 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
 |
|
From the Education Committee
I formerly thought of networking as attending seminars, meeting people, and exchanging names or business cards. Thanks to the internet, people are now able to network without ever leaving the office or home. You can search for professions, businesses, or areas of interest and find associations, job listings, online communities, and colleagues or competitors. Classmates.com is a good way to find people you went to school with.
Having an “internet presence” has evolved to the point that it is almost expected. This has been discussed at recent seminars, and NALS has presence on Facebook and LinkedIn.
There are three main networking sites – MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn – and they appeal to different audiences.
MySpace started in 2003 and is usually the first site that comes to mind. MySpace is mainly used as a social networking website. Members post information about themselves, pictures, personal profiles, and music and videos.
Facebook was launched in 2003. It was originally started as a site for Harvard University students, but expanded first to other Ivy League colleges, than to any students, and now is available to anyone over the age of 13. Networks are organized by city, workplace, school or regions. You can add friends and send messages.
Of the three websites, LinkedIn is promoted as a network for professional relationships. Profiles created on LinkedIn summarize your professional accomplishments. Your profile can be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. Viewers request to be connected to you, and you must approve these requests. If you wish to create a profile on LinkedIn, there is some great advice on how to develop your profile in the blogs.
Be cautious in what you post on these sites. It is becoming common for employers to check for internet presence when they are performing background checks on persons applying for a job. I have heard of candidates not being hired because of what was posted on their MySpace page.
While nothing will replace face-to-face networking, in the age of technology, Internet presence has its value.
maximizing your potential!
NALS...the association for legal professionals
Copyright NALS, Inc. all rights reserved
NALS is dedicated to enhancing the competencies and contributions of
members in the legal services profession