Are you one of the 10 million active subscribers on Twitter? Or maybe you are one of the 266 million currently using Facebook? Perhaps you are one of the 47 millionactive users on Linkedin?

These and other online networking sites continue to attract users at a phenominal rate. LinkedIn members increased by 143% in one year and you can be assured that this professional online networking site is being used extensively by recruiters and HR professionals. Can you be found? Even if you are not currently in career transition, creating an online presence and establishing your personal brand could position you within a network of very valuable connections.

Creating your online profiles requires a substantial investment of time and establishing your personal brand is an immeasurable commitment. Since the average job search in Canada takes about 18 weeks and approximately 80% will secure employment through personal associates and business contacts, what better way to initiate those contacts than online?

The search capabilities on most of the online networking sites are extensive and will allow you to easily target specific industries and colleagues. As few as 50 connections on Linkedin have the potential to connect you with friends of friends, (two degrees away) in the thousands and their friends, (three degrees away) in the millions!

What are you waiting for? If you see this as a daunting task, contact Elite Resumes for professional support. Your online profile is a critical component in managing a successful, executive career. 

Linkedin is one of the top, online, professional networking sites. The key word here is “networking” so why would anyone establish a profile on Linkedin and set their contact settings to display:  John Smith…”is not currently open to receiving Introductions or InMail™”?

It really is amazing to see the number of people on a networking site who have chosen account settings that restrict contacts. There is a reason invitation filtering recommends “notify me of all invitations“. For most, the objective of establishing a profile on Linkedin is to enhance your online presence by openly linking in with other professionals and creating a significant network of connections to interact with. 

The success of all relationships, whether friends, family, business relationships or professional networkers, is strongly influenced by a very simple premise: giving and receiving. On Giving and Receiving, Shakti Gawain, Living Life Fully says, “Our abilities to give and receive are at the core of our capacity to create and experience true prosperity..…receiving and giving are opposite energies that are inextricably linked together in the natural flow of life, like inhaling and exhaling. If one aspect of that cycle doesn’t function, the entire cycle ceases to function and the life force cannot move freely. If you can’t inhale, you will soon have nothing to exhale, and before long your body will be unable to continue living.” This is a simple analogy but one that can easily be related to the potential demise of networking if you are solely focused on receiving and not on giving.

First impressions are extremely powerful influences so check your Linkedin account settings to be sure you are perceived as someone who is as willing to give as you are to receive.  

Who do you know? Who do they know? Who knows you? 

If you have invested the time to utilize the vast number of social media resources available today, you may find the answers to these questions quite remarkable, even extraordinary. The opportunity to create an extremely valuable and influential network of people to establish your “social media status” has never been this accessible! Do you want to be known as “The Smartest Man in the World”? Google it and you will see one man who understood the power of social media to create his personal brand clearly and visibly, establishing his online status. As the smartest man in the world it was an easy decision for Saul Colt to embrace the world of social media with the same passion he exudes in his personal brand. You will find Saul Colt on Facebook, Twitter, Naymz, Plaxo, Vimeo, Friendfeed, LinkedIn, ……and that’s just to name a few.

In the past, allocating millions of dollars to advertising in newspapers, radio, TV and billboards could establish an impressive corporate brand. As an individual, you were limited to creating your personal brand within a small group of colleagues, family and friends, unless you were a movie star or entertainer. Today, you can establish a significant brand, recognized by millions, ONLINE and it’s FREE!   

An individual’s online profile or an organization’s online profile is the starting point to connect with millions of influential individuals and share a brand, share knowledge and establish a notable status to create a world filled with opportunities! It has been described as “an evolution of individual power” as we have never seen the potential to create such a far reaching network of influence as exists today! 

You may not be searching for a job today but most organizations are taking drastic measures to weather the economic storm including massive layoffs, downsizing and mergers. It means that you may be in career transition sooner than you think. So what does all of this have to do with your Twitter bio?

Your Twitter bio is one of many online resources available to you at no charge that allows you to create your presence. An online presence is a must today in your job search with as many as 90% of recruiters performing online searches to find and verify potential candidates. Key to creating your presence or personal brand is clarity, consistency and professionalism. Who are you? What are you looking for? What is your area of expertise? The next step is to connect with people who may be able to help you in your search. Follow companies, recruiters, job sites and find valuable links, tips and advice. Send messages, receive messages and you just might receive that one tweet that will lead you to your next potential job opportunity!

If you are interested in successfully managing your career, you must have a profile on LinkedIn!  Described as a business-oriented social networking site, LinkedIn has more than 30 million registered users spanning 150 industries.  Their philosophy, ”Relationships matter.  Your professional relationships are key to your professional success.”

As a  job search tool, LinkedIn offers increased visibility and connections and the opportunity to be found by employers or recruiters.  Not unlike your resume, this is a tool providing you with the opportunity to sell yourself. It will be effective if it is professional, accurate and focussed. The information you provide is key to achieving your career goals. But if you do not provide details regarding what it is that you are looking for and what it is that you have to offer, you will miss out on potential opportunities.

Martin Buckland, President of Elite Resumes, “I am passionate about helping the $100k+ executive and those who aspire to become business leaders manage their careers.“

Martin Buckland has 948 connections resulting in 10 million contacts! www.linkedin.com/in/mbuckland