Here is some good advice if you want to build your online presence.
Today you must have an online presence, if you want to achieve more in your career. You know this. The most important question for you to think about is: are you building a STRONG online presence right now?
After you have worked on the development issues you identified in Part One of Fast Forward Your Career, you can now start to build your online presence.
See:
Fast Forward Your Career – Part One
Fast Forward Your Career – Now
You And The Online World
Ten or fifteen years ago you could probably get away with a good CV and a reasonable interview technique, if you wanted to get on in your career. That is no longer the case. You must now be visible online. You must make sure potential employers can find you via the internet.
A very effective way of doing this is to ensure you have a good LinkedIn profile. That means at the very least:
- ensuring your LinkedIn headline is interesting to the people you wish to attract
- making the “about” section in your LinkedIn profile is riveting
- including visual elements in your profile.
Do this now if you have not already done so.
If you need help, look at my LinkedIn profile.
However, that is only the start.
Build Your LinkedIn Network
Of course, you wish to make connections on LinkedIn. Only look for people who are working in your field, or in the field into which you wish to progress. Yes, you are busy, but work hard on this. Do not connect with every one and everybody.
Find the right people by looking for those groups on LinkedIn that people who work in your industry, profession or area of work are active in.
In summary:
Find the right sort of people via Groups on LinkedIn. Then, get to know group members. You must:
GET YOURSELF KNOWN.
When you do this, you are not job-hunting. You are looking to learn more about people and about an area which interests you. One day you may seek employment in this area, but not today. Participate actively in groups where people will be interested in what you have to say. You are showing off your skills to an interested audience, nothing more.
Wouldn’t it be great if you went for a job interview where you were already known in the organisation because of your specialism and your LinkedIn connections strategy?
What To Do Now. . .
Take a look at your current LinkedIn profile and decide how you will change it in the next few weeks.
That’s it. You will almost certainly benefit from taking this action. You may fast forward your career.