eLearnPortal Blog

Handshakes, paper business cards and business suits are things of the past, or at least things in need of a virtual make over.  That’s right. Iconic images of business networking are being upgraded to meet the needs of the online environment.  However, the site of this surge in online networking may surprise you; it’s all going down in the online classroom.

The truth of the matter is that distance learning has, for several years, enabled students to make vital business contacts, receive constructive feedback and explore novel ideas within a safe environment.  The opportunity to interact with like-minded professionals is not only spawning exciting, intellectual conversation within the classroom, but creating noteworthy business ventures outside of the classroom as well.  As more students log on, the potential possibilities for job opportunities, business ventures and collaborative innovations reach new heights.  However, online networking can prove to be more than just a benefit of distance education, but a challenging skill that requires refinement.

Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you hone your online networking skills and, possibly, make that life-changing connection.

Be aware of your setting. Communicating clearly and efficiently is a key to online networking. Therefore, if you are not familiar with the online mode of communication, take extra steps to correct this problem. Consider reviewing the online tutorial about the functions of your online classroom.  Be sure to read all guidelines and instructions before entering into a discussion.  As time goes on, spend some time going over archived discussions in order to gain additional insights into a topic or potential contact.

Keep contact info handy. When participating in a class discussion or chatting in a lounge, it is always a good idea to have an updated business card available online.  Therefore, if a fellow student has to quickly log out of a conversation, you will be able to forward your information to him or her with just the click of a button.

Proofread, Proofread, Proofread. Just like traditional networking, online networking is all about presentation.  Before posting information or sending a chat response, be sure to look for errors.  All information needs to be clean and concise.  While this may seem simple, it is easy to forget this nominal detail due to the fast-paced nature of online interaction.  It is also important to remember your tone.  While statements and opinions may sound appropriate in your head, they can easily be misconstrued online.  Read your message several times to ensure a proper tone is being conveyed.

Don’t dominate every discussion. Online networking is not always about being the star of the class.  While you need to be attentive to your academic goals, there is no need to command attention in every class discussion or online chat session.  Being selective in your commentary can show your thoughtful knowledge regarding a topic and thus, earn you more credibility.

Don’t overload the class with group emails or posts. There is a time and a place for trying to stir up interest in an outside business venture.  Remember, the original, and sometimes only, intent of your fellow online students is to earn their degree.  If you are interested in discussing potential opportunities and outside resources, ask interested parties to meet you in a chat room after class hours.

Create a sig line. With each electronic message, you are able to attach a signature file, or sig line.  This brief line of text enables you to create an image or idea with which to associate yourself.  This information provides some insight into who you are and helps potential contacts and/or clients identify you.

Be respectful. As mentioned previously, it is important to watch your tone and avoid sarcasm.  Distance education offers students the opportunity to discuss and explore topics and opinions within a safe environment.  Therefore, remember to always be respectful and tolerant of fellow students’ ideas and opinions.  Rash remarks can quickly and easily offend other members of the class.

In the end, online networking is all about being courteous and professional. Don’t let the educational setting fool you. While earning your degree should remain your top priority, there are still real opportunities to develop productive professional relationships through your distance learning experience.  Use your online learning experience to your advantage.

With the economy tanking, there are millions of people who are out of work and can’t find a decent job in their area. Fortunately for the people who live in the cities listed below, they have the best chances of finding a job in the near future. The following list includes the top 20 cities for job growth in 2009.

1. Odessa, TX
   • Unemployment Rate: 5.3%
   • Average Annual Salary: $34,380
2. Grand Junction, CO
   • Unemployment Rate: 7.2%
   • Average Annual Salary: $36,550
3. Longview, TX
   • Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
   • Average Annual Salary: $32,060
4. Houma-Bayou Cane –Thibodaux, LA
   • Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
   • Average Annual Salary: $34,480
5. Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX
   • Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
   • Average Annual Salary: $32,100
6. Austin-Round Rock, TX
   • Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
   • Average Annual Salary: $41,330
7. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
   • Unemployment Rate: 9.6%
   • Average Annual Salary: $27,750
8. Laredo, TX
   • Unemployment Rate: 7.4%
   • Average Annual Salary: $29,680
9. Houston-Sugarland-Baytown, TX
   • Unemployment Rate: 6.4%
   • Average Annual Salary: $41,020
10. Tulsa, OK
    • Unemployment Rate: 6.2%
    • Average Annual Salary: $35,720
11. Athens-Clarke County, GA
    • Unemployment Rate: 7.3%
    • Average Annual Salary: $35,170
12. Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA
    • Unemployment Rate: 8.5%
    • Average Annual Salary: $43,480
13. Morgantown, WV
    • Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
    • Average Annual Salary: $34,010
14. Lafayette, LA
    • Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
    • Average Annual Salary: $34,490
15. Fargo, ND-MN
    • Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
    • Average Annual Salary: $34,940
16. College Station-Bryan, TX
    • Unemployment Rate: 4.8%
    • Average Annual Salary: $39,390
17. Coeur d’Alene, ID
    • Unemployment Rate: 9.4%
    • Average Annual Salary: $34,610
18. Bismarck, ND
    • Unemployment Rate: 5.4%
    • Average Annual Salary: $34,370
19. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
    • Unemployment Rate: 8.0%
    • Average Annual Salary: $46,540
20. San Antonio, TX
    • Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
    • Average Annual Salary: $34,610

