Insider Insights 
The Job Hunt, Part 3: Guidelines for Online Business Networking

by Susan E Caldwell

 Last week, we examined LinkedIn.com as a model business networking site. LinkedIn (LI) and similar sites can be very useful tools in your job hunt. Your LI profile can contain information about your work experience, education, publications, recommendations from people who know you, and more. It can be posted in public, for all to see, or you can make it private. Recruiters, human resources managers, and hiring managers often use LI to find job candidates or expand their business networks.

If you're interested in the art of online business networking, you can find much more information on the subject in the book, The Connect Effect, by Michael Dulworth[1].

Here are a few guidelines for using business networking web sites:
 
Network demo. Online networks come in many flavors, and you may like some more than others. Most networking sites have a demo, trial, or free account option. If you're thinking of joining a network that's new to you, consider using one of these accounts before you plunge in. Check out the site's features, services, membership, and reputation before you commit to posting lots of information or upgrading to a paid membership. While you demo, you may want to limit access to your profile to family, friends, and/or colleagues you trust, rather than making your information available to everyone.
 
Network referrals. A weakness of online business networking is that site members sometimes acquire contacts in their networks who they don't know. Don't refer your network contacts to third parties, if you don't know the people you're referring. If you refer an unknown contact to a third party, and the referred person is incompetent, dishonest, or worse, it reflects badly on you, the person who made the referral.
 
Anger. Avoid expressing anger online, and be aware that expressions of emotion online can be easily misinterpreted. After all, you can't see facial expressions or body language in an email, blog, or public LI profile. One example of expression of anger is using ALL CAPS. The internet convention is that ALL CAPS is the online equivalent of SHOUTING. Don't do it, unless you want to lose your readers because they think you are hostile. And if you're angry, wait a while before you write an email response. Take time to cool down before replying. This can result in wording that is more balanced and less likely to fan the flames.
 
Public profile and email content. If it's public, be sure you're comfortable with your profile content's being read by anyone, anywhere, at any time. The content you include, or emails you send, can be downloaded. Once downloaded, you can't pull those words back, even if you regret them.
 
Be careful about posting your or others' personal information on networking sites, too. This includes email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses, and other information used to establish identity (eg, driver's license numbers). If you post someone else's information, get their permission before you post.
 
Generous online persona. If you participate in online business networks, think about how you can help others, and how they can help you. Seek opportunities to facilitate introductions between people who may be of professional interest to each other. Practice helpful networking with a generous spirit and a positive outlook. It is the right thing to do, it yields big benefits to all when practiced reciprocally, and it could lead to a new job.

[1] Dulworth M. The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional, and Virtual Networks. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.; 2008.

 

 

 

 

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Exciting new opportunity for an experienced Regulatory Writer.

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