Visibility & Self Promotion on LinkedIn
Being visible on a platform like LinkedIn gets you to where you want to be faster in relation to your alt ac career.
There are a lot of different reasons why self-promotion can feel uncomfortable (it may feel like boasting, we may feel intimidated, we may fear trolling, we may fear rejection, we may have self-doubt, we may have imposter feelings...)
I get it. I've felt those feelings. I still have times of feeling deeply uncomfortable about being visible and showcasing what I do in online spaces.
Why do it?!
Because as a career development strategy (and/or business development strategy) it works.
And the good news is, you don't have to be everywhere, posting all the time, monitoring analytics, investing in paid-for versions of all the latest fancy platforms.
You can choose one online platform.
You can focus on connecting/following people.
You can comment or react of people's posts in a supportive way.
You can post content as often as you have time for.
It doesn't have to become yet another mammoth task on your to-do list. Dare I say it? It can even be enjoyable!
Check out the video below to learn more about LinkedIn if you don't use it (yet)! Why LinkedIn? Because it is a very powerful platform for people transitioning out of academia!
Imagine being invisible
If you are invisible, who is going to know that you have unique skills, knowledge and experience?
If you stay in academia, will you be able to develop your career if you are invisible? We know you need to publish, present, apply for funding, network etc etc! That is all visibility!
If you transition out of academia, will you be able to become aware of opportunities that are a perfect fit for you - or even have opportunities come to you - if you are invisible? No.
So, how can you be visible and promote yourself in ways that feel comfortable?
Sharing your skills, knowledge and experience in visible ways enables you to develop your career more quickly and strategically that just applying for jobs and hoping to get interviews.
Focus on adding value: if you remember that can add value to people and organisations through your content (and conversations if its IRL visibility) it may feel less 'boasty'. It may feel less like self-promotion and more like helping.
Use examples: design your content around what you have done and what others could find useful from your processes and learnings. Again, this can feel less like self-promotion and more like helpful contributions.
Do it little and often: start on one platform and build up your connections and content. The more you do it, easier it becomes, particularly as people start engaging in positive and supportive ways (more so on LinkedIn than other platforms).
You have amazing insights to offer the world. Be visible.
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