
On Thursday, March 5th, PRSSA held a professional development workshop for its members. We discussed how to get the most out of Linkedin and how using business cards can enhance in-person networking.
Linkedin is one of the most important tools for professionals. Linkedin is a social networking platform for professionals; it makes connecting with people in industries you’re interested in as easy as clicking your mouse button. Linkedin can also serve as a digital resume. It is a convenient and easy place to list all your previous work experience, volunteer experience, organization (PRSSA) affiliations, published work, and skills. Staying active on Linkedin, by sharing and commenting on anything that interests you, shows employers what you’re interested in. Here are a few Linkedin do’s and don’ts discussed in the meeting.
- Do: Keep the background neutral and simple, wear professional clothing in your photo, and use a headshot.
- Don’t: Use low quality photos, use an old photo, and have other people in your photo.
Linkedin is just one tool to enhance networking. Another tool used to enhance your networking experience amongst professionals is by creating business cards.
Business cards make connecting and networking easier. Instead of testing your memory and trying to remember who you met, you now have a card to exchange and remember the person by. Having a business card that reflects who you are adds a personal touch during first impressions. Keeping that in mind, business cards can be an effective marketing tool as well. Including a title, and/or your major, helps people know what you do or what industry you are interested in. A cool tip from the meeting is that as a graduate of public relations, one can identify themselves as a “Public Relations Practitioner.”
There are plenty of websites to design and print your own business cards. Hop on Canva and get started today!
If more help is needed, the career center on campus is the perfect resource to get feedback on your Linkedin profile, resume, business cards and cover letters. Set up an appointment with one of their career counselors and they will help you build and improve every one of those tools needed to thrive in the professional world. Not to mention, they are also running workshops throughout the semester to help with cover letters, resumes, interviews, and Linkedin.