As someone who's made the jump from covering recruiting to DOING the recruiting now at the highest level, Ashton Washington brings so much insight to the table for recruits and professionals alike.

In this episode, we discuss her professional journey, lessons learned along the way and what recruits need to do in order to make the most of their opportunities off the field and in social media. She's been everywhere from 247 to the XFL and now is smack dab in the middle of the Big Ten, working as the Director of High School Relations for the University of Illinois.

"Personal LinkedIn" is a phrase I've heard Ashton use many times on-air and it's the primary focus of this episode. In the digital age we live in, it's easy to click "connect" without ever creating an in-person or face-to-face connection. Ashton talks at length about the importance of being intentional with your personal and professional network, and we relate the concept to recruits and also to aspiring young coaches or recruiters. At the end of the day, nothing is more effective than stacking positive, in-person impressions you make on other people in whatever field, profession or path you are pursuing.

Like I do each week, here is your "TLDR" cheat code to the podcast:

• Why the best recruiters are the most authentic (4:15)

• How to evaluate the authenticity of a recruiter (5:44)

Nothing is more valuable than the in-person impression you leave people with, and there are no shortcuts in building relationships. Tune in for the advice and encouragement brought by Ashton, who you can follow on Twitter at @Ash3Washington!

Also, don't forget to check out the official website of the show, UpCloseInPersonnel.com for weekly updates and to submit any/all of your questions!