Archive for category: First Sun Blog

Job seekers: Where are you looking for opportunities right now?  There’s been plenty of coverage on the plight of those currently looking for a new job. From the falling hiring rates and increasing unemployment time—the average American now spends more than five months in between jobs, up from four in 2024—to the flood of AI-generated résumés that recruiters receive, applicants are having a tough time. Keeping your search to just one job board isn’t cutting it anymore.

Now, OpenAI is tapping into the game. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to launch its own jobs platform next year. The platform “will have knowledgeable, experienced candidates at every level, and opportunities for anyone looking to put their skills to use,” according to a blog post from CEO of Applications Fidji Simo. It will also help small businesses find “AI talent” for specific needs.

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Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

The tech giant is also getting in on the certifications industry, which made $6.4 billion in revenue last year, according to IBIS world. OpenAI’s options will include certifications from intro-level all the way to advanced AI usage, such as prompt engineering.

They’re not the first company to inject AI into the job search process. LinkedIn started incorporating the technology into users’ job searches in 2023. As of May, Premium users can ask LinkedIn’s AI to find personalized jobs through a chat. Companies like Coursera, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and even LinkedIn have long had their own “AI fluency” or “Intro to AI” certifications for workers looking for that extra badge.

Still, for those struggling to land their next job, Forbes contributors have a few suggestions: For one, look at niche job boards, writes Bryan Robinson. It’s easy for people to spam LinkedIn postings with résumés and applications for jobs they’re not quite qualified for, causing some qualified candidates to get buried. By using lesser-known job boards like Wellfound, Otta or FlexJobs, your odds of getting a response could increase.

And once you’ve scheduled an interview, you can use AI as your personal coach, suggests contributor Justin Sablich. Custom interview prompts, like using the STAR—situation, task, action, result—method or asking the model to act as an adversarial interviewer can help you go deeper with each question. But always be wary of the specific information you give the chatbot.

Have any other tips on finding your perfect job in this new market, or questions over your own search? My inbox is always open.

Hope you have a lovely week, and happy reading!

Forbes.com | September 17, 2025 | Maria Gracia Santillana Linares 

Job interviews and AI are two key drivers of anxiety for today’s job seeker, but for very different reasons. Job interviews, of course, have and always will be nerve-wracking to most candidates. According to a survey by the employment screening company JDP, 93% feel nervous before an interview, and only public speaking ranks higher than all fear-inducing scenarios.

Meanwhile, concerns about AI potentially harming future job prospects, its use in recruitment and being skilled enough to use it as a job search tool are further sources of consternation. The good news for anyone being kept up at night over these concerns is that you can use one to help with the other by leveraging the ability of generative AI to prepare for your next job interview.

“Job Interviews & AI are Two Key Drivers of Anxiety for Today’s Job Seeker,, and there are some really simple ways,” Joel Levesque, an AI consultant and author of the “Job Search with AI” newsletter on Substack, told me. “It all sort of depends on who you are and what you’re trying to get out of it.”

Whether you are already comfortable telling your story or feel completely lost heading into your next job interview, here is how you can use AI tools such as ChatGPT to feel better prepared, and what to watch out for along the way.

Start With Simple Interview Conversations

According to Levesque, an often underutilized yet easy-to-use feature of generative AI tools like ChatGPT is the audio chat function, which he says job seekers of any AI-skill level can tap into for effective interview prep. “Most people who are either scared of using AI or are not massively experienced with AI can figure out the audio function,” Levesque said. “You’re not coding prompts. You’re just having a conversation.”

After uploading your resume and a job description, you can ask ChatGPT to play the role of an interviewer. The audio feature in ChatGPT and other tools can make these interactions feel more natural than typing. With prompts such as “act like an expert interviewer and ask me questions about my motivations and work history,” Levesque said you can quickly start engaging in a helpful and realistic back and forth.

“It uses all the frameworks that humans would use,expert coaches would use, because I asked it to,” Levesque said. “I don’t need to know them. I just need to be able to say, ‘act like a expert who has been doing this 20 years,’ or ‘act like a career coach who is like the best in the world, and interview me until I have clarity about me and my strengths.’”

