ONLINE BRANDING
Your LinkedIn profile is one of the most valuable pieces of real
estate you have when it comes to showcasing your authentic,
genuine, and amazing self. As a job-seeking candidate, you will be
able to research people and employers by industry that will help you
develop and build your own network. Employers will also be able to
view your information by conducting keyword searches and seeking
out profiles that match those searches.
To best utilize the LinkedIn network, follow these five basic steps to
research, discover, and connect:
www.
1. Develop an engaging, original, and clear summary of who you
are.
2. Search for people you may know and connect with them. Try
using the “Find Alumni” search to connect with fellow Central
Michigan University graduates in your field of study.
3. Send your contacts inMail to network professionally.
4. Join groups based on skills, interests, and industries.
5. Search job and internship postings.
Learn how to best utilize LinkedIn by visiting: www.university.linkedin.
com/linkedin-for-students.
A personal website will also help you stand out among other
applicants. Some free platforms include WordPress, Wix, Jimdo,
and Weebly, but feel free to experiment with any other favorites.
Use your website to host all of your professionally-based social
media links in one location and to host pictures, video highlights,
documents, and video references to better connect with employers.
Lastly, be sure to include a link to your personal website on your
resume, cover letter, business cards, and email signature line.
You may also want to use your Facebook and Twitter accounts to
research employers and connect with career opportunities. In this
case, make sure they are professional, appropriate, and reflect you
in a positive manner. Always be careful what you post online, even if
you use the highest privacy settings.
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