If you just made a professional connection, when is the best time to follow up? Here’s a great resource with tips and templates for connection emails. Here’s the best timing to build your network through emails:

When contacting friends, there are no rules about when you should send your email. For everyone else, the best time to send a networking email is on a Tuesday or Wednesday. On Mondays, inboxes can be full after the weekend. On Thursdays and Fridays, people are usually catching up on work for the week.

That means it’s perfect for you to reach out or follow up to your network TODAY or TOMORROW. Time to get out there!

Last week, I shared a great article on How to ask for a work reference. More often than not, if you want the job, you will be asked to provide a few names of people who could vouch for you.

But, what if your old coworker reaches out to you and asks you to be a reference for them? If your inclination is to say yes, the next step is to prepare to highlight that coworker's skills and experience. Ask the person the following:

• About the company
• The job they will be doing
• Who will be receiving the reference
• Any other details they think might be helpful

Once you have answers to these questions, it’s time to write that reference letter. Check out this great article @Heath Alva posted on How to write a professional reference letter (with examples). My favorite aspect of the resources shared here, is that there are great examples and templates of ways you can best write this letter and do your coworker justice! #jobsearch #interview #application #references

Online job search is so popular now that a lot of applications ask you to share your professional online profile. How do you usually package your personal brand? Here are some great tips:

• Discover your brand by using your Jobcase profile to feature your experiences, education and skills
• Develop your audience and research your industry by exploring different career options and set up your target jobs through our job search
• Curate relevant content for your social profiles: Be thoughtful about posting job related content or sharing professional advice

Your profile is a self-introduction to other members of the Jobcase community. As a network of people helping people with their work lives, it's important to let the community know who you are.

Your profile photo personalizes your account and becomes part of your visual identity within the community and for your job search.

Whether you're here to get a job, get advice, or to share your work story, the power of the community resides in connections. Let your connections recognize you!

Learn more at How to pick the right profile picture on Jobcase

Companies that have job openings often have booths at career fairs, giving you the opportunity to give representatives your resume so that they're familiar with your name when you apply to a position. You can even use this time to build rapport with the representatives.

One of the best parts of a career fair is that it allows you to meet with people from multiple companies. And, if there’s a specific one you’re interested in, you get the chance to introduce yourself and ask any questions you have.

Discover 6 tips for attending an in-person hiring event like a career fair. #jobsearch #connections

I have been working for almost 20 years, and the one thing that has been a constant from that first job as a Cashier at Bruegger’s Bagels to now, is the request for job references. In my experience, 9/10 if an application asks for a reference or two, and you are one of the top candidates for the job that potential employer will make the calls. This is why I have always made it a case to do my job well, but also build good rapport with team members and supervisors. These are some of the best people that can help vouch for you, which is why having references is so important.

Wanna know how to identify and ask people to be your references?

Check out this article @Michael Frash posted on Five ways to ask for a job reference #reference #jobreference #askforreference #jobsearch #jobapplication

I just got the most thoughtful thank you message from a Jobcase member about a job leads I shared with him. I thought that was a very professional connection strategy to keep in touch with your contacts.

Have you received any leads recommended from your network? Do you usually follow up? Here’s a great article with specific email examples to thank you for the job lead. You will find quick and easy tips and templates that help you stay active with your helpful connections.

The idea of spending time to connect with people professionally is enough to make some people’s skin crawl. And the fear of rejection can cause sweaty palms and queasy stomachs. But it doesn't have to!

Here are 3 ways to build your professional network:

1. Use your hobbies to connect - You can also use your hobbies to connect with strangers at networking events. It’s a good way to break the ice and will help you stick out in people’s minds.

2. Be authentic - the strongest connections are made when you’re genuine. Meet people you find interesting. Your strongest connections will be with people you click with, and they’ll be more likely to make referrals in the long run.

3. Attend a networking event - Networking events are the pinnacle of networking. While they aren’t necessary, they are a good way to do a lot of connecting fast.

Did you know you can build your professional network here at Jobcase? To connect with someone, go their profile and click "connect".

See 7 more effective ways to expand your network and comment below with how you build your professional network. #connections #jobsearch

I think that everyone actively looking for a good job thinks about who to use a solid reference. The biggest challenge is finding the right person.

This of course becomes a bigger problem if you’ve recently been fired or if you’ve been out of the workforce for an extended period of time.

Who do you use for job references, (friends, co-workers, previous employers, social media connections, other)?

Learn more at Professional references: What they are, who to ask, and the Importance of having them

Check out these great tips to maximize your profile on Jobcase. I particularly like the advice on building Jobcase connections:

• An excellent place to start is by connecting with people you already know. Send connection requests to former colleagues or partners you have worked with before. They can introduce you to other people in their circles that work in companies you are eyeing or are experts in your industry.

• Next, look for people you don’t know personally but who interest you, such as niche experts and active members of the Jobcase community. Someone must accept your request for them to be a connection.

• Don’t be spammy when seeking connections by sending out random connection requests. If possible, try and connect with people you have already engaged with on posts, forums, or discussions on Jobcase. This way, it becomes easier to pick up the conversation and use it to introduce yourself and establish a personal connection with the person.