Networking & Job Searching for IP&T Table of Contents & FAQs

This page has a short description of the intent, content, and queries addressed on each page in this course. It's a helpful overview when trying to answer FAQs, remember where something is located, or deciding where to go next

Module 1: Getting Started

Module purpose: This module is meant to get you set up with your foundational professional documents and online profiles.

Basic Professional Checklist

This page has resources, examples, guidelines, and descriptions for every major section and element that you will need to add to a resume, professional bio, or online profile. This page also provides resources to aid in crafting a resume and cover letter.

Estimated Read/View Time: 10-15 min.

This page answers the questions:

What should I include (and not include) on my professional documents and online profiles?

Creating Online Profiles
(LinkedIn, CareerShift, Handshake, BYU Connect)

This page contains basic instructions for how to create a profile/account on the four primary NW&JS platforms we will discuss in this course.

Estimated Read/View Time: 15-20 min.

This page answers the questions:

How do I create profiles on LinkedIn, CareerShift, Handshake, and BYU Connect?

Module 2: Exploring Tools & Platforms

Module purpose: This module dedicates an entire page to a more detailed explanation and exploration of several major NW&JS platforms.

2. Overview: Exploring Tools & Platforms

This overview page provides a brief synopsis of the module as well as a comparison of major aspects of each of the three main "trifecta" platforms: LinkedIn, CareerShift, and Handshake.

Estimated Read/View Time: 3-5 min

This page answers the questions:

What are the differences and overlaps between LinkedIn, CareerShift, and Handshake?

Introduction to LinkedIn

This page explores the major menus, components, and functions of the LinkedIn platform.

Estimated Read/View Time: 15-20 min.

This page answers the questions:

How do I curate and develop a solid LinkedIn profile?
What kind of interactivity can I be doing to boost my presence on the platform?
What sets LinkedIn apart from other platforms, and why is it the modern professional staple?

Introduction to CareerShift

This page explores the major menus, components, and functions of the CareerShift platform.

Estimated Read/View Time: 5-10 min.

This page answers the questions:

What kind of insights can CareerShift provide?
What available tools and features can help me organize my job searching?
For what reasons and topics should I come to CareerShift first?

Introduction to Handshake

This page explores the major menus, components, and functions of the Handshake platform.

Estimated Read/View Time: 10-15 min.

This page answers the questions:

How can I be more active in in-person networking?
How can I stay in the loop when networking and recruiting events happen on campus?

Introduction to BYU Connect

This page explores the major menus, components, and functions of the Handshake platform.

Estimated Read/View Time: 5-10 min.

This page answers the questions:

What kinds of connections can I find through BYU Alumni?

Other Job Searching Platforms & Resources

This page synthesizes brief highlights of several other popular NW&JS sites and platforms, such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter.

Estimated Read/View Time: 2-5 min.

This page answers the questions:

Where can I look for jobs outside the US?
Are there different platforms for freelance work?

Module 3: Finding Opportunities & Connections (Scenarios)

Module purpose: This module provides a variety of different content types to provide assistance through a number of common NW&JS scenarios.

Narrow Down My Search - Where Do I Start

This page covers some great starting prompts that can help you narrow down your search criteria or pick a topic to research in a variety of curated lists.

Estimated Read/View Time: 5-10 min.

This page answers the questions:

What kind of things can I be doing right now if I have no idea where to start?
How do I narrow down my search criteria?
How can I better define my career goals?
What kinds of skills, terms, titles, and job responsibilities should I be looking for to find relevant opportunities as an instructional designer?

Common NW&JS Scenarios: Video Walkthroughs/Demonstrations

This page maps out the strategy you might use for four common general search prompts. It contains video walkthroughs breaking down the steps and leveraging of multiples tools and platforms.

Estimated Read/View Time: 30-40 min.

This page answers the questions:

How can I best leverage the variety of platforms and tools I have at my disposal?
What tools and features should I utilize on NW&JS platforms?
How do I find opportunities by:
- Job Title/Responsibilities
- Geography
- Company/Organization
- Established connections

Networking: Cold Contacts & Creating Advocates

This page covers a helpful template for reaching out to new network connections, dos and don'ts, a video example of locating internal advocates, and the types of questions you might ask them

Estimated Read/View Time: 15-20 min.

This page answers the questions:

Who do I contact when I have questions?
What do I say to cold contacts, and when making new connections?
What communication channels do I use?
Who do I reach out to for more specific details about the job or the company?
How can I turn a stranger into an advocate?

Module 4: The Modern IP&T Professional

Module purpose: This module is meant to help you identify skills, build habits, and keep track of materials that require continuous updating, as well as a catch-all of other important need-to-know skills as a modern professional.

Instructional Design Portfolios

This page covers the basic process of constructing a portfolio, start to finish, as well as advising about the kind of content, guiding questions, and providing many high-quality IP&T portfolio examples.

Estimated Read/View Time: 10-15 min.

This page answers the questions:

What platform should I build my portfolio site on?
What things should my portfolio showcase?
What elements should I have on my site?
What are recruiters looking for when they evaluate an ID portfolio?

Professional Maintenance

This page covers things you should be doing every day on LinkedIn to establish a professional presence, to maintain your network, and to be open to relevant opportunities.

Estimated Read/View Time: 15-20 min.

This page answers the questions:

What should I be doing regularly on LinkedIn?
How can I keep my profiles competitive and up to date in my fields of interest?
What things can I be doing every day to make the NW&JS process easier for myself in the future?

Job Application Packages & Application Tracking Systems

This page covers how application systems operate, how to optimize your resume to increase your chances, and how to stand out in the hiring pool

Estimated Read/View Time: 2-5 min.

This page answers the questions:

How can I tailor my resume to better align with the job application?
What are recruiters looking for when they evaluate my application?

Module 1: Getting Started

Creating Online Profiles (LinkedIn, CareerShift, Handshake, BYU Connect)

Module 2: Exploring Tools & Platforms

Module 3: Finding Opportunities & Connections (Scenarios)

Module 4: The Modern IP&T Professional

Creating Online Profiles
(LinkedIn, CareerShift, Handshake, BYU Connect)