Making the Connection

For the last two years, I have been utilizing my employer's tuition assistance program to go back to school with the goal of changing careers.  I feel very lucky to have the job that I have, but I would like to be able to grow and do other things.  The main focus of my education has been to work towards a position in performance improvement, or performance analysis, my passion.

With this specific goal in mind, it's important to make connections with both future employers and other people in the field.  I have already created a career development plan, however I am severely lacking in professional connects with where I am headed for the future.  These connections are so important.  Not only can a network of people help share information about openings but can give much needed advice.

What's a great way to make these connections?  Programs like LinkedIn have changed social media into a workhorse for the modern professional.  LinkedIn has many tools to help recruiters and help applicants find each other.

In your profile, you can set up different skill sets.  This task is very easy and creates a powerful tool for helping future bosses search for the right person.  It's a great way to make your skills very marketable.  LinkedIn has a nearly endless list of skills, so it's important to choose the right ones.

I recommend making an initial list of 5, then going back and adding more.  Try looking at job postings that you are interested in and remembering which skills are listed that you already have and go back and add these to your profile.  This will help attract the kind of connections you are really looking for.

If you have not already, go make a profile on LinkedIn.  It's super easy, and can help make the professional world bigger and smaller at the same time.  The hardest part is taking a picture.  I spent 30 minutes trying to find a basic background and picking out an outfit, but you can skip that step to start with.