I have devoted my second post to the personal professional
development I have experienced since participating in the Leicester Award. The Online Networking course, particularly Unit
2 has given me the chance to analyse and assess the personal image I portray
online. Also my participation in the E-tivities has given me the chance to
reconnect with professional contacts in the journalism industry that I
otherwise would have lost contact with.
Attending the webinar with Malcolm Levene prompted me to
share my personal brand online where there are potential employers. His advice
to have, ‘One message, one communication style,’ especially stood out to me, as
I believe that although I am an energetic, good communicator in person the lack
of my digital footprint would suggest otherwise to employers assessing me
online. To achieve an effective outer brand I have established myself across a
range of social media , using a polished headshot and my full name to create a
credible appearance online.
I was particularly surprised to learn that eighty per cent
of employers use social media to find talent. To improve my digital footprint
and promote myself as a budding journalist I joined LinkedIn. I found the
format of the social networking site extremely beneficial in terms of
highlighting my industry experience and contacts. My profile acts as a virtual
CV, and the summary page enables me to highlight my unique selling point and
differentiate myself from my industry peers. While the function which allows me
to showcase my previous articles provides a pathway for which potential
employers can review my personal work. This is a particularly important aspect
in promoting my brand, as the work culture of the journalism industry is
largely freelance based; jobs are temporary and obtained largely on your
reputation, which is affected by the quality of your latest work.
I found the option to ‘connect’ with contacts and view my
position within the web of professionals I interact with the best feature on
LinkedIn. The feature which allows you to request an introduction is useful and
I intend to use it in the future as being recommended by a mutual contact will
make me a more appealing and trustworthy candidate to potential employers.
Within a day of setting up my LinkedIn page and connecting
with employers I have started a dialogue with former contacts I have worked
with in the journalism industry. The first was a novelist and inspirational
speaker that I interviewed for an article I wrote for Live magazine. There is
an opportunity to gain mentoring from this individual. The second person was a
company director of a web design company and editor of a car review website who
I completed work experience for whilst I was at school. After connecting with
him on LinkedIn he instantly offered many tips on how to maximise my LinkedIn
profile, and also offered to meet up with me to catch up. This is especially
promising as it offers the opportunity of more experience and mentoring. Although I have both contacts’ email addresses,
social media has given me the unique opportunity to gain career based support
and remain in touch in a structured online format.
I will continue to
work on creating a strong personal image online by regularly updating my profile
and engaging in industry related debates online, for instance by joining journalism
groups and sharing industry related articles online.
Although I was initially dubious of the benefits of using
social media beyond a social context, using LinkedIn has allowed me to gain
greater clarity on how I will pursue a career in the journalism industry. I am
actively networking with role models online, whilst simultaneously gaining the
experience that will help me climb up the career ladder.
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