• August 1, 2022

Are you using LinkedIn for your job search?

Working, you say. What am I supposed to do? I just want people to know what I do and my work history.

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing prospective employers and gatekeepers see regarding your background. You know yours is working if you get introductions, chat invites, and even interviews. You can check to see a sample of who reads your profile.

Go to your ‘Home’ page and see the right side: ‘Who has seen my profile’, click: ‘see more’.

If you have connected or been referred to some of the organizations listed and did not get the results you wanted, you most likely need to change your profile. If you didn’t contact the organizations listed, they probably thought they were interested but saw no reason to go ahead. Something is missing from your profile.

Most people think of a LinkedIn profile as just a truncated version of a resume. Could not be farther from the truth. It may be the most important job search tool you have. Linda Tancs, Jobs Writer for NJ.com says: A successful LinkedIn profile takes effort.

Your profile is a piece of marketing. Your profile is a tool that, when used correctly, will entice the reader to learn more. A tool that tells the hiring authority and the people who refer candidates to them exactly why they want to talk to you, right away.

That’s a lot of work for such a small part of the media. But think about your own behavior. How often do you ‘research’ someone before you talk to them or when you just think you canwantTo talk to them?

Where do you start? First, let readers know how to contact you if they’re interested. Use your public email address (hotmail or gmail, for example) and insert it near the top of your profile. Do you need some ‘air’ around you? Type a period/enter to create a blank line above and below your email address.

Most common mistake? Your LinkedIn profile is a valuable digital asset; use it wisely. If you want viewers to know how old you are right out of the box, say “19 years of experience managing new product designs.” Don’t tell readers how old you are. Tell them what is the most important achievement in which they would be most interested.

“Launched seven unique products in six seconds with no budget and one hand tied behind my back.”

What is not. Your profile is a marketing tool, not a biography. You do not need to list all of your jobs or all of your positions. It is neither a resume nor a legal document.

If you want to list previous businesses to appeal to certain populations, go ahead, but only list those. Leaving a lot of white makes for a more enjoyable viewing experience. Leaving a lot to the imagination encourages people to contact you.

Your opinion doesn’t count. Readers are not interested in their own view of your work. “Successful marketing executive with an impressive track record of product launches” may be true, but your readers need proof, not your opinions. Try to give examples of your success and let your work speak for itself.

Other people’s opinions count a lot. Use the ‘references’ section with enthusiasm. Invite people who have worked for you, with you, and who have managed you to comment. Notice that the first line is visible. Change them to jokes (ask permission to edit) to encourage readers to click to read more.

Invite referrals over time so your updates constantly appear on your network’s radar. Nothing better to help them remember what a good person you are and keep you in mind when they hear about a job or a person you should know.

Resist the urge to respond immediately to those who give you a referral. Space your answers out over time so that they appear in the update sections and also to avoid quid pro quo appearance in the references.

More white space. Unless your group memberships are related to your profession, leave the logos out of your profile. Go to the membership section of each one and click on the ‘show logo’ box.

Do you have a blog? I encourage all of my clients to create and maintain an industry-specific blog to enhance their personal marketing efforts. If your blog titles don’t fit your professional job search efforts, write some new ones. These headlines are an effective way for viewers to learn more about you. Use them wisely.

It goes without saying, although you may have noticed how often I am forced to say it, check your spelling and grammar. A mistake can put viewers off because they immediately jump to “Not detail-oriented” or “sloppy” or worse, “illiterate.” Invite someone to review your profile before posting because we often can’t see our own mistakes.

When you’re really excited about your profile, when you think it’s compelling and a great personal ad, incorporate your profile address into your email signature and use it every time you blog or reply to an online blog. Spread this piece of marketing and you become your own advertising agency.

For more tips on using LinkedIn for your job search, download his free white paper: LinkedIn for Job Search.

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