7
Chapter 1 Online Presence
Your profi le will allow you to display a work-
appropriate photograph. If you do not have a
professional photograph, have a friend or family
member take one that you can use temporarily.
When taking the photo, remember these
important tips.
•
Dress appropriately to present a professional
appearance.
•
Have the photo taken from the shoulders to
the top of your head. This type of photo is
referred to as a headshot.
•
Be aware of what is displayed behind you
when you have your picture taken so that
nothing detracts from your face.
•
Avoid busy patterns in your attire and in
the background.
•
Smile showing your teeth.
After you upload your photo, the next step
is to create a signature block. All e-mail accounts
have a fi eld for you to add a professional signature
block. This feature automatically adds your
signature each time you create a new e-mail or
respond to a previous e-mail. Include your full
name, phone number, and e-mail address in a
readable size and font. It is important to make it
as easy as possible for a potential employer to
contact you. You may also include a job title under
your name. If you do not have a permanent
position, you can designate a job title that describes
your skills, such as Instructional Design Consultant,
until you fi nd a permanent position. Figure 1-4
shows examples of professional signature blocks.
Have you ever created an account on a social
networking site but did not complete your profi le?
For your professional e-mail account, be sure
to complete your profi le. A profi le is a living
document that you will need to update often, but
an incomplete profi le might give an employer the
impression that you do not fi nish what you start.
Networking plays an important role in the
career-search process. Networking is talking
with people and establishing relationships
that can lead to career growth or potential job
opportunities. In order to build and expand your
professional network, it is essential to create
business profi les online. This is the beginning
of the networking process.
LinkedIn is a professional networking site that
provides static communication with professionals
and is limited to closed groups and individual
contacts. This professional networking site is used
by more than 200 million people in the workforce
for purposes of making new contacts and building
business relationships. LinkedIn offers users
space for posting and fi nding jobs that might not
be advertised publicly.
LinkedIn’s basic account type is a freemium
model, which means users may utilize basic
services without paying. For additional services
and features, users can opt to purchase upgrades.
App is the abbreviation for
application. An app is a
software program designed for
one specific function. Some
apps are free, while others
have a nominal charge. Mobile
apps can be loaded to a device
such as a smartphone or a
tablet computer. Download the
free app for LinkedIn and Twitter.
Sample Signature Blocks
Shelley Jones
Junior Accountant
(212) 555–1234
sjones@email.com
Rakesh Singh
Project Manager
(623) 555–4023
rsingh@email.com
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 1-4 Your professional signature block should
be concise and complete.