Go Deeper With Custom Interview Prompts

Once you feel comfortable with the basics, you can further personalize the AI to act more like a coach. Options include asking it to use structured methods such as STAR — Situation, Task, Action, Result — which lets job seekers receive sharper feedback and practice framing stronger responses. “That’s when it shifts from a practice buddy to a real coaching tool,” Levesque said.

AI can mimic different interview formats, from friendly one-on-ones to adversarial panels. “You can tell it to act like an adversarial three-person interview board, and evaluate your responses based on the likelihood of being hired or other criteria,” Levesque said. It’s helpful for newer formats like asynchronous video interviews, where candidates record answers to preset questions. “AI can prepare you for that too, so you don’t get thrown off when you’re suddenly asked to respond on camera,” he noted.

The more you interact and customize your requests, the more useful AI becomes as a job interview coach. Levesque described feeding ChatGPT details about his career history, motivations and strengths. “At the end of that process, it wasn’t just asking generic questions. It knew my background, so it could push me in ways that were genuinely useful,” he said.

Like this Article?  Share It! You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

Consider Privacy And Other Issues With AI

As with any use of AI, job candidates must remember to be mindful of privacy and other considerations. Levesque advised adjusting the settings of whichever platform you are using for your job interview prep to prevent the sharing of your data and as a general rule “never share personal details you wouldn’t want public.”

That means leaving out addresses, phone numbers, and sensitive information. Levesque also warned that AI systems — particularly those used by employers — can carry hidden biases. “That’s why I see AI as great for preparation, but more complicated when used to evaluate candidates,” he noted.

When it comes to choosing a platform, there are many to consider. But Levesque said one advantage that ChatGPT offers, especially for AI novices, is its built-in long-term memory capabilities. “I can close chatGPT, come back tomorrow, and it still remembers everything I’ve said. I can ask about it in different contexts, and it’ll still remember that history,” Levesque said.

As for cost, many of the basic steps — like uploading a resume, generating questions, and practicing answers — can be done with the free version of ChatGPT. But the paid version offers features such as long-term memory and extended audio sessions, which can help if you want the AI to act as a consistent coach.

Still, Levesque stressed that you don’t need a premium subscription to benefit. “You can get 60% to 70% of the way there with free tools,” he said. “For most people, that’s enough to feel much more confident going into an interview.”

Embrace A New Kind Of Interview Pep Talk

When used thoughtfully, Levesque said he believes AI can provide not just practice, but confidence. “Sometimes what you need before an interview isn’t memorizing lines. It’s getting into the right headspace,” he said. “AI can do that too. It can reframe your answers, give you encouragement, and help you walk in feeling prepared.”

You don’t need to be a tech expert to use AI as a job interview ally. By treating it like a practice partner — one that never gets tired of running mock interviews — you can enter your next conversation with clarity, confidence, and a much stronger story.

Forbes.com | September 12, 2025 | Justin Sablich

I have written in the past about the pros and cons of “job hopping,” most prevalent in 2021 and 2022. But as Labor Day approaches, new research shows the cooling labor market has slowed, and job hugging is gaining momentum and replacing job hopping. Job hoppers are no longer getting a big bump in salaries, and the pattern is reversing, with job huggers finding that staying put might be a safer option for now.

The ‘Job Hugging’ Trend Stems From Job Uncertainty

Workers, notably Gen Z, are holding on to their jobs for dear life, not because they’re thriving, but because they’re unsure of what’s next. Amid massive layoffs, skyrocketing prices and the tightening economy, workplace worry and anxiety are at all-time highs. With so much economic uncertainty, more workers are finding that job hugging and staying put is more secure than taking unpredictable leaps into new opportunities.

With all the economic and political turmoil in today’s world, you might feel like going to bed and pulling the covers over your head, and you’re not alone. Job uncertainty poses a threat, raising worry and anxiety and taking a greater toll on your health than actually losing your job. But uncertainty is an inevitable part of our careers. None of us knows the future, so we must live with a certain amount of it. Sticking to a holding pattern with predictability is the natural response when your job is at stake.

Like this Article?  Share It! You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

I spoke with Jennifer Schielke, CEO and cofounder of Summit Group Solutions and the author of “Leading for Impact: The CEO’s Guide to Influencing with Integrity.” She tells me that “job hugging” creates the illusion of loyalty, but it’s actually stagnation, and if leaders treat this low turnover as success, they miss the quiet disengagement that will trigger a talent drain when the market loosens up.

