Entrepreneurship

10 things to avoid when building your LinkedIn profile!

LinkedIn image

It’s natural to feel unsure about a professional social media network like LinkedIn. It’s a place where people in all industries can go to build relationships with their colleagues and demonstrate their experience and expertise. It’s also a place where businesses and organizations can show off their work to prospective clients, customers, and even future employees.

The absolute last thing you want to do is to look like you don’t know what you are doing!

Here are some things to avoid when building your professional profile:

  1. Not understanding the difference between a LinkedIn Company Page and a LinkedIn Profile. There are two ways for you to demonstrate your expertise on LinkedIn. With a Company Page, you’ll be communicating as your business. This is similar to a Facebook Business Page, where prospective clients can learn more about your business. However, it is much more focused on informing your audience rather than building a community like you would on Facebook.
    With your LinkedIn Profile, you’ll be communicating as an individual rather than a business. Here you’ll connect with clients, colleagues, and other members of your professional network.
    Mixing this up is a guaranteed way to look foolish when starting out.
  2. Not having a profile photo. This might seem like a no-brainer, but not having a photo can have a big impact on the overall appearance of your profile. Even worse is using an unprofessional profile photo! Quirky photos that might fly on Facebook are not a good choice on LinkedIn. Keep your headshot professional.
  3. Not completing your entire profile. Having an incomplete profile not only looks lazy, but it also doesn’t portray all of the amazing credentials and experience you have. Show them off!
  4. Not including a personalized message. With every invitation you send to connect, you should always include a personal message. This is the place to add that little something extra. A personalized note goes a long way because it makes your invitation feel genuine.
  5. Not posting appropriate content. LinkedIn is a professional social networking site. The type of content you’d post on Facebook, might not be appropriate on LinkedIn. Keep content professional and relevant.
  6. Not proofreading your posts. An extra comma here and a misspelled word there may not seem like a big deal, but it does make you look less professional. Keep posts as grammatically sound as possible.
  7. Not being selective about the connections you accept. The people you choose to connect with are a representation of who you are. Don’t accept just anyone. Make sure you know who they are and their credentials.
  8. Sending too many requests = poor LinkedIn etiquette. Don’t bombard people with request after request. It gets annoying. You also want to be choosey about the people you request to connect with.
  9. Embellishing your responsibilities and accomplishments. Plain and simple, it’s just better not to embellish. Plus, I’m sure you have plenty of experience to show off. Tell people about it all!
  10. Not sharing rich media (i.e. links, videos, infographics, slideshare etc.) Take advantage! It’s an engaging, fun way to attract people to your profile!

Remember that professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn, have become a valuable place to find new employees, employers or clients, reconnect and strengthen relationships with friends and former colleagues, and get career-related advice.

What do you think about our list? Did we miss anything? Share your thoughts!

Flugtag Anyone?

The Algonquin Airborne Aces – Red Bull Flugtag Challenge

Algonquin Airborne Aces Logo

The School of Business’ very own Alex Mahon, a current Business – Management and Entrepreneurship student is serving as team leader for The Algonquin Airborne Aces, in this year’s Red Bull Flugtag Challenge.

Alex, along with his ace team members, Akil Alyacoubi, Vincenzo Marcantonio, and Kevin Randing, are facing the Flugtag with heads held high as it “challenges the brave and the brainy to design, build and pilot homemade flying machines, and launch themselves off a 22-foot high flight deck in hopes of soaring into the wild blue yonder…or more often than not, plunging into the waters below.”

The challenge takes place on Saturday, July 27 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization here in Ottawa. Teams will be judged based on three criteria:

  1. Flight distance
  2. Creativity of the craft
  3. Showmanship

The Aces researched the most effective glider designs for distance and concluded that the canard design would create the most lift with minimal acceleration and speed. Flight distance – check!

Flying Machine

Creativity of the craft – check!

The team has also chosen to deck their flying machine out in a camouflage design to showcase the College’s support for the Canadian Armed Forces. Team member Vinnie is a service member in the artillery. Showmanship – check!

