What can I do with my marketing degree

What can I do with my marketing degree by Amber Rolfe Ready to start marketing your skills? Here’s how…Figuring out what to do after graduating isn’t always easy. But there are a wide range of career options out for anyone with a marketing degree, which will allow you to play to your strengths and pursue something you’re passionate about â€" whether it’s social media, SEO, or something else.To help you choose your perfect marketing job, here’s our advice on what you can do with your marketing degree:Jobs you can do with a marketing degree Marketing Executive: Marketing Executives oversee, develop, plan and promote marketing campaigns. They could take on a variety of responsibilities, from planning, advertising, and PR, to event organisation, product development, and research.How to get there: Whilst a degree in marketing will certainly boost your chances of being considered, most employers will also look for candidates who also have relevant work experience. Carrying out an internship, working part-tim e, work shadowing or starting out at a lower level in a related area (e.g. as a Marketing Assistant or Junior Marketing Executive) is a great way to work your way up. View all Marketing Executive jobsHow to become a Marketing Executive  Social Media Manager: This role focuses on boosting brand visibility, engagement, and sales through the planning and management of an organisation’s social media strategy. Typical duties include producing and sharing relevant content, responding to messages, and monitoring performance.How to get there: When it comes to landing a role in this field, your experience, existing knowledge, and personality can often be just as important as your degree. So to really stand out, consider gaining relevant work experience, or taking a social media specific course. You could also demonstrate your abilities through building a strong online presence (e.g. via your own social channels and blog). View all Social Media Manager jobs  Copywriter: If you’re interest ed in creating engaging content, this role could be for you. Copywriters write, proofread, and edit a range of media, from headlines, catchphrases, and slogans, to product descriptions, articles, or TV adverts.How to get there: Employers in this field are primarily looking for those with excellent writing skills, along with a high level of creativity and imagination â€" meaning showcasing your abilities with a portfolio of your work is key. This can include any freelance projects you’ve completed, guest articles for websites, articles from your own blog, or anything else that demonstrates your skills. View all Copywriter jobsHow to become a Copywriter  SEO Specialist: SEO (also known as Search Engine Optimisation) Specialists work closely with editorial and marketing teams to optimise website content, and maximise traffic from search engines. This is achieved through a variety of techniques, including keyword research, testing, and data analysis.How to get there: To make sure youâ €™re standing out from the crowd, think of ways to show your commitment, interest, and skills in SEO â€" whether it’s through work experience that allowed you to improve an organisation’s website, a qualification, or simply keeping up-to-date with new algorithm changes and industry developments. View all SEO jobs  UX Designer: Using a range of testing techniques and tools (such as screen readers and interaction models), UX Designers create websites or applications that are easy to use, aesthetically pleasing, and engaging. They also work closely with Creative Directors to ensure the product is on-brand.How to get there: Although your marketing degree will be helpful, it might also be useful to carry out postgraduate study in UX design. Skills and experience in HTML code and web design, along with an interest in the design and usability of websites, are particularly desirable assets to have. View all UX jobs  Event Manager: Event Managers are in charge of the organisation of all kinds of events from conferences, exhibitions, and product launches, to parties, festivals and fundraising events. Typical duties could include liaising with clients, researching venues, managing budgets, liaising with suppliers, and much more.How to get there: You’ll usually need some relevant work experience (in events, hospitality, sales, marketing, or customer service) to get started as an Events Manager, whether it’s paid or voluntary. Organising student events at university is also a great way to demonstrate your suitability to employers.   View all Event Manager jobsHow to become an Event Manager  Other potential roles: Market Researcher, Account Manager, Content Manager, Social Media Assistant, Marketing Analyst, PR Executive, Media Buyer, Art Director.  Skills to utilise A marketing degree will teach you a wide range of skills, allowing you to explore and understand customer behaviour, human psychology, business management, and much more.Here are a few of the key skill s gained from a marketing degree:Communication skillsBusiness acumenNegotiation skillsCritical thinkingResearch and analysis skillsCreativityCommercial awarenessAdvanced planning skillsPublic speaking skillsFurther education Depending on the career direction you choose, pursuing further study could be a great way to expand on your knowledge, maximise your employability, and ultimately secure a job.For example, taking a postgrad in a more specific area of marketing could help you to stand out to employers in that field â€" whether it’s to enhance your knowledge of social media, learn more about SEO, or anything else.And, as the industry is always changing, it’s vital for marketers to stay ahead of the curve â€" no matter where they’re at in their career.This means keeping up-to-date with the most recent news and developments is key, whether it’s by listening to webinars, attending conferences, or taking courses on a regular basis. Even something as simple as following the rig ht blogs or social media accounts could be the key to finding your ideal role.Eight tips to help you get a career in digital marketingStill searching for your perfect position? View all graduate marketing jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. What job suits me?