“The layoff trends that came on the heels of what was ‘anticipated’ to be a time of recovery from the 2020 Covid period perpetuated the lack of security in an already injured marketplace,” Schielke says. “Job reports, budget constraints and a continual undercurrent of fear entering into our workspace, clinging to what you have seems a logical play for stability and security. People have relocated, settled on remote abilities and experienced a time of economic strength. The flip of this is unsettling for most.”

How To Spot The Key Signs Of ‘Job Hugging’ At Work

Schielke describes job hugging as a red flag and lists several signs that surface with it.

• Increased stress that may affect the behavior or the mood of the team.
• Performance changes where someone focuses on areas in their role that they’re good at to highlight their capabilities versus the critical areas that best serve the whole of the team or the most important initiatives.
• Employees eager to assist in other roles or opportunities which can be helpful for the team, if they can continue in their own positions with excellence.
• Workers who have outgrown their current roles, sitting in the wrong seat at this time in their careers and clinging to it because of market fear.

How Employers Can Address The ‘Job Hugging’ Trend

Schielke notes leaders should take this moment to double down on development, mentorship and growth. “Employees may not be moving jobs, but they still need to move forward,” she says. “Great leaders will recognize that stability is not the same as engagement and use this time to build a stronger culture that lasts beyond the current market.”

I also spoke with Tara Ceranic Salinas, professor of business ethics and the department chair of management at the University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business. She agrees when employers don’t respond to employee concerns and frustrations, the result is often a disengaged workforce, which hurts both people and the bottom line.

“Leaders need to acknowledge that this is a challenging time for everyone, and then they need to act,” Salinas adds. “Companies that legitimately want to foster engagement must invest in their culture and prioritize empathy and humanity beyond talking points.”

Here are other ways employers can address job hugging.

1. Check in with your employees. Salinas recommends establishing regular opportunities to share honest feedback and following up to show what was done to address the feedback. Schielke believes recognizing job hugging gives leaders a chance to engage with teams and understand their fears, needs and drivers.
2. Invest in the growth of employees. Schielke encourages employers to show employees that you care about investing in their growth whether it’s within or outside the walls of the company. She stresses the importance of thinking about how to create stability, security and connection for your people during a time of tremendous uncertainty. Salinas says offering additional training, mentoring or career development pathways can make employees feel valued and less stuck.
3. Reintroduce flexible schedules. “Flexibility has recently been removed from workplaces with forced return to office,” Salinas says, “but we know how unhappy it makes employees. Companies that are willing to reintroduce flexible schedules and hybrid work show that they understand what their employees want.”
4. Be a model of empathy. Salinas insists vulnerability is key to being a good leader and building a resilient culture. She advocates for leaders to share their own experiences and frustrations. Schielke says leaders can make that happen by sharing industry news and articles and have a Q&A or open conversation time in a daily meeting or coffee chat where people can engage and talk about concerns.
5. Explain company vision. Schielke recommends employers help each person understand the direction of the company and share how their roles integrate into that vision and what critical elements or key metrics employees need to see.

How Employees Can Address The ‘Job Hugging’ Trend

Schielke notes that being stifled will not end well and being idle with fear could have you miss out on the next phase of your career. Neither option is a positive reason to remain where you are. When you’re feeling stuck in your role, Salinas advises you to consider it as a great time to start planning your next career move and building new skills. She suggests you identify the aspects of your current job that feel unfulfilling.

Schielke’s advice is to have conversations with your supervisor or manager to position yourself well and succeed in your role. She’s a firm believer in having a sounding board throughout your career and building advisers whom you trust from different business arenas in different seasons of your career. She advocates finding a mentor and vetting your emotion, physical capability and job performance through an unbiased lens.

Salinas urges you to explore what colleagues in other roles are doing that sparks your interest. She adds that noticing the kind of work that excites you can help uncover new and more rewarding possibilities. And once you find something that resonates, Salinas encourages you to map out the skills you need to transition into that type of role. This will help you decide your next steps, such as pursuing additional training, earning a certification or developing new competencies to set yourself up for success.

