To what extent have you built your own brand? Is this somethingthat you have ever considered before?
Networking has the potential to open doors and createpossibilities for jobs and partnerships. Networking establishesconnections between individuals and access to information that onemight not normally have access to. Reaching out to strangers can bean intimidating and nerve-racking experience. In business, the morecentral you are, the more power you have. Creating connections andties to other people affords you the opportunity for power and theability to more closely control your future, so while at timesnetworking might feel awkward and uncomfortable, it is a necessaryand important part of establishing and maintaining a career.
Online social networking sites play an important role in thisnetworking process for individuals both professionally andpersonally. With 1,200 employees in 2010, Facebook has 350 millionusers around the world, and LinkedIn has over 60 million members inover 200 countries. A new member joins LinkedIn every second, andabout half of the members are outside the United States. Theseonline sites have created new opportunities for networking andallow individuals to branch out beyond their normal world ofindustry, school, and business. The key is to avoid costly misstepsas employers have begun to search online for information aboutprospective and current employees. In 2009, 8% of companiesreported that they had fired an employee for misuse of socialmedia.
Many of these online sites have become a tool for business. Forexample, LinkedIn targets working professionals and provides them away to maintain lists of business connections and to use thoseconnections to gain introduction to people using mutual contacts.Unlike other social networking sites, LinkedIn is almost entirelyused by professionals. The power of social networking flows in bothdirections. Employers can screen applicants through their onlineaccounts and recruiters more than ever are using these sites toview background information, individual skill sets, and employmenthistory, which can be cross-referenced with submitted applications.Job seekers can review the profiles of those at top managementfirms and search for mutual contacts. LinkedIn also providesstatistics about firms, which can be useful information forindividuals looking at potential employers.
Networking is about building your brand and managingrelationships. Using social networks as a vehicle to market one’sself and make professional connections is becoming increasinglycommon, as well as using loose ties or connections through othersto open doors and land jobs. In an increasingly high-tech anddigital world, it is important to be aware and conscience of thedigital footprint that we create. But with careful cultivationthese online networks can present many opportunities.
