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LinkedIn – Get Found and Stand Out

Having a strong LinkedIn profile used to be good idea….now it is a MUST.  Of course, not all industries utilize the platform to the same extent. For example, police officers, lawyers, medical professionals, and teachers tend to prefer to keep lower profiles. However, most professionals find LinkedIn to be a necessary part of their professional identity and presence.

It is easy to understand why when you consider that over 90 percent of recruiters supposedly utilize LinkedIn to search for qualified candidates. I recently landed a nice little contract gig after being found on LinkedIn. Sweet! LinkedIn is also a great way to build and maintain a rich professional network.  Finally, LinkedIn helps us stay on top of industry news and trends.

Lose the mindset that LinkedIn is a job search tool.  Consider your profile a personal website that allows you to track your professional experience, education, accomplishments, publications, recommendations, key skills, certifications, industry activity, target company list, and your network of connections.

Most recruiters admit that they will pull up your profile before giving you a call.  If your online profile is not clear and consistent with your resume, you may find yourself in the B pile.  If you have zero recommendations or your profile is way out date, the recruiter will likely move on to a candidate who takes more pride in their online presence.

The Top 10 Profile Elements

The following are necessary in order to stand out and get found:

  • A nice headshot…not one with your dog – unless you are a veterinarian.
  • Headline….120 characters of searchable job titles….not your current job.
  • A well written 2000 character, keyword rich, summary.
    • Personalize this and don’t sound like a resume robot!
  • Current and previous work experience with bulleted details.
  • Personalize your LinkedIn URL.
  • Complete your Skill Section with at least 30 relevant skills listed in proper order.
  • 50 plus connections (Better yet, aim for 500)
  • Education and Training
  • 3-5 Recommendations
  • Join 20 plus groups and follow 50 plus companies.

The 10 Minute a Day Approach

Keeping your profile up to date and fresh AND spend time on LinkedIn each day going through your newsfeed.  Liking, commenting and sharing posts help develop your personal brand.  Actually publishing an article is another way to boost your presence and become a thought leader in your industry.

Spend 10 minutes a day making connections, commenting on interesting articles, and following new companies. This helps LinkedIn understand you. If and when you are in job search mode, LinkedIn will be a much better resource in terms of positions it recommends and how well you show up in recruiter searches.

Be 10 times more Brave

LinkedIn has actually proven to be a really powerful tool for me and for many of my clients.  Actual relationships are formed and developed from LinkedIn. Different careers are explored and new positions are landed – all as a result of reaching out to people.  Not everyone will respond to you in the way you wish but some people will!

Respond quickly to any requests that come your way and take any lack of response in stride. Make your outreach personal and avoid sending off generic connection requests.  Add a short note.  Take time to read someone’s profile and highlight what you have in common when you request a connection. Be courageous as you reach out. No one gets far alone.  We need each other and LinkedIn is platform that allows us to find support and give support.

Social media is here to stay and LinkedIn remains the go-to professional networking platform.  Make your profile sparkle and find ways to connect that feel genuine and authentic.  While social media is not a replacement for face to face relationships, LinkedIn can help us connect in real ways to people we might not otherwise be able to meet.

 

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2017 – The Year to Give Back!

Mountain Landscape in Colorado Rocky Mountains, Colorado, United States.

One of the best things we can do for ourselves, and our careers, is to share our time and talents to do some good in the world. Volunteering enhances our professional resiliency and increases our personal life satisfaction. Here are 5 reasons to make ‘giving back’ a priority in the coming year.

Expand Your Network

Serving on boards, volunteering for a non-profit, and supporting fundraising events connects us to new people who share similar interests. In time, these acquaintances can turn into professional alliances. When we volunteer, we have a chance to put our talents to use and show our skills in action. This leads to high-trust relationships with people who can then speak to our qualifications or refer us to new opportunities with real conviction.

Build the Resume

Volunteering helps us look good on paper. We can minimize gaps in our work history by showing that we have remained active and involved during transitions or layoffs. We brand ourselves when we include volunteer experience on our resumes. We also differentiate ourselves from other candidates who have similar skill sets but lack community involvement.

Skill Development

Think about what you have to offer and what you hope to gain in terms of skill development when you consider a volunteer opportunity. Sometimes we volunteer because we want to be considered for full time, paid positions within the organization. In other cases, we plan to take the skills we gain from volunteering and put them to use in our regular jobs. Yes, we give back for the sake of giving back but we can also be strategic in terms of what we want to develop in ourselves.

Career Exploration

If you are considering a career change, volunteering is the perfect way to test the waters before jumping in with both feet. You get first-hand experience and valuable insights into what it takes to be successful in a new industry. This can help you avoid a costly career mistake. If you do find a match in your new field, you will have developed great experience and connections to help you make a successful transition.

Good Vibrations

Volunteering often leads to feeling a sense of purpose and belonging in the world. If we are a bit stale in our careers, volunteering can reignite a sense of passion. It feels good to give back yet we all need support from time to time. When we are in a career transition, it can be psychologically easier to reach out for help if we have made it a priority to be of service. In giving to others, we can create good karma for ourselves.