4 Behaviors to Quit to Start Having a Successful Career

4 Behaviors to Quit to Start Having a Successful Career Whether you are experienced or just starting out, there are four behaviors you must quit to start having a successful career. Sometimes, the best way to be successful is to let go of behaviors that either wittingly or unwittingly hold us back.Building a successful career is not always about “making lots of money”. Sometimes, you will find the behaviors of successful people involve quitting the following.1. Assigning Blame to Others for Their Own ProblemsThe scariest thing to do to start having a successful career is to acknowledge that all the things we experience are the results of our own choices.You will never find behaviors of successful people to include things like, “Being a victim of other people’s choices”. Those already building a successful career never point fingers at others for their own failures. Instead, they learn and grow from their failures.It is a waste of time. They know having a successful career involves learning from your own mistakes and moving forwa rd.2. Complaining How Life Is UnfairThere are many stories of the behaviors of successful people and how they succeed in the face of diversity. Many who never enjoy having a successful career got past the fact that life is unfair and bad things happen to good people.Behaviors of successful people include humility, patience, and the ability to know when it is the right time to be diplomatic. Successful people know their plans for having a successful career can be derailed at any time. So, why bother complaining? It is pointless and a waste of energy.Building a successful career requires accepting, but never complaining, about how life can be unfair. It takes away time and energy that is best spent on working to achieve success.3. Acting Like They Know EverythingThis is a tough one to quit. We live in a time where we can Google anything for an answer to our questions. But those who are building a successful career know better. They know more than simply “what people did to succeed†. They know the best way to be successful is to figure things out on their own and listen more than they speak.They are having a successful career because they do not cut people off mid-sentence and choose to listen to both sides of a story. Sure, some of it bores a successful person to tears, but they are always analyzing what is being said and how to use it effectively for their career.Most importantly, they are never arrogant about having an answer to a question(a sign someone is unhappy and insecure).4. Being a FollowerHave you ever wondered how people are having successful careers when it seems the entire world is against them? Leaders succeed because they know building a successful career requires something summed up in this quote:“I never listen to critics. I don’t even ignore them.”One behavior of successful people is to move forward regardless of what others think. Henry Ford, thefounder of Ford Motor Company, is known for this famous quote:“If I had asked people w hat they wanted, they would have said ‘faster horses’.”Indeed, having a successful career requires being misunderstood. A successful person knows that is ok. Only followers care what others think.

