Professional Networking

by Dr Shesadev Nayak

06/29/24 1
 Agenda

 What is Networking?
 How Do I Get Started?
 Building Your Network
 Tools
 Maintaining Your Network
 Leveraging Your Network

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Career Management – The Big Picture

R&D
Marketing
Career
Core Networking
Analysis,
Compentacies & Personal
Planning
Branding
& Training
Experience
and Skills

Sales

Job Searching &

Interviewing

06/29/24 3
 What is Networking?
 Talking with people who will learn about you and your interests,
and then help you gain insight into your career options and
goals

 It is a two-way process that involves

developing and maintaining connections with individuals, and
mutually benefitting from the relationship

 Is an ongoing process that takes time and attention; it

is not something you do only when you are looking for a job
 What is Networking?

 Successful networking requires preparation and practice

 Networking can be done in-person and online. A valuable tool

for online networking is LinkedIn

 Remember, when you network, you are asking for information

and advice—not a job. It’s not just what you know; it’s also
whom you know… or can connect to
 Why is Networking important?
 Will be the single most effective method of advancing your career

 While networking may not “get you a job,” it does play a role in the
majority of hiring decisions

 Many job vacancies are never advertised, but instead filled through
some form of personal or professional referrals

 Employers prefer to hire candidates they have met, or those referred by

a trusted source
 Professional Networking
 Professional Networking is mutual relationship building and
maintenance
 Why should I care?
 Think of yourself as the CEO of Me Inc.
 Financial security.
 Professional IT community good will.
 Use viral marketing to your advantage.
 A Chinese proverb states “Dig the well before you are thirsty”
 Online presence concerns
 What will my manager and peers think? Privacy concerns?
 Current recruiting practices per ExecuNet, “83 percent admit
they're looking online to augment what's found on a
résumé. And... using what they found (or often what they didn't),
43 percent of those recruiters have eliminated a candidate from
consideration before the first phone call is made.”
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 Network Relationships
 Understanding the types of relationships that exist
 The supplier/consumer dimension of a relationship
 Both are networking collaborators
 You are a (service) supplier

 You are a (service) consumer

 The ties that bond dimension

 Geographic
 Industry / Company
 Profession
 Cultural
 Hobbies / Interests
 Networks have both breadth and Depth
 Set and measure networking goals
 At least 50% of your network connections on LinkedIn
 Establish a network of at least 200 network connections
06/29/24 8
 How Do I Get Started?
 Develop a plan for your personal brand
Perform a skills inventory (review/update resume)
 What career opportunities do you wish to seek?
 Identify market needs for your skills and desires
 Gap analysis and develop a plan to synchronize the above items
 What accomplishments differentiate you from others?

 Google yourself with varying names

 Establish your profile and build your network connections on
LinkedIn
 Contact Management
 How will you store your relationship data?
 Don’t keep track of everything and don’t keep score of giving.
 Easy access to past Email exchanges.
06/29/24 9
Developing Your Personal Brand
“When I was in my job search I was a nobody. I was
cliché, a commodity, a dime-a-dozen. No one had
heard of me, and I was a perceived expert in …
nothing. I knew that I had expertise, and could
bring value to the equation, but nobody knew that,
nor did they know me. My job search was a lot
of push-marketing, and it was painful.” Jason
Alba, CEO of JibberJobber.com and author of the
book “I’m on LinkedIn – Now What?”

06/29/24 10
 Developing Your Personal Brand
 Comment on blogs, podcasts & answer
LinkedIn questions but assure comments are
positive & on target for your brand.
 Establish a web site known by Google to
promote the accomplishments of your brand.
 Create an Email signature that includes the
URL of your LinkedIn profile or web site. Also
include distinguishing degrees
and certifications.
 Publish – blog, papers, articles, books.

06/29/24 11
 Building Your Network
 Data mine your Email address books and Email archive.
 Search your mind for positive professional relationships
from your past, then search for there name on LinkedIn.
If found send them a personalized invite.
 Ask about their goals, note it and
assist them however you can.
 Plan one networking related lunch a week.
 Remember to use the phone and not just send Email.
 The goal is to build relationships of mutual benefit.
 “Build your network, Support your network, Lead
your network” Rod Colon, CEO & Founder of ETP
Network
06/29/24 12
 Tools
 Personalize invites, don’t use the default message.
 Keep your profile accurate and complete for at least 10
years.
 Use variations of job titles, corporations, universities
and acronyms in your profile.
 Review your public profile settings and open up as
much as you are comfortable and assure it’s consistent.
 Establish a “vanity” URL for you public profile.
 Join corporate & university alumni groups on LinkedIn.
 Improve your “Profile Completeness”.
 Review network updates via an RSS reader.
06/29/24 13
 The LinkedIn Network
Three degrees of connections:
• 1st degree – your friends

