Networking, Jobs, Branding Yourself
Learn How to Tell Your Educator Story
A Place to Tell Your Story
I work with educators on a daily basis and I know the meaningful qualities so many of them bring to the table. For example:
- A counselor who employed and shared with colleagues a creative technology hack to meet with students online;
- A faculty who leverages software to keep students engaged during remote instruction;
- A classified professional's shadow budget tracking that saved a grant program;
- An administrator who employed highly effective facilitation skills to problem-solve significant challenges.
What are they all missing?
A place to tell their story.
Where is This Place?
There is a place where you can, for example:
- Articulate how you got results for students, your department, division, or campus overall
- Showcase procedures, presentations, hacks, etc., that sets you apart
- Share books, articles, and a passion for equity with like-minded colleagues
- Grow your professional network
This highly underutilized platform by college educators is...[drum roll]...
LinkedIn:
This professional social media platform is the place to tell your story.
Dr. Kaia Niambi Shivers - Telling Her Story
Dr. Kaia Niambi Shivers was an adjunct instructor for over a decade and wrote extensively about the experience of being a part-time instructor while juggling other priorities.
Celebrate Fellow Educators
Dr. Shivers helps to highlight the accomplishments of others.
Contribute Your Ideas
Dr. Shivers writes engaging pieces that give people a sense of her depth and contribution to the field.
You're More Than a List of Resume Bullets
Dr. Shivers makes use of LinkedIn's multi-media to give people richer context about the quality of her work.
Your Contribution Outside of Work is Part of Your Story
Dr. Shivers details her volunteer work, providing people with a sense of her values and commitment to the community.
Dr. John Hernandez -
Telling His Story
Dr. Hernandez is president of a California community college.
Showcase Your Students
Dr. Hernandez doesn't miss an opportunity to highlight campus activities, especially when they're student-driven.
Share Your Learning
Dr. Hernandez highlights that continuous learning is key to effective leadership.
Share Your Activities
Dr. Hernandez shares key activities to keep the community and his professional network of fellow educators informed.
Be Validated for Your Quality Work
When you work hard to get results, it's not difficult for educators like Dr. Hernandez to garner validation.
Share Your Contribution to the Field
Dr. Hernandez shares his publications. The titles alone tell you about his values and passion.
Share Your Education Journey
From community college student to community college president.
Do it for students (too)
The overwhelming majority of organizations will review your job-seeking students' LinkedIn profile. As educators, model your profile for students!
Learn About Your Graduates
Track where students land, what they do, and more.
The key to a successful LinkedIn profile is to understand what you want out of it.
Contrary to popular belief, LinkedIn doesn’t have to be only an outline of your resume.
As you can see from the above examples, they bring their story to life for others to see and engage in.
Understanding Your Purpose
I created my LinkedIn account in 2007, but it was dormant for years. I didn't realize its full potential until 2016.
When people visit my profile, it’s because someone recommended me or met me at a training or conference. Educators who have viewed my profile said they were content with checking off key profile items:
- Academic credentials, check
- Brief summary of services and background, check
- Approach and helpfulness (via authored articles and link to my blog), check
Therefore, I take a minimalist approach to my story. I don't have a long list of resume bullets. I focus primarily on highlighting campuses, sharing my articles, and celebrating others.
I understand the purpose for my LinkedIn.
Highlighting Campuses
I share highlights from the field and provide step-by-step directions on how to conduct meaningful activities.
Engaging with Educators Nationally
When organizations like Columbia University's Community College Research Center highlights my free resources, it's a great way to interact with educators from a variety of regions.
Your Story Matters
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