Keep in mind that finding the right volunteer opportunity can be challenging. Start by considering what issues call to you. What are you curious about? Do you want to work locally? Or, do you yearn to support national or international issues? What talents do you have to share and what new skills do you hope to gain?  How much time can you devote given your other commitments?

Use this online resource:  https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/volunteering to learn about possible areas of interest. Your local library also offers resources to help you research non-profits, foundations, and giving organizations such as Rotary International.

The new year is a perfect time to envision a brighter future for yourself and for the world. It is a time to set goals and seek out rewarding experiences. One thing I know for sure is that as you serve the world, you will also be doing yourself a whole bunch of good. Happy New Year!

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Resumé Advice You Never Hear: Stop the Endless Targeting!

Imagine you are at a barbeque and a friend says, “We are hiring. Shoot me your résumé and I will pass it along to my manager.” Elation suddenly turns to panic. You spend the rest of the weekend pulling your hair out in order to get a résumé together by Monday.

Whether you are in active job search mode or more passively open to new opportunities, it is prudent to have a sparkly résumé ready to send off in a moment’s notice.

Job seekers are generally advised to target their résumés to each specific position. This sounds good in theory but it is not always possible. The aforementioned barbecue scenario is one case in point.

Another issue is that position descriptions vary widely. Some are overly detailed while others are short and skimpy. Rather than expressing any amount of passion and truth, job seekers parrot back what they think employers want to hear. The end result is a résumé that reads like the back of a can of paint.

There are certainly times when we should tailor a résumé to a specific position. However, there is a lot to be said for creating a personalized marketing piece that can be used more broadly. This allows us to be nimble and effective in responding to opportunities and it ensures we don’t lose ourselves in the job search process.

For the next few minutes forget everything you have heard about the importance of targeting your résumé. Rather than focusing on employer needs, look into your heart to identify what you want in your next position. Here are three steps to creating a powerful, all-purpose résumé:

Be Future Facing

Let this version of your résumé describe the job of your dreams. Rather than simply regurgitating what you have done in the past, highlight what you want to do more of going forward. Don’t list anything that you find draining.

Think beyond recent work experience and also emphasize skills gained through volunteering and personal interests or from positions held long ago. A résumé is a ticket to your happy future and it needs to be written with a clear vision in mind.

Be Compelling

Beyond listing skills and qualifications, develop a “career highlights” section in which you provide brief accomplishment statements to communicate the real value you can provide.

These accomplishment statements are like pencil drawings that support your goals and ambitions. When you land an interview, you can turn these pencil drawings into vivid word pictures and stories. For now, let your resume offer captivating snippets of who you are becoming professionally.

Be Yourself

When it comes to landing a good fit opportunity, your best bet is to present yourself honestly. Most résumés are sterile and lack personality. It seems the goal of so many job seekers is to avoid offending anyone – ever.

Speak your truth. Use conversational language and let your natural voice flow on to the page. Being forthright and creative in your presentation will cost you some jobs but staying true to yourself increases the likelihood of finding a position in which you can thrive and grow.

A future facing, compelling and personalized résumé allows you to be ready when random opportunities present themselves. When you do need to target your résumé for a specific position, you can modify this version while maintaining your personal brand. Putting more heart into your résumé is a good first step to attracting the attention you desire.

 

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Time for Your 2016 Career Tune Up?

Most of us schedule an annual physical with our doctors and we get our teeth cleaned every six months. We even change the oil in our cars about every three thousand miles. But, when it comes our careers, we expect things to keep humming along without much care.

Our careers require regular maintenance too! Without proper attention, even the most successful careers will begin to sputter and eventually breakdown. A few warning signs that you are past due for a professional tune up include having a dated skill set, a complacent attitude at work, or a dwindling network.

The following career maintenance activities will help ensure you find success in 2016 and beyond:

Scan the Horizon

People who thrive in their careers are not just heads down at work. Every so often they look up to assess what is on the horizon in their industries. They stay abreast of any new technologies, certifications and specializations that will be needed in order to remain competitive.

I often suggest clients look at a few postings for the kind of work they are doing now. Many are surprised to find that they barely qualify for their own jobs! Attending industry specific conferences and being active in professional organizations are two ways to ensure you remain up to speed on what’s new and next in your field.

Deepen Connections

Having a strong personal and professional network is key to our career health as well as our overall wellbeing. Networking need not be an awkward job search ploy. No one wants to be contacted by a long lost colleague only when they need help finding a job. Don’t be that person!

A key part of a career tune-up includes nurturing relationships inside your company, within your industry, as well as across the community. Join a relevant Meet Up or become part of a lively networking group. Volunteer. Take up a hobby. Schedule regular lunch dates with coworkers, colleagues, and friends.

Be helpful to others and give of your time and talents. When you do this authentically, it will be much easier to ask for help without feeling uncomfortable. Always assess the quality of a professional relationship before asking for assistance. In other words, don’t expect more from someone than the relationship warrants.

Create a Master Résumé

Many clients come to me with résumés that are ten or twenty years old. It then takes considerable time and effort to update and target the document. You may be unable to meet an application deadline or you may lose a contract opportunity because you could not apply in a timely manner.

