FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST A LIFETIME ON THE INTERNET!

I am a big fan of the internet and using technology to network with friends and colleagues around the country. I am not so disconnected to realize as well that Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn are great places to share information about your lives with others. I had a boss once who told me that "you shouldn't do anything that you didn't want to end up on the front page of the newspaper". Well the worries of newspapers are long gone and now it is the internet, and more specifically social networking sites that you should worry about.

Don't get me wrong. Social networking sites are very useful in networking and with over 10 million Facebook users alone it can be a great way to advertise and target market products and services. We all learn from making mistakes and what you ultimately hope is that those mistakes don't cost you a great deal personally, professionally or financially.

Now for the "BUT"! So many are connected through "friends of friends" that connect you to others who you don't even know. What all people need to realize, especially young people is that individuals are developing impressions of you based upon what they see and hear about you. Just as businesses can succeed or fail by postive or negative word of mouth advertising the same is true for individuals. I hear people say "Facebook is my own personal space and it shouldn't matter what I put on there", WRONG! Every statement you make on a social networking site, every picture you post, every group you join says something to others about who you are. Many individuals connected to you through social networking have never met you and your friends include not just classmates but parents, relatives, teachers, coaches and others whose impression of you may be important to your future.

Do you know that college admission officers, scholarship directors, coaches and employers are looking at social networking sites. I have friends and colleagues who believe that what you do after school or work hours is your own business. To some extent that is true until you personally decide to post your "after hours" life on the internet.

There are thousands of cases where posting on social networking sites have cost individuals their jobs, families and reputations. I refer you back to almost 15 years ago now when social networking was just beginning to morph into what it is today. A high profile basketball coach at a state university was caught partying with a bunch of students who took pictures and decided to post them to the internet. The coach lost his job rightfully so but thankfully has turned his situation into a positive one.

I know the younger you are the more important it is to be perceived as "cool". In my eyes there is nothing "cooler" than people having the right impression of you rather than the one they create from social networking sites. Think about what your putting on social networking sites and is it leaving the impression that you want it to.

Final word: Growing up in a small town my parents always told me that "someone is always watching", and they were right. News always seemed to make it home before I did. In today's world of technology the entire world has become that small town I grew up in. You are being watched constantly and you are making an impression on thousands of people everyday all connected to you through the internet.

You are the CEO of "You Inc.". You are in charge of your "brand" and control how you are perceived. As the CEO of "You Inc." make sure the impression you leave is a positive one because a bad impression is hard to shake!

RANDOM OCTOBER NETWORKING

While attending my 25 year college reunion I ran into a classmate named Chris who had just recently moved back to Indianapolis after being away for a number of years. She is eager to find new employment in the Indianapolis area so I used homecoming as an opportunity to introduce her to a number of friends to build her network in the area. I am confident that by connecting Chris to others in the area that she will identify the right opportunity for her career.

At the conclusion of the same trip I attended a college fair in Bloomington, Illinois. While waiting for students to arrive my conversation with another college representative named Heather led her to communicate that she was an intern and looking for full time employment in sports marketing. In the true spirit of networking Heather followed up the next day with her resume which I then proceeded to email to 8 athletic department officials I know around the country. Time will tell if Heather is able to identify a position but she is one step closer than she was last Friday!

These are just two more examples of how random and spontaneous networking is. There is always an opportunity around the corner and the process of
networking never sleeps!

FALL IS A TIME FOR NETWORKING AT HOMECOMING!

You can feel it in the air when the leaves begin to turn and the night air becomes crisp! Its time for high school and college homecomings to take place all across this country. From the birthplace of homecoming at the University of Missouri, to the banks of the Wabash at Indiana State University to tradition rich Wartburg College alumni come "home".

My how people change! Some you don't recognize and some friends it seems like it was only yesterday you were hanging out together on campus. As you rekindle friendships and memories remember this is also a time to develop new acquaintances. Depending on what reunion year you are celebrating you may be just beginning a career, revitalizing one or getting ready to ease into retirement. In any case re-establishing old friendships and starting new ones is what homecoming is all about.

There is no better opportunity to network for a new job, sell a product or share an entreprenurial idea then at homecoming. Put the bragging aside about what all you have accomplished and think about what you still have ahead of you.

Most importantly, have fun and enjoy your time returning home to your alma mater. But while you are packing remember to include a few business cards to have handy as you meet old friends and make new ones!

You never know when that next opportunity will come but it just might be at the place where it all started!

VERIFYING REFERENCES IS A MUST IN YOUR JOB SEARCH

I can't tell you how many times I have called references that I am sure the candidate thought were going to provide positive responses. To be honest some of those references have been less than flattering. If you are in the job search mode you should contact your references so they are ready when that reference call comes.

Just a few reminders:

As you begin the job search contact your references to verify what they plan to say.

Notify your references if you expect them to receive a call and from what company or individual may be contacting them.

Send a thank you note or email to your references updating them on the status of the employment search they assisted you in.

Provide an updated resume ocassionally to your references so they have something to review before talking with potential employers.

Finally, make sure your pool of references reflect the diversity of experiences that you have had previously.

Good luck !

STAY CONNECTED TO FORMER COLLEAGUES

We all have good intentions of staying in touch with high school classmates, college classmates or former colleagues. The reality is that most people are good at this initially but over time we gradually lose touch with people. We are connected in life by our experiences and maintaining those former working relationships is important.

We have become a very mobile and global society. Individuals you have worked with move as often as you have and many times to better opportunities. There may be instances in your life where that former colleague can be of assistance to you. Make sure you periodically cultivate those relationships with former colleagues so when necessary they are a viable option for you.

Over the years I have seen many former colleagues move to positions where they have hired colleagues from their past. In addition you may move into a profession where those former colleagues become potential clients and customers.

So instead of closing the door on your way out leave it open for future opportunities.

LEADERS REMAIN LEADERS

As you move through life whether it be high school, college or your profession remember that leaders remain leaders. Individuals who assume leadership roles in high school and/or college do not stop being leaders in the professional world. So if you are impressed by an individuals leadership in a high school or college organization you participate in then stay connected to that person. In many cases that individual will become a leader in their profession and/or community and remaining connected could be beneficial to you at some point in your life.

All you Facebook and LinkedIn users make sure you reconnect with the Senior Class President, Fraternity/Sorority President, Captain of the sports team or Drum Majorette because most likely they are now leading another organization.

Remember, leaders remain leaders!

NETWORKING THROUGH SPORTS

Anyone who has ever played sports or has a child involved in sports knows that it is like a fraternity. You see many of the same people on a regular basis at tournaments or school events. As most modern parents know bleachers can be incredibly uncomfortable so get up and stretch those leg's by making a new connection. Sports are a greater connector of people and in addition to remembering which kid scored 2 goals or hit a clutch three pointer make sure you meet his or her parents as well.

I know in my own personal experience I remember individuals I played against 30 years ago and our paths have continued to cross over the years. Greg is a guy that I played basketball against years ago and I remember him as tough nosed, yet personable. Over 20 years later we found ourselves living in the same community and after reconnecting I ended up buying items from his promotions business.

So connect with those individuals who you battle on the court or field against. Most individuals who are competitive in sports remain competitive and successful in life so you want to stay connected to them.