Making professional connections is an essential part of the job search process and is also important when building your personal brand. Although you can’t physically attend networking events right now, you still can form meaningful connections for business and career growth virtually. Networking online requires the same amount of time and effort as if you were in-person. To help you get started, here are tips for strategically building your network from home.

It’s no secret that LinkedIn is THE world’s largest and leading professional networking and job posting website utilized today. Not only is it beneficial for candidates who are searching for jobs, but also for recruiters to seek out potential talent and make professional connections. Often times, individuals overlook these messages thinking they are automated spam to your inbox. It’s important to remember, there is a human on the other side of these messages, so take the time to reply with a well-drafted response.

Similar to personality types, each individual has a different style of communication. This can affect the ways in which you interact with others and influence your strengths and weaknesses. In the workplace, this has a large impact on your relationships with your coworkers and general productivity. Simply put, clear and effective communication is one of the simplest ways to minimize workplace stress, increase productivity and build strong relationships with your coworkers. In fact, productivity improves by 20-25% in organizations with connected employees. The four main communication styles that individuals fall into are Analytical, Intuitive, Functional and Personal. Understanding which style you resonate with can help you better communicate within the workplace and your daily life.

Whether you are a job seeker, recruiter or currently employed, it has become increasingly important and beneficial to build your social network. Taking the extra time to personalize your opening message on LinkedIn can make all the difference when standing out and creating solid connections. Allowed only 300 characters, it is important to focus on your goal and the similarities between you and the person you are trying to connect with.

Many wait for the New Year to begin their job search or to change career paths, forgetting that December is a valuable time for job seekers to get their foot in the door and to keep the job search pushing. Besides spending your time this month holiday shopping and traveling, use it to set up the New Year with a new opportunity. The most wonderful time of the year can be said about this magical month and your job search! In fact, a survey reported, 94% of employers believe that candidates should continue or begin their job hunt during the holidays. Here are just a couple of reasons why the twelfth month is the best time of the year to look for a job.

In today’s tight job market with a historically low unemployment rate, recruiters now more than ever have been reaching out to an extended pool of candidates. Whether it’s via email, LinkedIn message or text messaging, recruiters are on the prowl for top talent to help fill the 7.1 million open jobs in the US. As a job seeker or someone who is interested in building their professional network, now is the time to capitalize on the chance to build and develop relationships with recruiters.

With a booming job market, a greater number of employers have experienced the phenomenon of being ghosted by candidates. Instances of ghosting include, candidates agreeing to take an interview and then not show up, accepting a job position and not showing up on the first day, or even leaving a job without notice. To avoid this disturbance, watch our video below which highlights steps you can take to ensure that potential employees keep in contact and don’t negatively impact your organization! 

While some may be intimidated by the thought of career fairs, these events are set up to provide valuable opportunities for students to meet with prospective employers and learn more about their companies, hiring processes and openings. Even if you are not exactly sure which career path you would like to take, career fairs allow you the chance to ask employers, from multiple different fields, questions concerning their work. Follow these eight significant tips so you can get the most out of attending a career fair.

Improving your personal brand is something professionals often overlook. This tool is your secret weapon for gaining employer’s attention or to further establish yourself as an industry leader. No matter where you are professionally you can always improve your brand. Take a look at the following video highlighting five creative ways to enhance your personal brand and really make it shine.

Congratulations, you’ve graduated college! Now that you have retired your cap and gown, do you have a job? As your student loans sneak up on you and the stress of the real-world sets in, the post-grad job search can be intensely discouraging. Many of us are all too familiar with this frustrating feeling. Know that you’re not alone and you’re not out of luck! Below are strategies and resources that will help you stay on track with your job search and land your first ‘adult’ job.