• 2nd degree – friends of your friends

• 3rd degree – friends of your friend’s

friends

There are over 20 million

professionals on LinkedIn!
06/29/24 14
 Network Investing with Compound Interest
 Daily activities
 Check for new network LinkedIn connections and profile updates
 Review LinkedIn Answers to any questions you’ve asked
 Weekly activities
 Consider new LinkedIn invite candidates from your current work
 Provide valuable answers to some LinkedIn questions
 Review your LinkedIn lurkers
 Monthly activities
 Adjust your networking growth & strength goals
 Improve your brand recognition
 Export LinkedIn connects for backup storage
 Periodic activities
 Share news of interest that is of value to the recipient
 Send well wishes to network connections on birthdays and anniversaries
 Stimulate dialogue regarding summer vacation or winter Holidays
 Submit a clear, concise and specific LinkedIn recommendation
 Adopt use of new tools and OpenSocial APIs to improve efficiencies
06/29/24 15
 Transition by Design
 Targeted job searching on LinkedIn
 Find people that you can reach out to in a company
that you are interested in via your LinkedIn 1 st degree
connections. However to facilitate an introduction
prepare a value proposition. Maybe they will be able to
obtain a referral fee as a result.
 Leveraging your warm trusted network
 If you do procure an interview within an unexpected but
desirable company. Use your first 1 st degree LinkedIn
connections to make contact with an employee at that
company.
 Keep the network contacts that have assisted you
informed and remember to thank them in some
special way. Even if the goal was not achieved.

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 NETWORKING &
DEVELOPING YOUR
LinkedIn PROFILE
Overview
 Networking

 LinkedIn

 Features and Benefits of LinkedIn

 Steps in Profile Development

 Tips

 LinkedIn Usage
 Build Your Network

 Networking opportunities occur on a daily basis and can include a brief

conversation with someone on an elevator to an arranged meeting with
a professional

 Identify all the people whom you come in contact with through your
activities. These can include:
 Your friends, classmates, their parents and family members, neighbors.
 Your relatives and extended family.
 Former and current employers and co-workers.
 Members and alumni of professional associations, clubs, and organizations.
 Coaches, staff, faculty, or academic advisors.
 Alumni of any schools you’ve attended.
Expand Your Network
 Attend campus career events and fairs, alumni presentations, and workshops

 Introduce yourself to any guest speakers you encounter on campus

 Obtain an internship and maintain contact with colleagues and supervisors

 Take advantage of job-shadowing programs

 Identify contacts by researching LexisNexis, industry/trade publications,

employer websites, alumni magazines, and library resources

 Create a LinkedIn profile; connect to your contacts and join groups as

appropriate
 What is LinkedIn?

https://youtu.be/ZVlUwwgOfKw
 What is LinkedIn?
 The world’s largest online professional networking platform

 Hosts the profiles of more than 500 million people in over 200
countries

 Serves as a recruiting tool for employers

 Serves as a job search tool for users

Features and Benefits of LinkedIn

 Establish your professional profile and control one of the top search
results for your name.
 Build and maintain your professional network.
 Find and reconnect with colleagues and classmates.
 Learn about other companies, and gain industry insights.
 Find other professionals in the same industry using groups.
 Share your thoughts and insights through LinkedIn's long-form
publishing platform.
 Tap into the knowledge of your network.
 Discover new career opportunities by searching for jobs.
 Steps in Profile Development

 Sign-up: Name, email address, password

 Add location information
 Add profile photo (background image optional)
 Create a headline
 Write a summary statement
 Other key sections to complete: Showcase your unique
professional story through your experience, skills, and
education

LinkedIn tips for students: https://students.linkedin.com/

 Getting Started

 Go to the sign-up page at

https://www.linkedin.com/start/jo
in

 You can sign-up via your

Facebook or Email account
Location Information

 Recruiters look for job

seekers by location

 Adding your location

makes you 23 times more
likely to be found in
LinkedIn searches

 Use a zip code that is close

to the area where you want
to work
 Profile Photo

 Having no LinkedIn
profile photo means
your profile is not 100%
complete

 According to LinkedIn,
profiles with photos
receive 21 times more
views and 9x more
connection requests

LinkedIn Profile Photo Help:

https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/topics/6042/6059
 Profile Photo Samples & Tips

 Professional head shot

(is recommended)
 Plain background
 No distractions in view
 If taken outside, natural
light works well
 Make sure you portray
yourself as you want to
be seen by your
intended audience
 Background Image

 LinkedIn has a standard

option available to use or
as a premium user you
have access to LinkedIn
stock images

 Another option is to create

a custom background
image using one of the
following online tools:
 www.canva.com
 www.fotor.com
 www.picmonkey.com

Background Image Help: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/49960?query=background%20image

 Ideas For Background
Images

1. LinkedIn stock image

2. Your product or service in
the making
3. Your product or service in
action
4. The skyline of your current
city
5. Design your own
6. A personal image

