Arrive Magazine - November/December, 2010

self-assessment, for employees who want this kind of evaluation but don’t have access to an in-person session. (In a downsized economy, training budgets are often sharply reduced.)

Then, think like a senior manager to figure out how your passion will benefit the company. Ask yourself, Where does this business want to go and how can something I love doing get it there?

“It could be reaching a new market or finding a new way to reach an existing market,” Perkins says. “Do your research. Make some projections about the benefits of doing it. And then make an appointment to present it.”

Empowering Yourself
via Social Media

Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are often used to network with other professionals and to promote accomplishments, thus increasing the perception of one’s value. But the levels of user sophistication vary, and those who are the most social media savvy get far more return for their time on these sites. Those having a difficult time connecting with others within their own fields might try tweepml.org, which allows Twitter users to search for other users with shared interests and experiences.

You also can increase your visibility on Facebook and LinkedIn by customizing your public profile URL, using your name and industry-specific keywords to attract peers throughout the world.

“After doing this, you’ll want to estab-
lish a Google Alert on your own name,”
says Chandlee Bryan, a social media con-
sultant and coauthor of The Twitter Job
Search Guide. “That way, you’ll get noti-
fied whenever anyone mentions you, and
track your rise in visibility over time.”
And you don’t have to be a social media
whiz to get the most out of online tools.
You can present yourself as a tech-savvy
professional with deep industry knowl-
edge simply by setting up and reviewing
custom Google Alerts to receive men-
tions of your company, your competitors
and relevant business trends in the field,
by keyword or search phrase.

“You’ll establish more value within your organization because people will come to you to find out what the key discussions and issues are,” Bryan says.