7 Ways Your Marketing Team Can Utilize Customer Web Forms

7 Ways Your Marketing Team Can Utilize Customer Web Forms Web forms are one of the most useful tools on your website, and your marketing team may have any number of ideas about how they can best use them. Using form builders, they can create a number of tools that allow them to interact with your customer base. These forms can be powerful, designed to work well with mobile and desktop, and can even help prevent spam and keep trolls from wasting your time on your site. Here are seven ways your marketing team can utilize customer web forms. 1. Add Email Subscribers Building your email subscriber list? What better way than to have a web form that pops up, inviting the website visitor to join? Adding email subscribers is one of the best ways to get the word out about new products, promotions, sales, and more.  It also allows you to gain more information about the people who are interested in your product or service. A word of caution here: avoid giant pop up forms or ones that are not easy to close and decline. The most important thing is that the web visitor sees and interact with your content, and they are likely to leave if they feel to sold to. Make your subscription forms more of a friendly invitation than an unavoidable inconvenience. 2. Generate Sales Leads Let’s say someone is interested in your products or services though and wants to contact the sales team. What is the easiest way for them to do so? Well, you can share your email address and contact information, but that requires more effort on their part. A webform makes contacting you easy for potential customers. Remember, even with these forms keep them fast and simple. Only gather the information you absolutely need to get in touch and answer questions and make non-essential fields optional. You want customers to fill out the form, and you don’t want their first contact with you to be a frustrating experience. 3. Answer Questions Of course you have a list of FAQs on your website, right? Of course you do, but they cannot possibly answer every question a sales lead might have. A simple contact form with a headline of “didn’t find the answer you were looking for?” offers your marketing team an opportunity to answer that question rather than losing that lead. Give your potential customers the option to ask. 4. Collect Payments Yes, web forms can be quite powerful lead generation and question answering tools, but you can also use them to collect payments. Whether this is for a one time purchase, a subscription, or even a product purchase, the ability to get a lead to pay on the spot is the ultimate conversion. This is not always easy, and the page should be well constructed and written, but as a marketing tool this can be seen as literal gold. 5. Offer Surveys What are your customers thinking? What do they think of your products, services, or your website? What about future offerings? Would they buy them from you and use them? How is your customer service department doing? All of these questions and thousands more can be answered by offering your customers the opportunity to take surveys. All of them relate to marketing, although other departments can use surveys as well. The kicker is this: they give you a great result for minimal effort, but can offer some real insight on what customers want, need, and expect from you. All of this informs your marketing efforts. 6. Get Good Product Reviews Want to get good reviews? Unfortunately, people are much more likely to leave a poor review than a good one. However, they will often leave a positive review if you ask them too. This is a great use of a web form. A simple “What did you think of your most recent experience?” or “Did ‘x’ product meet your expectations?” can prompt them to leave you a review or information about how you are doing. Remember when word of mouth was the greatest marketing tool? It still is, it just occurs on the web via reviews, testimonials, and social media. These are some of the greatest marketing tools you can have. 7.Properly Route Complaints Unfortunately, the flip side of that coin is that people often leave bad reviews when they are unhappy. Web forms can actually give them a place to air their frustrations before they become an online review. One of the greatest marketing tools is reputation management, and it can start with a simple “What went wrong?” question on the right web form. Resolving the complaint before it becomes a public one will help keep that reputation intact so marketing does not have to focus on damage control. Conclusion There are probably dozens of ways your marketing team can use web forms, but these seven common applications will have a direct impact on your business and your profits. Was this article helpful and informative? Leave us a comment with your thoughts in the section below.

