The Pakistani Spectator

Which site is right?

Facebook. LinkedIn. Twitter. There are many sites that foster community online, but not everyone feels bold enough to sign up for all of them.

If you’re skittish about social networking, LinkedIn may be the safest choice. LinkedIn has more than 41 million members from around the world, and its mission is to foster professional connections, unlike Facebook or Twitter, which can be used personally, too.

Getting Started

According to Krista Canfield, the career expert and spokesperson for LinkedIn, “I think the reason people are more comfortable with LinkedIn is because it’s a professional networking site and you’re representing your professional identity online.”

Lauren Milligan, founder of ResuMAYDAY, agrees, “If you’re just dipping your toe into the social networking water, the two easiest sites to navigate are LinkedIn and Twitter, because you have 100% control over the content.” Remember, though, even if you’re not comfortable with Facebook, you should have a passing familiarity with it as it’s become an important marketing tool for many businesses.

As you build your connections on LinkedIn, be discerning. Reach out to people you do business with and coworkers as well as former classmates. Carefully consider each request you make and accept.

Canfield says, “I only try to connect with people I’ve worked with in the past and know and trust or expect to work with in the future. It’s more a quality game rather than quantity.” When sending a request, she recommends creating a custom message. “Unless you literally sit next to a person, you should remind people who you are and why you want to connect with them.”

Good References

Then, says Milligan, “Do everything you can to get lots of recommendations on your LinkedIn account. (Insider secret: the best way to GET a recommendation is to GIVE one first!).” It may also be helpful to include your LinkedIn profile ID or URL on your resume.

“Twitter is a great way for broadcasting things and letting your network know what you’re up to,” says Canfield. “You could send out a tweet saying, ‘I’m looking for a job in finance. If you know of anything, here’s my LinkedIn profile.’”

Adds Milligan, “Use Twitter to position yourself as an expert in your industry and people will listen!”

What Not to Do

Don’t spam people with too many tweets or status updates. If you’re using any mode for professional purposes, be respectful of your contacts and followers.

Also, avoid collecting followers or connections that don’t have real value for your network or your job search.

Says Canfield, “The right number of connections will differ from profession to profession. Someone in advertising may have many more than a lawyer or an accountant. When people have around 25 connections, that’s when they see the benefits of being on a professional network. But, it’s like having a phone book: Just because you have all those numbers, doesn’t mean they can help you out.”

Source: Yahoo