.
AVOID RECOMMENDATION EXCHANGES
For this summary, don't take yourself for Proust. Follow the triptych rule: clear, concise and keywords. The presentation should be short, including both your achievements and precise examples of your daily work. Do not hesitate to use bullets to organize and clarify your message. Finally, keywords will make you visible to professionals in your field.
Recommendations from your clients, superiors or colleagues attest to your credibility. For this, they must be precise and detailed. The "Pierre is really a good person and is a quality asset for any company" don't serve much purpose. Link Humans also advises avoiding recommendation exchanges: "I'll give you one and you give me one". This maneuver is quickly discovered on the internet, and loses all credit.
3. Build your network
Link Humans advises building your network little by little. It is better, initially, to prioritize quality, quantity will come later. So enter your contacts of people who have worked with you in the former companies where you have worked. For example: companies in the automotive industry if you are a quality expert in the sector and you want to evolve in this branch.
80 MILLION MEMBERS
Then, you need to know how to update your data. Every day, the social network's homepage gives you the latest information on the members of your network. See who has changed jobs or positions.
Finally, a reputation is built every day and goes through several tools. First, use the status. Change it regularly to talk about your professional achievements that you are currently undertaking and that will be an asset for the position you are aiming for. Discuss articles or conferences you have attended that address the issues of the professional field and branch in which you are evolving or wish to evolve. All these elements show that you are informed and that you are investing in your work. Building a good reputation also involves groups. Select a few discussion groups related to your target profession to discuss and share with other members.
A network like LinkedIn has 80 million members. So you'd better know how to stand out.
Published March 28, 2011
Posted online May 9, 2011
emploi-pro.fr