“A couple of us came together and said it would be really awesome if as an entry from the College, we could participate in this competition. The majority of the team members are Mechanical Engineering students in the 3-year Mechanical Engineering program. They’ve got skill sets from welding to framing to design work and the amount of actual computer design work that has gone in to this aircraft is crazy,” said Mahon.

This is one of the many ways for the School of Business students to get out there and flex their entrepreneurial spirit, skills and passion. We wish the best of luck to the Algonquin Airborne Aces as they complete the build and count down the days to the event!

  1. Check out Part One: Mission Report >>
  2. Check out Part Two: Construction Report >>
  3. Check out Part Three: Meet the Team >>
  4. Check out Part Four: The Results >>

Do you think you have the courage to build a flying machine?

Algonquin Business Students Win GOLD at the 2013 Vanier College BDC Case Challenge

Algonquin College Team members (from second to the left) Andrew Thomson, Coach Bill Garbarino, Tara Sisson, and Jenna Collins. Photo Courtesy of Vanier Foundation.

On February 9th and 10th, 28 colleges from across Canada met at Vanier College in Montreal to compete in the 8th annual Vanier College BDC Case Competition.

This event is for Marketing and Management students and Algonquin College has always been a strong performer with a track record of one gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals. This year’s team consisted of three Business – Management and Entrepreneurship students: Jennamarie Collins, Tara Sisson, and Andrew Thomson. Professors Bill Garbarino and Ian Anderson coached the team.

On the first day of the competition, the teams are split into three divisions. Each team is given a business case to solve. Teams are in “isolation” for 3 hours to solve the case (industry assessment, company assessment, core problem determination, target market decision and positioning, strategic alternative assessment, recommendation, marketing mix tactics to support the recommendation, financials, and implementation plan).

Each team then delivers a 20 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A with a panel of 3-4 judges. The presentation is also in front of an audience comprised of industry people, faculty and staff from the various Colleges, other competitors who’ve completed their presentations. At the end of the day the judges identify the top two teams from each division who will move on to the medal round. On Sunday the top six teams address a brand new case, follow the same procedures, and deliver their presentations.

The Algonquin students had outstanding performances on both days. The judges noted their professionalism and enthusiasm. They presented strategic alternatives to solve the core problem and their marketing mix tactics were both practical and creative. Their financials and ROI calculations were exceptional. The team also had excellent interactions and really supported each other, both during the presentations and in the Q&A.

Jenna, Tara, and Andrew worked very hard to prepare for this event. BDC competitors are chosen from the members of the team that represented Algonquin in the fall at the Ontario Colleges’ Marketing Competition. These students submitted themselves as a team for consideration and participated in a mock BDC event in December.

Once they were selected as this year’s team, the real work began. They were given research to do over the holiday break and then 2-3 coaching sessions were scheduled per week starting in January. With only five weeks to prepare, the clock was ticking and they had to cover a lot of ground, in addition to their regular school work.

Clearly, all the time and energy the team and their coaches put into preparing for this event paid off. Everyone at the School of Business and Algonquin College are extremely proud of their success. President Kent MacDonald was one of the first to offer his congratulations over Twitter.


Congratulations once again to Jenna, Tara, Andrew and coaches Bill and Ian for a hard-earned and well-deserved win!

By: Laura Campbell and Bill Garbarino

 

How to Get Real Experience for Real Life Careers

Business theory is one thing. Business reality is our thing at Algonquin College. As a student, you’ll go beyond theory and gain the practical skills employers want.

At Algonquin, we believe in providing our students with practical education and experiences that set them on the fast track to career success. We do this a number of ways:

  • Hands-On Experience
  • Internships and Field Placements
  • Co-op Program
  • Opportunity to Qualify for Professional Designations

Hands-On Experience

Learn how people think, how and why people purchase items and what motivates people in our Marketing and Business Intelligence Research program. To hone your skills, you’ll work with real clients in real time and conduct market research from start to finish.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business, our Management and Entrepreneurship program gives you the knowledge and skills you need. In fact, in the final semester you’ll develop a detailed business plan that you can use to start your own business!

Many of our programs teach you how to master key Microsoft Office programs and other industry-standard software packages. You’ll be prepared to jump right into a job with no need for extra training on these programs.

Our Office Administration students participate in office simulations to help gain an understanding of day-to-day office operations and develop problem-solving skills.

