'Professional presence' means two things: what you know and how you communicate it. We want the world to know how great you are:
- Keep an 'achievements' file - It doesn't matter whether this is online or on paper. Whenever you accomplish something cool, keep a record of it. When you go to write your resume, it is so much easier to look through a file than dig through your memory.
- Set up an online presence - Yep, you need a web page or a blog. Employers will be checking you out online. Let's give them something worthwhile to see. It doesn't have to be more than a page - unless you want it to. List your accomplishments, good courses you've taken, presentations you've heard. Don't put up pictures of your dog or your roommate (see below).
- Separate the 'employable' you from the 'fun' you - Maybe you should set up a separate online identity for the pictures of your Spring Break Cancun trip. Just saying.
- Set up a LinkedIn account - Social media rules. Learn to use it. You can use Twitter also for making contacts. If you are grad student, here's a link to a good blog on using Twitter. Also check out the Weblinks portion of dougsguides for more advice on using LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Get business cards - I know it sounds so 20th century, but business cards are still the currency of business relationships. Many colleges provide free ones. Ask the career center.
- Publish and present at conferences - If you are a grad student or a post-doc, this is essential. Many science undergrads also are being given research opportunities. If you can do a poster or any kind of presentation, that's going to set you apart. For an undergrad, it doesn't have to be in your major field, if you've done a club or activity presentation, that'll help.
I expanded on this in a blog entry: "How to Stand Out from the Crowd."
