Should I accept this request or delete it?

"Please add me to your professional network." Many professionals get such requests every day – especially if you are enrolled in a career network. Some of the senders you know, and others can understand why you have to log in. In most of the contact search, but it is a mystery why you are interested in networking. And then the question is: accept it or delete it? While users of the private network Facebook only accept contact requests from friends and Acquaintances, are the users of professional networks is often uncertain which is the right strategy.

in an Online career network, has become in the past ten years, more and more part of the work culture. On the platforms, members can inform present their resumes, recruiters search candidates, companies advertise, the interest groups about developments and colleagues, professional groups, and business partner network and in private, in groups, or publicly communicate.

In German-speaking countries, 15 million users on Xing registered and more than 13 million at the global platform Linkedin. This has a lot to do with a change of job itself will be easier to understand. Occupations die out and new ones have been created; entire industries are changing rapidly; Start-ups fail, or grow fast to global corporations. Employees want to or can bind, therefore, no longer a working life to a company. While some are confused, others will risk funny. Almost everyone is latent to get a job. Social networks are regarded as a miracle cure.

friends can be comforted after a loss of job, but they can rarely help with a Job.

even before the first interview, many high school graduates to make a resume in one or more career networks, such as the step to the labour market and digital to. Hello work world, here I am: educated, willing to work and accessible at any time. To the success – or to a new Job – not in the rule but. An online profile alone is hardly worth more than the entry in the phonebook a few years ago, but with the advantage that Known are to find there, even after a move. Anyone who wants to benefit from the career network, you must consider what opportunities it offers and the strategy that he or she is active there. Otherwise, these networks eat up time and energy.

there are Essentially three motives to be part of a professional network that are associated with increasing effort: The user wants to be found, its analog network to maintain and stay up to date, or the network actively expand customer, cooperation partner or a new place to open. Of course, the motifs can also occur in combination, and with the wish, the social Prestige Supplement to increase the Reputation and to as many people as possible, seen, and shared reading. Depending on which motive dominates, we recommend a different way of dealing with the social network.

Only a fraction of the Jobs will be advertised

the network's strategy to develop, it also helps the function and importance of networks on the labour market in General and for the own professional group, in Particular, to be aware of. The importance of social contacts in the labour market are analysed by the sociologist Mark indeed this is already in the ' 70s – from the close friend to the well-Known.

relatives and friends can be comforted after a loss of job, build, or borrow money. But they can rarely help with a Job, has observed indeed this is. They often have the same well-Known and the employer and, therefore, nothing else of released and upcoming projects as the Affected person self. However, these are valuable information for all who are in need of a new Job or advancement and change opportunities are interested to. Because only a fraction of all jobs and management positions will be advertised by the company. It is the contacts, the know someone, one knows, looking for a new employee or project Manager. Indeed this is called the "the strength of weak contacts". Simplifies the network, the more help and support is to say: The tighter and smaller (and expect) the members. The more and bigger the network, the more information it can receive the members.

A large network with high level individuals indicate that a member is asked: Linkedin App on a Smartphone. Photo: Keystone

The Internet was invented. Nevertheless, the observations of indeed this is virtually on social networks – with one caveat: While the person in real life, only a limited number of contacts and, above all, can maintain, unclips establish these opportunities in the network technically. Nevertheless, the Use of a large network is not infinitely increase, on the contrary, at some point, the information in the network can be arbitrary. So members with many contacts, although often a job offer in the Newsfeed, played because someone has shared from your network to the application.

insider knowledge and gossip share most of the users but only with members that you know well, that you know that you are currently interested in, and which they believe that they would also help you. The Use of additional contacts decreases so at some point the providers themselves say: "We say, "less is more" and recommend that only requests from Known to accept or if the concern is explicitly called," says Barbara Wittmann, managing Director at Linkedin. In the case of some users, who wanted to build a topic-focused network, and get, have you already read the note in the profile: "If you want to contact me, tell me, please, why you want to connect and why I your request should accept it."

In this case, the network behavior of users will see always a trade-off between and seen. A large network with high level individuals indicate that a member is informed, in demand and influential. That this aspect is not to be underestimated, show innovations in Recruiting. Companies are already working to use technology and artificial intelligence on the basis of such contact supposedly interesting candidates. How easy is this computer systems to be deceived or outwitted, only time will tell.

the potential of the contacts don't underestimate

So that members will pass on the idea to want to be in the network size to beat, Linkedin is only for members with up to 500 contacts, the exact Size of your network. This can also be used as an aid in the evaluation of contact requests to be understood: will be interested in Requesting such a large network with more than 500 people, he is more many of the contacts instead of personal interaction. That may be the case, for example, for sales representatives, bloggers and other communications professionals. According to Cord green forest, the function is in the case of Xing, among other things, for the development of profile, contact and news responsible, in addition to the self-employed and project workers to the most active members of the network.

Who but members should actively seek and in your network? Regardless of occupation, industry, and professional experience, we can say: in front of all colleagues, business partners and customers, for which you want to keep out of personal or professional interest contact – be it to re-cooperate, to pursue your future career or other advice or recommendations to clients, employers and customers to help. It does not apply that you should the potential of its contacts. A trainee may already be working soon in the case of a company, with the help of the former Manager wants to cooperate.

"We see a very clear separation of professional and private contacts."Cord green forest, Xing,

friends and Relatives observed, however, green forest back attitude: "We see in the German-speaking area is a very clear separation of professional and private contacts and that many members like this separation and maintained," he says. Career advisors encourage, even completely unknown network members to write, if there is a specific reason – for example, if you want to learn about a company because you think about an application. The probability of getting information is high, reported in green forest from Interviews with members of: "users often doubt whether you can ask for a remote well-Known to help, but if someone is a personal question, are you a rule help to be ready."

networking is Give-and-Take, it must be clear to everyone who wants to benefit from it. For career networks on the Internet the means to share Expertise, to offer help to members of their own network with each other to make known and to meet with new contacts in the opportunity of a coffee. Virtual networks are especially effective where they build on the reality.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 17.04.2019, 16:41 PM