Schielke also recommends you create a career map to understand where you are now and how you fit into the company in a longer-term capacity, or what trigger points may indicate that you need to let go and celebrate a new path. “Bottom line is I believe what’s best for the individual works out to be what’s best for the company,” Schielke concludes. “Job hugging doesn’t strike me as a category that serves either party well.”

Forbes.com | August 27, 2025 | Bryan Robinson, Ph.D.,

If you’re like most first-year college students right now, you may be thinking, “Life is good, my courses are all set, and there’s nothing else on the horizon except for next weekend’s beach blanket bingo party.” So why would you even consider applying for internships now, especially when the majority of your peers are just trying to increase their GPA and their social influence on campus?

I know it’s unusual to start searching for internships during your first year of college, but what if I told you that standing out from the crowd and doing something differently is precisely what’s needed to land your dream job? Think back to any success story, and you’ll find that the underdog is the one who steals the show. And you, my friend, may certainly feel like the underdog, especially if you decide to apply for internships and compete in the same rooms as talented juniors and seniors.

Like this Article?  Share It! You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

However, even if you feel like a fish out of water or out of your league, I can guarantee you this: The fact that you decided to venture out before you felt like you were 100% ready gives you a competitive edge. If you’re brave enough to step out in confidence, you’re a sure candidate who will lead with initiative, innovation and curiosity. So, are you ready to get into the internship game? Read on for how to get started.

You Can Get Internships As A Freshman (And You Should)

As a freshman in college, you may feel a little green around the gills. After all, your experience in the job market is sure to be minimal. But you, my Gen Z reader, are teachable. And if there’s one thing all businesses want, it’s someone who is willing to show up with the passion and desire to learn new skills.

In fact, many employers value working with people who are considered coachable and motivated to grow professionally. And why wouldn’t they? With the endless influx of AI, it’s no wonder that adaptability is the new superpower in business. So, now that you know businesses are open to having you intern, let’s talk about when you should start looking for these applications and what to do if you’re already behind schedule.

Don’t feel like you have to have everything sorted out in one weekend. Finding the right internship takes time. Pace yourself and set weekly objectives to complete. The key is to understand the big picture and then work backwards with the details.

For instance, let’s say your major is marketing and you hope to land an internship in New York City over the summer. Follow this blueprint below:

1. Create a list of your top five programs that you think would be a good fit.
2. Write out the deadlines and qualifications you need for each internship.
3. Check if you need to add anything to your skillset to boost your resume.
4. Create a list of what actions you need to take in order to fill in those gaps.

Once you have done everything you can do to increase your chance of being accepted, it’s now time to apply, hope for the best, and breathe. Because if you’ve completed everything above, that’s all you can do. Now, it’s up to fate.

What Internships Are Available For College Freshmen?

Certain companies tailor their internships to be age-specific and only allow freshmen and sophomores to enter into their programs. Three of them include:

• Explore Microsoft is an 8-week (India) or 12-week (U.S.) summer internship program specifically designed for first-year and second-year college students.
• The Bank of America Global Technology Freshman Summer Analyst Program is a 10-week program designed to provide a unique opportunity to gain exposure to life at the financial institution and also make significant contributions to the team.
• The Two Sigma First Year Software Engineering Internship is a 10-week summer internship program held at the company’s New York City office in Soho.

Where Can Freshmen Find More Of These Internships?

If you want to do some more digging and look at your specific industry, you can join job websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn and others, and look through their database for other opportunities. Another option is to leverage your network on career platforms such as Handshake and reach out to fellow students and alumni who have previously interned at companies that interest you. They can connect you with the right people or inform you about opportunities that align with your major and skillset.

How Do You Stand Out When You Have No Experience?

“From what I’ve seen — and having been an intern myself a few years ago — the best interns stand out by being proactive and genuinely curious,” says Hardik Ruparel, the founder of EasyReferrals, a cloud-based platform that turbocharges the job referral process. “I understand most interns hope to convert their role into a full-time offer, but I strongly recommend approaching the experience primarily as a learning opportunity,” he notes. “While technical skills do matter, we place even more weight on how curious and proactive an intern is.”

Jade Walters, an employer branding consultant and the founder of The Ninth Semester, a career resource for young professionals, echoes this sentiment. She suggests, “My biggest advice for interns is to not be afraid to ask questions. As an intern, you’re not expected to know everything at your new organization. Don’t be afraid to ask your manager questions about the work you’re doing, the team, the company, etc. They’re here to support you.”

