Professional Contacts Key to Finance Officer Visibility

August 24, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Accounting and finance managers have the best shot at keeping up their visibility by staying active in professional groups, but they shouldn’t forget about using social media outlets as well.

A Robert Half Management Resources news release about its latest poll said 28% of chief financial officers recommended keeping up professional group contacts, while 22% said Web sites such as Twitter and Linkedin were also useful in this regard.

According to the news release, visibility enhancing moves recommended by poll respondents also include:

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  • Publish articles in trade/business journals, 15%
  • Volunteer or participate in charitable work, 15%
  • Speak at industry events or webinars, 15%

“An extensive base of business contacts is one of the most valuable assets a professional can possess,” said Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources, in the news release. “The most successful executives constantly cultivate a network of people — through both in-person and online networking — who will help build their reputation in the industry. As social networking continues to gain popularity, it’s especially important to use online tools to build credibility and visibility in the business community.”

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees. 

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