Article: Seven ideas for an effective LinkedIn background image:

https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/49960?query=background%20image
 Profile Content Tips

 “The first hurdle is to get found (to make sure you come up in the right kind of
searches by recruiters).”
-Catherine Byers Breet, Longtime recruiter and adopter of LinkedIn (member since 2005)

 Use industry-relevant job titles and keywords

 Once you identify your top keywords, add as many of them to the
following sections: Headline (most important), Current Job Title,
Summary, Interests

 The LinkedIn search tool searches entire profiles, so insert your keywords
throughout!
 Headline Examples

 Depends on your
LinkedIn profile goals

 Can be general and

straightforward

 Can also tell viewers

what makes you unique
and includes as many
keywords as possible

Headline Help: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/topics/6042/6043/2901

 Summary Statement

 Main place for you to stand out; adds a ‘story’ element to your
experience and your aspirations
 Be concise about your experience, qualifications, and goals – with
a compelling narrative weaved throughout (if possible)
 Describes what motivates you, what you’ve done and are skilled at
 Use keywords and phrases that recruiters might search for (i.e.
product management, graphic design, data analysis)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-tips-students-new-grads-linkedin-omar-garriott
 Summary Statement

How to write a stellar summary:

Set the scene:
 What is your ideal audience? What do you want them to know, learn, or do?
 How do you want to make them feel?

Collect content
 What you do, accomplishments, values and passions, your “superpowers”,
interesting stats, differentiation, validation (back up what you’re saying)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2017/07/09/how-to-write-a-stellar-linkedin-summary/2/#271686b3067a
 Summary Statement

https://www.linkedin.com/in/studentsample
Education

 Education is the foundation!

 Members who list a school get 10x more views on
average

 Add your school, major, and degree name

 Include clubs you lead and honors you have
earned
Education
Experience

When listing your experience:

Avoid listing only duties and responsibilities
Use action words and accomplishments

Examples:
Analyzed materials….
Conducted individual….

List projects, organizations, classes, etc.

Similar to resume
Most related at the top

41% of hiring managers consider volunteer experience equally as valuable as paid work
experience
Experience
Skills

 List tangible skills that you are comfortable using in the

workplace
 Skills can be acquired on the job or in school

 Speak Mandarin?
 Know JAVA programming?

17% more profiles views with 5+ skills listed

Tips to get you started

Complete your profile

Claim your unique URL
Participate in groups
Connect with people you know:
Friends, family, classmates, mentors, teachers, and
professors
Use the alumni tool
Actively update your profile
 Participate in Groups
LinkedIn Groups are hubs on LinkedIn which provide a “place
for professionals in the same industry or with similar interests
to share content, find answers, post and view jobs, make
business contacts, and establish themselves as industry
experts.”

“Being an active participant in a group can help you network

with other professionals in your field, especially those outside
your immediate circle…”

https://blog.hootsuite.com/linkedin-groups/
Final Words...use LinkedIn to:

Browse job descriptions

Set up job alerts
Follow
Companies
Influencers
Industries---trends and news
Additional Resources

Student Job Seekers: Tips to Building the Perfect LinkedIn Profile

https://blog.linkedin.com/2016/11/14/student-job-seekers-tips-to-building-the-perfect-
linkedin-profile

LinkedIn Etiquette: 20 Do’s & Don’t’s

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140417174121-34888774-linkedin-etiquette-guide-20-
do-s-don-ts/
Book Reference
 Other Resources
 Local job search Yahoo Email groups
 Bill_Hyland_Network 818 members 1 messages/day
 CNG 914 members 4 Messages/day
 etpnews 281 members 5 messages/day
 mn077 701 members 7 messages/day
 TheBreakfastClubNJ 691 members 20 messages/day
 Local networking events
 CNG (Career Networking Group) meeting 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month in Basking
Ridge, NJ
 Combined (4 networking groups – AWC, MNA, TBCNJ, CIT) Dinner meeting 4 th Tuesday 6
PM in Totowa, NJ
 ETP (Empowering Today’s Professionals) Monday Night Networking Conference Call
free for ETP members every Wednesday 9:30 PM
 ETP Job Search & Networking School 3rd Thursdays 8 AM in Howell, NJ
 TheBreakfastClubNJ 2nd Saturday 8 AM in New Brunswick, NJ
 RSS feeds for blogs
 The LinkedIn
 I’m On LinkedIn – Now What?
 Jibber Jobber
 Never Eat Alone
 Podcasts
 The Connections Show
 The National Networker Show
06/29/24 47
 References
 Never Eat Alone
by Keith Ferrazzi
 Online Networking by Liz Ryan
 I’m on LinkedIn – Now What???
by Jason Alba
 The World is Flat
by Thomas L. Friedman
06/29/24 48
 Questions & Answers

 Questions?

 Thank you!

06/29/24 49