5 Tips to Become a Networking Superstar

5. Leverage your social networks

The term “social networking” has become synonymous with teenagers and slacking off, but social networks can be valuable professional tools, as well. Create a LinkedIn account and keep it up to date. Your profile should consist of information you would put on your resume so that it can be searchable by headhunters and recruiters.

If you’d like to work for a certain company, find their LinkedIn and social networking profiles and add them to your network. Often, companies will post job openings and other pertinent information there first. You can also used LinkedIn to search for employment by industry and location and see who your connections (friends) are connected to. Once again, if you’re already connected to someone, getting them to connect you (virtually) to one of their connections should not be a problem.

The most important part to becoming networking superstar is to be yourself. Remember, hiring managers hire qualified people that they like. You’ve made plenty of friends by being yourself; apply that same principle to making professional connections and you’ll land that new position in no time.