Professional Online Networking Revolution!

Someone’s gotta say it and its gonna be me: Professional networking online doesn’t work! Either you already know the people your connecting with on Linkedin, or your a recruiter looking for “passive talent.”

When is there going to be a platform that actually connects people? A site that helps people engage with other link minded professionals? No, I am not talking about a niche site for lawyer or doctors, which essentially uses the same tools as larger sites, thus fostering the same behaviors and lame community’s as the broader professional networks. I am talking about a site that actually helps you engage others in conversation! YES, actual networking!

How about a community that can chat real time, like twitter but with a subject matter that’s just for professionals? Or maybe a NING.com for professionals?

What do you think? Share your thoughts!

Thoughts on niche professional networks

in reference to: Networking Insight: 10 Niche Social Networking Sites for Professionals (view on Google Sidewiki)

Very nice list, though I feel these 'niche networks' provide the same platform and set of tools as the larger ones. The only difference is it cuts you off from networking and having conversation with a larger audience which may be good for some people and a negative for others.

Briefly put:

Niche Professional networks: These sites provide no real alteration in the online networking process:
use the same tools and platform services as the industry leaders .
Less exposure; people cut themselves out from conversations outside their group of contacts and industry.

Twitter Being Used As A Job Search Engine!

Image via CrunchBase

Very interesting article: Using Twitter to conduct job searches, network and establish your reputation on a professional level!

"Job searches are a full time job and it's important to use the right internet job search tool to find employment quickly. Twitter and LinkedIn are popular networking sites for job searchers." 

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Part 1: Interviewees experience with Professional Networking

A young lady that I interviewed in Atlanta, Georgia has recently graduated from college with an accounting degree.  She has been actively looking for a job offline at college fares and events.  We had a brief conversation about her experience with online professional networking. I have the most important points outlined bellow?


Have you heard anything about online professional networking and what are your thoughts on it?

A: Surprisingly, she has never heard of professional networks like Linkedin (let alone XING.) She said at this point in her life she would prefer to find a job and worry about networking later.  (She percieved networking as a form of 'sucking up'.)


When I asked her about whether she believes connecting with recruiters online would be worth her time...

A: she believes meeting with recruiters or connecting with recruiters is a waist of time.  She wants to meet directly with the managers or executives doing the hiring.  Her reasoning for this is that when she connected with recruiters offline she developed a strong connection with them, but they lacked the authority to do the actual hiring, and many times they lacked the background to truly understand her qualifications and potential in the field she was applying to. 


What she thinks about the idea of online networking...

A: She believes its better to network offline than online.  Plus if she is having enough difficulty as it is offline to network (face to face) how would it be any better online, she claims.


If she could change one thing about online networking it would be this:

Provide a platform that would allow professionals to directly connect with business owners and employers rather then recruiters. 


What are your thoughts on this?  Disagree, agree? Please let us know.

Interview 1 Presentation feedback:

http://www.slideshare.net/secret/14VsmjaCwdZ3na

Facebook and professional networking

How to use facebook to connect with other professionals:

http://mashable.com/2009/08/14/facebook-networking/

This article is pretty cool.  Gives you some ideas on how to use facebook as a device to connect with other professionals.

This is another example of the growing trends in the professional online culture and the use of social networks to connect with potential leads, partners, employees, recruiters, etc....

Do you agree that social networks should be used as a place to network with professionals?  Would you feel comfortable doing it?

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Mixing Business With Pleasure: Social Networks Being Used As Professional Networks

Some people have always considered it a ridiculous idea to even consider using sites like facebook to connect with other like-minded professionals. They claim that it isn't smart to mix business with pleasure. The truth is many people do it, and it is actually an increasing trend among younger and some older professionals.

Some people say they prefer using social networks to network with professionals because they have most of their contacts on their social network already, so it is simply convenient to keep it all tied together.
Again, a lot of people use professional networks because they have already built a network of professional contacts and simply need a place to store them.

What is your take? Are social networks useful for networking with professionals? Is it a good idea? Are you comfortable mixing business with your social life?

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Sermo.com Professional Network For Doctors

Sermo.com, a social-networking site for licensed physicians. This is a place where physicians go to collaborate.
Seems like it still lacks the ability to help professional in the medical field develop a a network of relevant contacts though. Its mostly used to collaborate and share information.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118825239984310205.html

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