PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Enhanced organizational culture by explaining the how , why , and anticipated results of each task at hand to ensure thorough understanding and increase buy-in , resulting in motivated crew members who produced exceptional daily output
Named “ Grounds Manager of the Year ” for the Northwest region in 2019
Include the URL of your LinkedIn profile on your resume so hiring managers can access these photos and other artifacts during the application process . You can customize your URL in the edit mode within your profile by going to “ Edit public profile & URL .”
Add any degrees you hold in the “ Education ” section Avoid including high school information .
Include all applicable credentials in the “ Licenses & Certifications ” section Enter information related to applicator ’ s licenses or special industry-related certifications you currently hold .
List professional memberships within the “ Organizations ” section Include information on any industry-related professional organizations in which you have been a member , as well as any committee involvement or leadership positions you have held .
Showcase your professional competencies in the “ Skills & Endorsements ” section Create a list of at least 10 industry-specific skills , and prioritize your top three by moving them to the top of the list . Remember to consider turfgrass management and agronomy skills , as well as leadership and management strengths . Once you have identified your list of skills , your first-degree connections will be able to endorse you for any of those competencies . Including skill endorsements in your profile can help you build your personal brand , strengthen your credibility within your industry , and potentially elevate your ranking in future LinkedIn searches .
TIP : One of the best ways to receive skill endorsements on LinkedIn is to endorse others .
Add other sections as appropriate Consider including additional content such as volunteer experience , honors and awards , or languages that demonstrate your diverse range of skills , interests and qualifications .
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE Once you have your LinkedIn profile created or updated , use it to demonstrate your commitment to the industry by connecting with other professionals in your field , engaging with others ’ content , sharing relevant information and resources , and posting original content related to happenings within your organization . Specific tips on how to effectively utilize the platform to foster professional growth and strengthen your network are as follows :
Establish at least 50 first-degree connections If you are new to LinkedIn , once your profile is created , you will need to secure connections . It is suggested to acquire at least 50 connections as soon as possible to establish your presence and have an audience with whom you can engage . Start by sending connection requests to people you already know , including friends , family members , current and former supervisors and colleagues , former classmates , and members of professional organizations in which you are involved .
Once you reach 50 , however , do not stop ! Your LinkedIn profile is like an electronic business card . As you meet new people , follow up after that initial introduction and invite them to connect on LinkedIn . You can also send connection requests to people you have not met yet but view as potentially valuable connections . For example , if you know you will be relocating to Houston , you might reach out to the board members of the Texas Sports Turf Managers Association to introduce yourself and ask them to connect with you so you can stay up-to-date on the turf management industry in that region . When sending a connection request to someone you do not know or have not communicated with recently , you should always send a personalized message with your request . Be aware that personalized connection requests are limited to 300 characters . The following is a sample connection request :
Hello Sam ,
I am also an STMA member and will be moving to Houston soon . I have been involved in my regional STMA chapter and hope to continue this through the TXSTMA . I am looking to connect with more turf management professionals in the Houston area on LinkedIn .
Thank you , Adam
Cultivate your LinkedIn feed Once you start securing connections , information posted and shared by your network will appear on your LinkedIn feed . To generate more relevant content , in addition to connecting with others , make sure to follow several industry-related influencers , companies and organizations , as well as join relevant groups . You can search for groups by typing keywords or group names into the search bar at the top of the page and selecting “ groups ” as your filter .
28 SportsField Management | October 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com