Tips and Tools for Virtual Collaboration

Tips and Tools for Virtual Collaboration Thanks to modern technology, this world is more connected than ever. Now, it’s common for people to easily and swiftly collaborate on projects while residing on different continents, but just a couple of decades ago, such a feat would have been challenging to say the least. However, there’s definitely a fine art to collaborating with colleagues who are distant while making it seem like they’re merely within an arm’s length away. Keep reading to get some ideas to virtually connect with others like a seasoned pro. Use a Project Management Interface Keeping everyone organized and on the same page can be tough enough when everyone’s geographically close, and it’s naturally harder when there’s distance involved. However, you can make everything much simpler for everyone by using a project management tool that allows you to set milestones, assign tasks and give due dates everyone can see â€" not just the people working on a certain task. Basecamp is arguably one of the most well-known interfaces for project management needs, but there are also tools that offer a slightly different take on project management. For example, there’s Trello, which organizes tasks into cards and allows you to have an unlimited number of tasks per card. Within each task, you can make comments, clarify deadlines, add attachments and more. There are also project management tasks designed for certain industries. CoSchedule is one that’s geared toward bloggers. It has sections related to marketing timelines and social media schedules, plus it’s compatible with other apps you may already be using, like Evernote. Be Mindful of Time Zone Differences You might be all excited to share a new idea with a colleague but feel deflated once you realize it’s just after midnight in her area of the world. You’ve caused her to stumble out of bed and reach for her phone with annoyance to see who’s trying to get in touch at such an odd hour. This scenario is relatively common with virtual collaboration, but you can handily avoid it by using time zone converters. Your options range from straightforward to advanced. You could go with the aptly named Every Time Zone, which features a cool slider feature so you can see how a certain time in one location corresponds to the times in others. It’s really handy for calculating how lots of different time zones differ, especially if you’re tired of trying to juggle the differences through mental calculation alone. Alternatively, go with Miranda. It’s an iOS app that features an interactive world map. Miranda does more than just show you what time it is in certain areas of the world, too. It lets you schedule meetings and send out invitations to your team, all directly through the tool. Listen to Team Feedback About the Tools You Use According to a survey conducted by WorldCom, 90 percent of respondents felt virtual collaboration tools improved their time management efforts and helped their companies save money. However, you’re not likely to see such positive results if you choose the tools your team members use without taking their feedback into account. For example, maybe a certain highly recommended app acts sluggishly and crashes often on particular operating systems. Such input given by one or two people might not be reason enough to can the app altogether, but it should make you at least think seriously about how to help the affected individuals so they can use the app with less stress. If you ignore the challenges they’re facing, you might end up with a morale problem that’s hard to turn around and is ultimately toxic to the team. Plan Face Time When Possible It’s easy for virtual teams to lose sight of the overall vision and feel like they’re not part of a mutual effort when there’s great distance involved. That’s why it’s a good idea to figure out ways for people to meet face-to-face as much as possible, even if that means only doing so twice a year. Such group gatherings foster a stronger team spirit and let people get to know each other in more in-depth ways than technology alone might allow. If you don’t have a physical office space, do research and see if your area offers co-working spaces for rent. Then, you have the opportunity to temporarily use dedicated areas that have Wi-Fi, restrooms and maybe even kitchens stocked with snacks. There may be cases where it’s just not feasible to bring teams together for face-to-face time often enough. In those instances, do the next best thing by using videoconferencing apps. That way, even if people aren’t physically together, they can at least notice things like each other’s expressions or even show off stylish new outfits to colleagues from afar. It’s worth getting up to date on some of the leading video conferencing options and thoroughly trying them out with the team before committing to a specific one. You’ve probably heard of options like Skype and GoToMeeting, but solutions like AnyMeeting and Fring may also fit your needs. Harness Collective Knowledge Initially, it may seem like the distance spanning between your team members makes it difficult or impossible to re-create the common office scene of a meeting room full of people sitting in front of a whiteboard and bouncing ideas off of each other. Fortunately though, there are many online brainstorming tools to make the process a lot easier than you imagined. Try HipChat, which allows you to share your desktop with other participants and save chat transcripts so any ideas generated are kept in a more user-friendly format than notes scribbled down on notebook paper. Also, Mural offers a giant virtual canvas where everyone can add ideas in real time. A voting feature allows you to quickly pick out the possibilities that won over the majority. Consider how distance may actually work to your advantage when brainstorming. Naturally, people who live in different places will have alternative perspectives about things like: Cultural norms Societal trends Breaking news Customer habits The most misunderstood things about your products Their take on things could help your company have a more well-rounded worldview. As a result, your business will be in a stronger position to impress clients, cause customer loyalty and grow your brand. Although it’s true virtual collaboration is tricky at times, hopefully these pointers and products help you manage teams more smoothly. If you start feeling frazzled, try to remain upbeat by remembering the greater collaboration options that now exist because it’s no longer necessary for people to either work in the same location or only be able to chat with each other by phone. Images:  Skype     Irish Typepad         Times Zones  Sarah Dillon

Writing a Purchasing Resume

Writing a Purchasing ResumeWriting a purchasing resume is an important part of your job search, whether you choose to make it part of your job search strategy or you hire a hiring manager or recruitment agency to do it for you. A purchase resume is your business resume; it's your direct approach to potential clients, and it helps you get your foot in the door for a new job. Here are some things to consider:The main point of any information is to get a conversation started, or at least make a connection with the reader. To accomplish this, try using a compelling opening paragraph that catches the reader's attention and have them read on. This paragraph needs to be informed and specific, even if it starts out as generic.Many people read a paragraph and then stop; they assume they've heard everything there is to know about a company or industry. In order to write a buying resume that grabs a reader's attention, you need to include a good headline and then keep coming back to the headlin e to expand on what it is you're saying. If you focus on the headline alone, then you've given the reader nothing to take away from the rest of your piece.Do not try to sell yourself or your experience on a buying resume. A common mistake is to put down the real information about yourself or to be too general. Saying something like 'Experience: Sales Executive/Retail Manager' sounds great; but really, is that enough information? You really need to find out more about what you're selling, why you're selling it, and what your market needs.Besides, you shouldn't be writing a buying resume with the intention of getting a job offer. The reason is simple: your resume should always be secondary to what you're selling. Focus on the opportunity that this position is an answer to.If you are starting out as a sales person, then you'll probably want to work up to a call sheet that features the three most successful campaigns you've ever seen. This is where your sales skills should come into pla y: build a strong list, offer a value proposition (how does the person being called gain from this opportunity? ), and show that you're ready to hit the ground running. If you only have one or two key ideas, be sure to keep these in your list, along with a few additional solid picks.Let's say you already have a copy of your resume, along with some current sales skills and your company's logo, right? Great! There's no better way to get your resume seen than by printing it, then handing it out to the potential client(s) who will look over your sales resume.When you have a name, your resume should be handed out to the hiring manager or hiring firm who will be looking over your copy. Don't forget, this type of work involves the hiring manager or hiring firm having the final say on your hiring. Because of this, try not to fill up the entire cover page with your name and contact information.