Creating a master résumé that outlines your professional history can keep you nimble in today’s job market. A master résumé should include career highlights from positions held in the past 10 to 15 years as well as key accomplishments from your current position.

Having a continually updated résumé makes it easier to quickly target an application packet for specific positions. Being able to quickly articulate the value you provide can also help you justify a raise or negotiate a better job offer. A master résumé can also be used as the foundation for updating your online profile.

Career planning and management can be complex. We have many more jobs over our lifespans and each career decision we make shapes and impacts future opportunities. Seeking out career counseling to set yearly goals and create an action plan can be just as important to our wellbeing as scheduling an annual physical.

If you have been coasting along without much thought to what is next in your career, now is the time to take proactive steps to ensure you are ready for your next professional venture. Here is to your success in 2016 and beyond!

 

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Job Search in a Funk? Maybe it’s Time to do the Hustle!

The search for a position that aligns with your career aspirations sometimes takes longer than expected. At what point do you consider taking a stopgap job or doing a side hustle to earn some extra money? And what are the pros and cons of doing so?

First, it’s important to understand that there are some key differences between these two alternatives. If we are completely honest, a stopgap job is one that you would never accept if you were gainfully employed in your desired industry. The bottom line is that you take a stopgap job because you need additional income.

The best kind of stopgap measure is a temporary or contract position in your field. This allows you to expand your network and keep your existing skills sharp. You may even be able to add a few new accomplishments to your résumé. Another plus to this approach is that it you can get an inside look at different organizations and workplace cultures.

Unfortunately, many stopgap jobs are menial and don’t offer much in the way of professional development. A good example of this is the laid off software engineer who ends up in an orange apron selling wares at the local home improvement store.

However, even this may be better than isolating at home. Unemployment can take a toll on one’s self-esteem. Stopgap jobs, even those below your area of expertise, offer human interaction and the routine of going to work. Many job seekers stay more focused and upbeat when they have some money coming in and a reason to get out of the house each day.

It is important to consider how the stopgap job will look on your résumé. It may lessen gaps in employment but it may erode your professional image and detract from your larger career goals. One of the biggest challenges is to remain committed to your search for a professional position.

Rather than taking a stopgap job, you may consider creating additional income through a side hustle. Scott Balster, principal at Employtown and creator of the Side Hustle Muscle Movement, helps people create abundant lives with full-time work and side income. Balster believes that side hustles offer job seekers and those already employed a chance to increase earnings and find greater personal and professional satisfaction.

There are always individual considerations but side hustles typically add to your professional image and toolbox rather than detract from it. You might think of a stopgap job as a Band-Aid. A side hustle, on the other hand, is curative and nurtures our personal and professional wellbeing.

Side hustles are a great way to gain the training and expertise we need to be more competitive in the job market. Side hustles can also allow us to dip our toes in new career waters without giving up our steady paychecks. They can be the bridge to a new full-time career or they can always remain “something extra” we do on the side.

According to Balster, “Job seekers who focus on creating side hustles typically find themselves partnering and interacting in new ways with other professionals. The process of creating and implementing a side hustle naturally expands a job seeker’s network and can lead to discovering employment opportunities they were not finding through traditional job search processes.”

Balster adds, “Side hustles also increase the value we bring to our day jobs. Many of my clients have full time jobs. They are looking for increased job satisfaction as well as additional income. As they create their side hustle, they often bring greater energy and a renewed sense of creativity to the workplace.”

Balster believes this is because through creating a side hustle we strengthen what he refers to as the idea muscle. “The more we tap into our creativity and solve problems, the more we build the idea muscle. This leads to having greater confidence and success in everything we do.”

Balster offers a list of hundreds of side hustle ideas to fit your lifestyle and he also provides templates and coaching to help people get started in various side businesses. There are endless ways to create a side hustle that matches your talents, needs, and goals.

You can teach what you know, offer a service, consult in your industry, or invent and sell a product. You may decide to rent vacation property through an online site. Side hustles can be born of hobbies or they may be an extension of what we do in our day jobs.

We all know people who have side hustles. I recently met a schoolteacher who imports and sells coffee grown on a small farm in Costa Rica. He is supplementing his income and creating a fair-trade business model that supports rural farmers in developing countries.

Another colleague sells medical devices by day and does professional photography on the side to nurture her creative spark. An accounting manager in my neighborhood started a seasonal sprinkler blowout business to help his young son gain business skills and save for his college education.

Jobs have become more temporary and transient in nature and yet we still yearn for and need some amount of stability in our lives. Side hustles are a great way to take more control over our destinies. Balster says, “Ideas are the currency of the future. The process of generating ideas and building a profitable side hustle helps us create our own sense of security and avoids being completely at the mercy of employers and the economy.”

Stopgap jobs can ease financial pressures but this approach can sometimes be a slippery slope leading to a downward spiral in our careers. Side hustles, on the other hand, expand our horizons and tend to increase our marketable skills.

Managing our careers has become more complex than ever. What would you do if you lost your job tomorrow? Maybe it’s time to do the hustle.

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