References

2009 New Geography Best Cities for Job Growth. http://www.newgeography.com/content/00741-all-cities-rankings-2009-new-geography-best-cities-job-growth

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm

Translating the quality and legitimacy of your online degree to the job market can be a difficult task for many up-and-coming professionals. Within the business world, distance learning is still working to establish its reputation as an accepted form of higher education.  After all, the online education explosion is a relatively new phenomenon.  Therefore, online graduates may have to go the extra mile in order to prove the quality of their degrees.

Your prospective employer may not be aware of the numerous skills online education and the work environment have in common.  To get a better picture of what you can take away from your e-Learning experience, check out the benefits below.

• Managing One’s Time: Use your time wisely. It is not just a phrase anymore; it is a skill.  Online instruction gives students an incredible amount of academic freedom when it comes to schedule and pace.  Graduates of distance learning programs can easily transfer their ability to effectively manage assignments and class session into the corporate world of deadlines and board meetings.

• Confidence in One’s Technical Abilities: In business, you cannot hide from technology, as it permeates every aspect of the corporate environment.  For online learners, this job requirement would not even cause them to break a sweat. Online degree graduates have the benefit of familiarity and hands-on experience with numerous types of technology.  Virtual experience teaches one the proper protocol expected when using each medium of technology. With all this insider knowledge, how can you not stand out from the rest?

• Self-Will and Personal Drive: Finding the right program, keeping pace with the accelerated format, scheduling time to study and meeting course deadlines are all part of the virtual academic experience, and all of which can prove to be quite a challenge.  Make sure your potential employer knows of the personal dedication you have to accuracy, efficiency and success.

• First-rate Communication Skills: Between the different people and technologies encountered in the online classroom, students are exposed to all types of ways to communicate, and each requires its own form of etiquette.  Explain how your experiences online have built an excellent foundation of communication skills.

• Leadership Skills: In order to compensate for face-to-face interaction, online courses utilize group projects.  Group projects allow students to set and assume different functions in the overall learning process.  Team leaders are able to highlight their leadership skills by coordinating schedules, setting goals, evaluating work and guiding a product to completion.  Be sure to emphasize your ability to effectively lead a team and produce a successful project to possible employers.

• High-level Functioning within a Team Environment: Part of the distance learning experience is interacting with and learning from a variety of people. e-Learners encounter opinions, skill levels and work efficiency levels that often vary from their own. Therefore, the ability to adapt and highlight individual strengths is a major asset students can take away from online education.

• Current Awareness of Industry’s Tends: Distance education has the unique advantage of offering not only the latest technology, but the most up-to-date information within a field.  Being so connected to the Web, students always have a plethora of useful and reputable resources at their fingertips

They say “it takes a village to raise a child” but actually, it takes a good teacher to sow the seed, to inspire and to model knowledge, passion, will to grow and will to become. Every one of us reading this article can think of one or more teachers that made a substantial difference in our lives. It is your turn now to make your life count and be one of those teachers that are part of someone’s good memories.

How To Use Social Media to Find a Job

If you’re one of the millions of people who are out of work today, then you know that finding a job in this economy seems next to impossible. Searching job sites like CareerBuilder and Monster for a job takes up a lot of time, plus for every job you apply to, there are hundreds of other applicants who applied as well. Fortunately there is a better way to conduct a job search on the internet. Using social media sites is a better way to connect with job recruiters and land the job of your dreams.

You’re probably wondering which social media sites are the best to use for this purpose. The truth is that all of them provide some valuable connections that can help you in your job search. These include Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Twitter
Twitter allows you to connect with people who have shared interests without having to know them personally. This provides a distinct advantage over other sites because you can start following people in your target industry without requesting their permission. You can then start a conversation with the people you follow and build up a rapport. Then use the site to tell people you are looking for a job. Many of your contacts on Twitter can help you get in touch with the right person.

Twitter also provides a unique opportunity to search for jobs. In Twitter Search, type in a few key words (i.e. engineering jobs) and all conversations with these words will show up. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed for this search and check it a few times a day.