How To Avoid The Biggest Virtual Interview Mistake

How To Avoid The Biggest Virtual Interview Mistake How To Avoid The Biggest Virtual Interview Mistake The biggest mistake you can make with a virtual interview is not taking it seriously. In the past, phone interviews were used primarily for screening. A recruiter or human resources associate called potential candidates to get basic information: are they still looking, do they meet the essential qualifications, do their salary requirements fall in the employer’s range, etc. They also screened for basic communication skills. Can this person carry on a conversation? If the candidate passes the initial screening they were invited in for an interview. Those days are over. Unfortunately, many candidates treat all virtual interviews like screening calls. This is a big mistake. One that may kill their chances of moving forward.   Today, candidates may have several virtual interviews before being invited in for an interview.   A screening interview â€" with a recruiter or HR associate A longer interview with senior HR personnel A phone or Skype interview with the hiring manager’s assistant or someone else on the team A phone or Skype interview with the hiring manager While these steps are a generalization, the point is that you should expect to have 2 to 3 phone or Skype interviews before meeting anyone in person. Virtual interviews are more convenient for the employer. First, they can conduct several interviews in a shorter amount of time. Second, the employer can save additional time by conducting virtual interviews from their desk. (Hiring staff is yet another task a manager has to squeeze into an already packed day.) Finally, they don’t need to book a conference room in advance. Most candidates would rather meet in person. They feel that they make a better impression in person. And they probably do. Which is why it’s essential to treat each phone or Skype interview just as seriously as a face-to-face meeting. Here are 5 ways to improve your chances of moving forward. #1 Choose a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted or overheard. Avoid anywhere on your employer’s premises. That includes your private office, the rest room, or a well-trafficked area like a stairwell. The day you’re interviewing with a recruiter will be the day that your boss decides to take the stairs. #2 If you’re scheduled for a phone interview make sure you are someplace where you will have good cell reception. Visit the location to check your service in advance. It’s nearly impossible for a recruiter to conduct an interview when your voice is garbled, or your phone keeps cutting in and out. If you’re scheduled for a Skype interview test your camera, microphone, and Internet connection well before the interview. If you’re using a laptop, make sure you’re near an outlet or the battery is fully charged. In the absence of extenuating circumstances, there’s no excuse for losing your connection.   #3 Research the company just as you would before an in-person meeting. Avoid being considered the lazy candidate by reviewing the company’s website, LinkedIn page, and social media platforms. When the interviewer asks if you’re familiar with the company they won’t be impressed if you mutter “no.” They expect a few thoughtful questions and comments that show you’ve done your research. Visit the LinkedIn profiles of the people you’ll be talking with as well. Finding you have things in common, like attending the same college, can help you quickly establish rapport.   #4 Prepare notes and have them nearby during your call. Notes should include information about the employer and the people you’ll be interviewing with, and a few prepared questions for the end of the interview. Be sure to have your resume on hand to prompt you with names, dates, and accomplishments. If you’re being interviewed via Skype, make sure that your notes are not front and center during the call. Also, make sure that the background is clear and uncluttered. #5 Know your resume cold. Be prepared to answer questions about your claims on LinkedIn and other social media sites too. Everything on your resume and available online is fair game during the interview process. Bonus: Let your personality shine! Most people do better during in-person interviews because “they” are there. Remember to smile (naturally) during virtual interviews. Even if you’re on the phone. Studies have shown that people can “hear” a smile in your voice. If you’re on the phone, stand and walk around a bit to keep up your energy. Boost your confidence before every interview with the Superhero pose.   Don’t blow virtual interviews by not taking them seriously. Prepare as you would for an in-person meeting. Pay attention. Be enthusiastic. Sell yourself to the interviewer. Follow up with a thank you note. Even if it’s only the 1st 20-minute screening call with a recruiter. Express your interest in the job and the company and mention anything you forgot to say during the call. Remember each person in the chain has the option to recommend that you move forward. Or not. When I was a recruiter, I wrote a 1 page “report” about each candidate I interviewed and submitted it to the hiring manager along with the candidate’s resume. Once you reach the final stage (only a few candidates left standing) focus on getting the job. Until then, your primary goal should be to keep moving forward in the process. You’ll probably have 2 to 3 virtual interviews before getting a face-to-face meeting. Make each one of them count.

