People hire leaders for their expertise and knowledge within their particular sector. One way of attracting attention from decision makers within your defined industry is to market yourself as a thought leader within that particular segment. You should be doing this both in person and online.
In person, you need to become involved in associations and other industry organizations, and attend their meetings, tradeshows, conventions, symposiums or workshops.
You can make valuable new connections with important people in your field, re-establish relationships you already have, and demonstrate your expertise by asking thoughtful questions, making comments from the audience, or by making your own presentations.
Attending events shows that you’re committed to staying up-to-date on what’s going on in your field. Decision makers and hiring authorities are looking for industry involvement, leadership capabilities, skills enhancement, and cultural fit. The world changes fast in every function. Employers want to see you are an active participant in the change.
In your local chapter meetings, volunteer your time by putting yourself forward to serve on the executive committee (secretary, vice-president, treasurer, chair, etc.) or a sub-committee.
Hiring decision makers look for your memberships and affiliation with industry groups, as well as whether your peers see you as a leader by nominating you for these positions of trust and authority. These are two big pluses for your career advancement.
Today there are also vast opportunities to be active in your industry online. You can market yourself as a thought leader and authority using various platforms, but particularly LinkedIn.
Type buzzwords from your industry into the search box, and browse the multitude of LinkedIn groups there are to choose from. By commenting on other people’s posts, and starting your own discussions, you can market yourself as an expert and demonstrate your value as a thought leader.
To add more credibility to your posts, share external links to relevant and helpful articles from reputable sites and your own blog.
Being active in groups and events will help you understand your industry better, become more of an authority, and make connections with other influencers.
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