Facebook
Facebook is one of the most popular social networks today. Millions of people are on this site, which is an advantage for you, the job seeker. Search for people you know in your industry to add as friends, and make sure to show your skills on your profile. You can participate in discussions and let people know you are an expert in your field, which will get the attention of the hiring manager browsing the site looking for potential job applicants.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn has the unique designation of being a social network for working professionals. This can help you immensely in your job search. You can connect with former co-workers and colleagues around the world, and let them know you are searching for a new job. You can also get recommendations from people in your network, which will stand out to a hiring manager looking at your profile. You can also utilize LinkedIn’s search engine to look for a job, as well as browse company profiles to see what they value in their employees.

Regardless of which social network you choose, there are a few tips you should follow to maximize your chances of finding a job using social media.

Make Connections
More so now than ever, it’s more about WHO you know than what you know. Making connections with people in your industry can prove to be invaluable in tough times. A lot of jobs get filled before anyone knows about them, because recruiters recommend people they know in the industry. To build a network of contacts, you need to get in touch with colleagues, former classmates, former co-workers and supervisors, and alumni. It also helps to find contacts in other industries to broaden your reach.

Ask for Help
Once you have made connections with a few people, let them know you are looking for a job and ask for their help. They can help you find a job that is a good match for your skills, and provide valuable advice on how to get your foot in the door. You can also leverage your contacts by reaching out to their contacts to broaden your network.

Promotion is Key
To get yourself out there for recruiters to see, you need to promote your skills. Tailor your profile to showcase your skills and experience, and leave out any questionable details or facts that could turn off a potential employer. Some job seekers find it helpful to create a website that includes a portfolio and resume, and then link to it from your social network profile. Most recruiters will look at a website if it is listed in your profile, which could prove to be invaluable and provide more relevant information about your skills than your profile is able to.

Join the Discussion
Start participating in discussions and showcase your expertise. This can help you make connections and help you leverage your skills. It is important to be seen as a trustworthy and knowledgeable source that others can turn to for answers and advice. Once you establish your credibility, others will be willing to help you in your job search.

References
Guy Kawasaki. “Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job.” http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/02/10-ways-to-use.html

Louise Fletcher. “Using Twitter for Job Search.” http://blueskyresumes.com/blog/using-twitter-for-job-search

John Boyd. “Using Social Media to Find a Job in a Down Economy.” http://blogs.zdnet.com/feeds/?p=374

We’ve all been there. Searching through the help wanted ads trying to find a job, sending in your resume, and never being selected for an interview. It’s frustrating, especially now when millions of people are out of work and applying for the same jobs you are. You’re probably asking yourself “what do I need to do to stand out?” Luckily, there is an answer: guerilla marketing.

What is guerilla marketing? According to Jay Conrad Levinson, the self-proclaimed “father of guerilla marketing,” it is a system of promotions that relies on unexpected and unconventional tactics. So in other words, it’s marketing using creativity and imagination to create a memorable buzz in a nontraditional way. So, how can you use this tactic to stand out to employers?

First of all, it’s important that your resume sells you as a candidate for the position. Don’t just describe what makes you a good employee, give specific details and facts that prove you are a good employee. For example, instead of saying “helped sign new clients” say “signed 20% more clients than any other salesperson in the company and exceeded sales goals by 15%.” Providing tangible evidence that proves you are results-oriented will get the employer’s attention.

Second, it’s important to use technology to your advantage. Create a profile on social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook that showcases your talents and make contacts with people in the industry. Start a blog that chronicles your job-seeking endeavors and lists your professional qualifications and send the link to potential employers. Find the contact information for the head of the department and send them your resume directly. Call their office and speak with them about job prospects. The most important thing to remember is that persistence is key, and employers will remember you over the other thousand candidates when you are calling their office every day.

You could also hit the streets with your resume to hand out to potential employers. It’s quirky and different, but it worked for Joshua Pesky. Pesky, an unemployed investment banker, put a sandwich board on over his suit that read “Experienced MIT grad for hire” and handed out his resume on the busy New York City streets. This tactic got him national media exposure and, ultimately, a job.  So why did he do it? “I decided I had to do something different,” Pesky said. “You have to think outside the box to make others aware of what you need.”

Posting a video resume on YouTube or other video sharing sites can help increase your exposure to potential employers and land you an interview. However, you have to be creative with the execution of your video. I recommend creating a song that highlights your talents and singing it on camera. That way, your video is unique and stands out from the rest.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that it is important to brand yourself as someone that your potential employer can’t live without. Market your skills by providing examples of your professional successes, and get out there and show the world what you can do.

References

“How To Market Yourself to Employers in a Recession” http://www.resumebear.com/blog/index.php/2008/12/22/market-yourself-to-employers-in-a-recession/

“6 Job-Hunting Tips from the Sandwich Board Guy” http://www.cnbc.com/id/28522597

Wikipedia: “Guerilla Marketing” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerilla_marketing