Networking, both in-person and online, is important for finding job opportunities. Traditional in-person networking involves attending events in your industry to meet people who may help your career. It takes time to build relationships through networking. Online networking platforms like LinkedIn allow you to digitally connect with contacts and showcase your background and experience. With an optimized profile on sites like LinkedIn, you can effectively network online to expand your professional network.

1. Traditional & Online Networking How It Helps Your Career

2. So, What is Networking? net·work·ing [net-wur-king] –noun a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.

3. The Hidden Job Market There are statistics that up to 80% of job openings are unadvertised. This is called the hidden job market. How do you get these jobs? NETWORKING .

4. It Takes Time. There’s no easy way to say this: Networking takes time. Why? You’re building relationships, and good relationships take time. You can get great benefits from networking, but they will not happen right away.

5. Two Kinds of Networking Person-to-person Business functions, alumni association functions, etc. Online/digital This includes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Profiles, any blog you may have, and anything else that leaves behind a digital footprint.

6. Person-to-Person Networking

7. Person-to-Person Networking Seek out events where you may meet people who could help you or those with whom you share a connection . Are you looking to get into a certain industry? Go to industry events, like AAF for Advertising, and try and meet people. The alumni association events also tend to be good events.

8. 30 Seconds of You Before you network, practice your elevator pitch: a 30-second spiel about you, your career, and why you’re there. You’re selling something when you network: you’re selling YOU. Be convincing!

9. Next Steps? Once you’ve met someone (and taken their business card), it’s up to you what you want to do with the relationship. A good tip: follow-up soon, saying it was nice to meet them and connect via LinkedIn or a person-to-person meeting. Then, FOLLOW UP!

10. Following Up With LinkedIn, it’s now much easier to follow up. Send a note/write an e-mail/like a status update within 3-6 months. It’s not too often and makes sure that the person remembers you. Keep nurturing your connections – you never know when you may need to utilize them.

11. Digital Networking

12. Facebook You can use Facebook for networking – sort of. Facebook is thought of as a more personal website, so utilize your privacy settings. If you’re going to friend potential business contacts, make groups that can’t see those pictures of you from Fetish Ball. It doesn’t matter at New College – it matters when you’re trying to get opportunities outside of New College, including internships. Good tip: if you have booze in your hand, either de-tag yourself or block everyone from seeing photos of you.

13. Twitter This is a good place to network. With the right tweets, you can be seen as an expert in your industry and can connect with other people locally, nationally, and internationally. Don’t swear. Don’t vent. If you want to do this, make your account private. Check us out: @NewCollegeCCE.

14. LinkedIn How many of you have LinkedIn? The premiere networking site – but it’s kind of hard to use. Add your networking contacts on LinkedIn after you meet them – this way you’re always connected! How do you make your LinkedIn profile the best it can be?

15. LinkedIn Summary Recommendations Add your websites. Get a public profile URL. Professional Twitter feed? Add it. Make connections!

16. Revised LinkedIn Summary Added a status update. Received a recommendation. Added more connections. Added links to the CCE website and the blog, so people can easily click through to them. Added a Twitter link. Got my own custom LinkedIn URL. Still to do ? I need a more professional picture!

17. LinkedIn Details Optimize your summary and specialties for search engines. Describe what you’re currently doing. So, how could I improve?

18. Revised Experience Added narrative descriptions of my past positions, increasing amount to search on and the likelihood that my profile will pop up in LinkedIn searches. Focused around a particular topic – digital publishing & higher education. Requested recommendations for current position as well as my old position at Pineapple Press.

19. Revised Education Talked about coursework and what I actually did in school. Got a recommendation from a fellow master’s program student. Talked about what my theses were about. What else should you add? Societies that you were in at college.

20. Revised Additional Information Added interests (possibly shared with others!) Added Honors and Awards, including scholarships and outside societies.

21. Where to Go From Here? Where can you next network? Chamber of Commerce events. Luncheons. They cost a little, but can be worth it. The alum association. Digitally – Brazen Careerist; LinkedIn; Plaxo. Ask your parents. Ask your parent’s friends. Ask your friends. Ask your friends’ friends: do you know someone I can talk to?

22. The Last Networking Secret Never ask for a job. Ask people who you can talk to , and then ask them who you can talk to, and then…