Internships and Field Placements

A number of the School of Business programs provide the chance for students to participate in an internship or field placement. Qualified students studying Human Resources Management have the opportunity to complete an internship in their final semester.

Paralegal students complete 15 weeks of coursework in their fourth semester and then gain real-world experience with a four-week unpaid field placement.

Marketing Management students complete a field placement that involves developing a marketing plan and strategy for a real-world organization.

Do you have a passion for sports? Turn that into a dream career with our Sport Business Management program. You’ll also work a minimum of 16 hours per week within the sport industry, gaining valuable skills and professional connections.

Co-op Program

We also offer students in certain programs the chance to take part in a co-op placement where they turn their knowledge into on-the-job experience.

Learn the unique procedures and practices of health care offices for a career as a Medical Office Assistant. In the third and fourth semesters, our students participate in field assignments to help develop their practical skills.

The Bachelor of Applied Business (e-Business Supply Chain Management) program includes industry-related team and individual projects, as well as three mandatory co-op placements. Combined with part-time work, you could graduate with 1.5 years of professional experience, making for a seamless transition into your full-time career.

Opportunity to Qualify for Professional Designations

Getting a professional designation shows future employers that you are legally qualified to do the work you were trained for. Usually there are specific courses you need to take in order to get your professional designation. At Algonquin, we’re making sure you’re getting the most out of your program.

Graduates of the International Business Management program meet the academic requirements for the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation.

Our Paralegal program prepares you for a professional career in this industry. It is accredited by the Law Society of Upper Canada and when you graduate you can to apply to the Society to become licensed.

Organizational Quality Management graduates meet the educational requirement needed to write the certification exams for a number of designations sponsored by the American Society for Quality (ASQ).

If you are looking for an institution that cares, gives great hands-on learning and provides you with opportunities for careers and continuing your education then you have found just that. — Sebastien Lylyk, Marketing Graduate

“Algonquin is More Than Learning – It’s Doing”, says Grad Alex Hosselet

Does post-secondary education train a person to make their mark on the world, or is there something deeper that qualifies someone as memorable?

Alex Hosselet Algonquin Business student“Everyone is capable of accomplishing great and impressive things, but a small minority push themselves hard enough to deliver that,” says Alex Hosselet, Algonquin alumni. “Algonquin College taught me that.”

A graduate of the Business-Marketing and Business-Management and Entrepreneurship programs, Hosselet began his career as the Algonquin campus program coordinator for Leave the Pack Behind, a campaign to help students quit smoking. At the same time he also served as web marketing assistant and events team lead for Algonquin Student’s Association.

After graduating he worked as a marketing coordinator for T-Base Communications; currently he is the Marketing Manager for Momentus, a digital marketing agency, and he is a member of the Algonquin College Alumni Advisory Committee.

Hosselet says he plans on being with Momentus for a very long time. “With my career secured, I’ve got time to participate in more community events – both networking and charity functions. I’d like to continue developing my local involvement in that regard,” he says. In ten years, he hopes to be known for his work in developing the Ottawa community.

“I see myself as being a crucial influencer in my agency and the Ottawa business scene,” Hosselet says.

It was as soon as during his first year of a three-year program when he began to feel like not merely a student, but a businessman. “You become what you say you are,” says Hosselet. “By putting yourself in situations that you might think are over your head, you learn, adapt and succeed.

“There are four people that were crucial in my development at Algonquin: Jeremy McQuigge, Wayne McIntyre, Phil Jones, and Bill Garbarino,” Hosselet says.

Jones, the coordinator for Business-Management and Entrepreneurship, according to Hosselet was the first person to really see his potential. Garbarino, the coordinator for Business—Marketing ‘ran him through the gauntlet,’ thus sharpening his skills, Hosselet says.

McQuigge, another graduate of SME and employee at Algonquin, offered his advice and friendship since Hosselet’s very first semester, and McIntyre, director of Student Support Services, gave Hosselet not only support but employment.

“My time in the business programs at Algonquin College gave me the skills, technique and practice to jump right into the career of my dreams,” says Hosselet. “Algonquin is more than learning – it’s doing.”

Author: Christine Kokic, Algonquin Journalism Alumni