Information SYSTEMS Technology - Related Information
In This Section:
BET HomepageProfessional Organizations:
The Roanoke Valley .Net User Group was formed to support the .NET users in the Roanoke Valley and beyond. It is associated with the International .NET Association (INETA). The International .NET Association provides structured, peer-based organizational, educational, and promotional support to the growing worldwide community of Microsoft® .NET user groups. RVNUG meets the first Thursday of each month at the County of Roanoke Public Safety Building 5925 Cove Rd. www.rvnug.org.
The Roanoke Valley SharePoint User Group (RVSPUG) was formed to support SharePoint administrators, users, and developers. RVSPUG meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at the County of Roanoke Public Safety Building 5925 Cove Rd. www.rvspug.org.
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. ACM provides the computing field's premier Digital Library and serves its members and the computing profession with leading-edge publications, conferences, and career resources www.acm.org.
Career News:
Own Your Brand: Be the CEO of Your Job Search
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, April 26
In order to be successful in their career, job seekers need to be able to showcase their experience across multiple Web platforms. To attract the attention of hiring managers effectively, think of your skills and accomplishments as a valuable product or service for a company that is looking to solve a problem. As a result, online profiles on social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter become a way to personalize your brand and secure your future career. With this as context, the article reviews practical rules that apply to this group of social networking sites.
On social networking sites, your profile picture gives the recruiter or HR manager a much deeper glimpse into who you are than one might originally think. Your picture should be professional. If ageism is a concern, consider taking a picture of your networking or business card. Also, there's one question to ask yourself once your profile is complete: "Are you being authentic?" What you mention on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn will remain in search engines for months if not years, making personal integrity vital to your brand. In short, "Be who you are, with a filter."
Click Here to View Full Article
Five Rules For Networking Without Looking Desperate
MoneyWatch, April 26
With the national unemployment rate still hovering around 10%, networking is more relevant than ever for career development. Networking is something you should continually be doing. That means networking can’t be something you put on a to-do list and check off once a month. With that in mind, the article offers five practical rules to become an expert networker, without looking desperate.
Most importantly, learn to nurture your network. The key to good networking is distinguishing it from asking for a job, a contact, or a personal favor. Networking by definition means talking to people when you don’t need something. Keeping in touch is crucial, so that when you need someone, a follow-up isn’t like an initial meeting. You should also keep your online profile active; you never know who’s watching. Always ask how you can help others. Ask first not what your contact can do for you, but what you can do for your contact. Not only is it polite to ask about the other person, but also asking about them will send the signal that you have a peer-peer relationship, not a mentor-student one. Networking is about finding a win-win situation for all the parties involved in the connection.
Know when to ask and how. You needn’t be afraid to ask for help after you’ve done your due diligence, but be conscious of your message. Be specific about your goals and create a personal brand, particularly if you’re reaching out to many people at once. When you’re not prepared and confident in your message, that’s when you come across as desperate. Remember to make the Web work for you. The Web is the fastest-expanding arena for networking, with LinkedIn and Twitter leading the way. Candidates are using Facebook to promote new achievements, and even parlaying their Twitter accounts into full-time jobs. By following specific companies and individuals at those companies, you can start exchanging messages and lining up meetings and informational interviews. As crucial as it is to have an online presence, connecting in person can leave a more lasting impression, whether you set up an informational interview, or just meet for a coffee. Before you attend your next networking event, prepare your message, goals and research your audience.
Click Here to View Full Article