Why LinkedIn Matters In A Job Search - Pathfinder Careers

Why LinkedIn Matters In A Job Search - Pathfinder Careers Why LinkedIn Matters In A Job Search Want to elevate your credentials? LinkedIn can make a difference, and add a significant amount of gravitas to your professional background.   There are a lot of different resources out there that provide helpful tips on LinkedIn, but here are the top things you need to know why you should take LinkedIn seriously as a valid career tool with as much weight as your resume: 1.   Online presence. Nowadays, if your name  doesnt pop up on any online searches, its become almost a bad thing. Heres what an employer thinks: If the candidate hasnt done anything  to  get themselves  out on the Internet, then its likely that the  prospective employee is a non-entity with virtually no accomplishments, affiliations. or leadership.   It also indirectly shows a lack of career drive  in proactively establishing an  online presence.   By jumping in, you can help dictate what is published about you.   With 4 out of 5 employers doing some kind of social media audit or Web search, you really need to understand how important it is to create a professional profile online, and LinkedIn is a heavily-utilized avenue to accomplish this. 2.   Recommendations. Instead of heaping on a pile of letters of recommendations into an application, asking colleagues, supervisors, clients, and people who are familiar with your abilities in the workplace to write a testimonial can accomplish the same thing, and also provide that first blush impression of you as a person.   It also consolidates this information in one place, so you arent scrambling for recommendations at the last minute. Be specific- when asking someone to write up your positive work attributes, make sure you strategically ask them to talk about one specific aspect of what you have to offer by spreading out your attributes among several people, it gives a wider scope of who you are to prospective employers.   But be careful about trading recommendations with your friends- employers can spot these a mile a way and essentially, these become worthless if it is simply a scratch my back / scratch your back exchange. 3.   QA Establish yourself as a subject matter expert. Some fields require pretty specific knowledge- the question and answer section of LinkedIn can help you establish yourself as a subject matter expert, and gain user votes for your expertise along the way.   Find the appropriate categories where you feel that you can knowledgably contribute, and answer questions selflessly.   Dont try to insert any plugs or sales pitches to try and direct readers to your site thats the fastest way to get blacklisted! 4.   Find jobs. Many employers relish the aspect of having the six degrees of separation factor in LinkedIn, and are starting to only post jobs on this site.   If you decide to apply, the company hiring manager or human resource manager can find a linkable trail to how you might be connected to someone inside the company. 5.   Find people / become connected. Conversely, if you find a position that you are interested in, its important to remember that people pave the way to jobs.   Identify a job opening with a company, then jump onto LinkedIn to see if you are connected to someone at that organization where you can find out additional information about the opening.   Be careful about using people- no one likes being a stepping stone, so make sure to be polite, ask the right questions about your connection and their interface with the company, and remember to thank them for their time.   Cultivating those relationships can payoff when a job opens up there, and you have established an internal advocate! 6.   Join networking groups. There is virtually a group for everyone on LinkedIn, and by connecting to the right packs of connections or in the same industry, you can stay abreast of current issues, trends, and learn new things that can keep your industry-specific knowledge honed.   You can also gain influence while enhancing your online profile by participating in discussions and also answering some of the QA (see above). 7. Use LinkedIn to gather business intelligence. This online tool doesnt need to be just for looking for jobs.   You can use this site as a way to gather information on competitors, which may help you in your current position!   This doesnt mean trade secrets; usually this means obtaining enough information to obtain competitive profiles of other companies. 8.   Show traction through regular updates. LinkedIn allows users to add an update sort of along the lines of Twitter and Facebook- but keep it business-like. Adding tidbits about a recent conference you attended, or a presentation that you gave, can provide a visitor to your profile a sense of your career traction moving forward. By understanding all of these points, you will be able to leverage your online presence to augment your career credentials and stand out in your career.