LinkedIn or Lose Out!
- By Deborah Minors
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Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Is it complete, with a photograph, and 500-plus connections? If not, you’re at risk of losing out on a wealth of networking and professional opportunities. At a talk entitled Master the Art of Networking on January 30, Witsie and Chief Executive of The Networking Company Helen Nicholson focused on personal branding and networking. She shared tips for alumni to be “the best You.Pty.Ltd that you can be.” Nicholson emphasised the importance of establishing and leveraging networks, using tools such as LinkedIn, the world’s largest business network for professionals. "I was at a conference in New York last year where the CEO of LinkedIn spoke," says Nicolson. "I sat there with my eyes out on stalks because … I saw the future, and the future is LinkedIn." "The reason why I said 500 connections is because LinkedIn ranks you," explains Nicholson. "So say, for example, someone was looking for a networking specialist. If I had 400 connections and someone else had 600 connections, then they’d come up before me – because that’s how LinkedIn ranks you. And that’s why getting to 500 connections is a very important benchmark." According to the latest LinkedIn South Africa statistics, membership increased by 38 percent in 2013. There are more men than women on LinkedIn, and the industry with the highest membership is Financial/Corporate. The statistics also reveal that a LinkedIn profile puts you in impressive professional company:
Connect with Witsies on LinkedInAside from LinkedIn’s brand-building and networking potential, it’s a potent connection tool for Witsies. There are 54,300* profiles citing Wits University – it’s likely one of them is your former classmate. Apart from being able to join the Wits Alumni LinkedIn Group and participate in discussions, there is a LinkedIn Alumni tool that allows you to search for Wits alumni by location, profession and employer, and then view the individual profiles. This is an ideal tool to find Witsies near you, in your sector, or to arrange a reunion. Some interesting statistics of Wits alumni with a LinkedIn profile:
Nicholson says, “It’s going to become a very powerful social networking tool and those who get on the bus earlier rather than later are actually going to be ahead of the pack”. Don’t lose out. Sign up today. Join the Wits Alumni Group on LinkedIn and use the LinkedIn alumni tool. *Includes all profiles that, at the time of writing, indicate they studied at Wits University. VIEW PHOTOS OF THE EVENT |
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