When you will have a networking one-on-one throughout your job search, must you depart behind a resume? Most likely not. Often it’s higher to go away a networking bio as a substitute.
Why?
- Providing a resume might make your networking accomplice really feel pressured, as if although you’re imposing on them to seek out you a job. Give attention to constructing relationship and sharing info; you’re not making use of for a job proper now. (Learn my article, “Networking: Organizations vs. Openings.”)
- You may’t goal your resume for a job opening that doesn’t but exist. Offering a bio leaves the door open so that you can submit a focused resume later, when a particular job alternative opens up.
- Not like a resume, a bio can appropriately embrace a photograph, which will help your contact keep in mind you.
What’s in a Networking Bio?
There aren’t any hard-and-fast guidelines about what info to incorporate in a bio. What details about you’ll assist somebody keep in mind you and your background? What sort of description would encourage them to maintain you in thoughts as a useful resource?
A bio could be a bit much less formal than a resume. For instance, you’ll be able to write it in first individual (referring to your self as “I” relatively than by identify), or if you happen to write it in third individual (“Maria Miller is …”) you’ll be able to insert quotes from your self.
Restrict your bio to 1 web page or much less. Be concise.
You may embrace a number of the similar info that’s in your resume, however make sure that the bio is participating and conveys a way of who you might be as an individual. Ask your self questions like the next:
What’s my distinctive promoting proposition or model? What info about me give proof of that?
- What’s fascinating or spectacular about my profession path?
- What story would illustrate my skills and expertise?
- What am I captivated with, professionally?
- What do I like about my subject? about my present employer? about my workforce?
This offers you concepts towards writing a related and interesting bio.
When to Use a Networking Bio
A bio is helpful in a profession analysis dialog or informational interview with somebody you’ve by no means met. You may present it by way of e mail earlier than the assembly and/or hand them a tough copy as you’re leaving.
Nonetheless, in an informational interview with a hiring supervisor who may probably offer you a job, a resume is definitely extra applicable.
Simply don’t rely on the bio or resume to maintain you at high of thoughts together with your new contact. A vital a part of networking is realizing methods to flip data interviews into relationships.
Bio or LinkedIn Connection Request?
“Why present a bio,” you might surprise, “when the individual can simply look me up on LinkedIn?” Definitely, a LinkedIn connection request is an effective subsequent step after a networking assembly. But it surely’s fairly potential that your new contact will merely click on “Settle for” and transfer on with out taking a look at your profile. Offering a bio earlier than or throughout the assembly might get extra consideration and assist them keep in mind your background and pursuits. On the very least, it’s an extra touchpoint.
networking bio reinforces an impression of you as somebody who is nice to know and keep up a correspondence with. (This put up was initially revealed in 2013 and has been up to date for the 2020s.)