Getting an internship as a freshman helps you stand out and provides the connections you need to land your dream job after graduation. But it doesn’t just happen by chance. It takes strategy. So, take some time to list your top companies, research the internship qualifications, then step out in confidence by filling out that application. Remember, you’ll never get anywhere by sitting on the sidelines. It’s time to play the game and win.

Forbes.com | August 13, 2025 | Colleen Batchelder

Your LinkedIn About section is where you tell your authentic and compelling story. This 2,600-character space sits near the top of your profile and allows you to introduce yourself to the people who are checking you out. It allows you to showcase who you are, what you do, and why people should care. It is written specifically for your audience, the people you want to influence, impact, and impress.

Your About is one of four key LinkedIn profile elements that help you get noticed and tell your story. An inspiring About is authentic, while at the same time, aspirational. That helps to position you for what’s next. Your LinkedIn About will likely be the most-read version of your bio, and as such, it plays many roles in your career.

Your LinkedIn About Is Your First Impression

Because in the virtual age digital precedes real, your online profile is often your first impression. Whether people start at Google or go directly to LinkedIn to learn about you, they’ll likely end up at your profile. That’s because your LinkedIn profile will show up at or near the top of Google search results. Think of your LinkedIn profile as your personal, always-available website, where your About is your homepage. It should grab attention, establish credibility, and build a human connection.

If your About is empty, undifferentiated, or bland, it’s not going to influence the reader. But, a well-written, authentic About captivates the reader, making them want to get to know you more deeply.

Like this Article?  Share It! You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

Your LinkedIn About Establishes Your Personal Brand

Your LinkedIn About helps you define who you are, what you stand for, and what sets you apart from your peers. Whether you’re a professional, entrepreneur, or senior executive, it’s your chance to tell your story in a way that aligns with who you are and how you deliver value to others. Of course, crafting a branded About assumes you are clear about your personal brand. Focus on uncovering your brand before writing your About. A branded About helps you:

• Showcase your differentiation
• Attract opportunities that align with your goals
• Build trust and connection with those who are researching you

Your LinkedIn About Is Your Elevator Pitch—With Greater Impact

Unlike a live conversation, your LinkedIn About is delivering your introduction on your behalf 24/7. Think of it as the extended-play version of your elevator pitch, delivered online. It creates interest, getting people to want to connect with you to learn more.

Craft Your Standout LinkedIn About

An engaging LinkedIn About is not just a list of credentials in paragraph form. It’s your brand story. It helps you connect with your audience. To do that, write in the first person. That sets up a conversation between you and the reader. After all, people assume you wrote your own LinkedIn About, so using the third person can feel distant or inauthentic. When crafting it, avoid these common mistakes, then follow these four steps:

1. Start with a Sizzle

When someone visits your profile, they don’t see your entire About section. They just see the first two or three lines. That opening needs to be magnetic. It determines whether people will click “see more” to read your entire About, or just move on. That’s why your start needs to sizzle. Make it unexpected, intriguing, energizing, funny, or differentiated to make the reader want to learn more.

This sizzling start makes you want to get to know Leadership and Management Coach Fabian Camargo. He starts with a compelling promise.

“You can excel without sacrificing your well-being. Yes, you can even love Mondays.

As a leadership and management coach with a solid tech background, I help people do exactly that. My approach creates a space for you to think, feel, be, and breathe. I’ll challenge and support you, staying curious … see more”

2. Create a Bridge

Once you’ve hooked the reader, create a bridge to connect the kick-off with the full story. What can someone expect when they work with you?

Jean Oplinger’s LinkedIn About starts with a provocative statement, then builds the bridge to her work as an executive coach and expert on the topic of values.

“The most transformative leaders and teams I’ve worked with aren’t just skilled, they’re aware and aligned. They know what drives them, what matters, and what they won’t compromise. That clarity changes everything.

I’m Jean Oplinger, Master Certified Executive Coach, Personal Brand Strategist, and Founder of Values Identifier, a data-driven tool that helps individuals and teams discover the values that drive their decisions, relationships, and results.”

3. Tell Your Story

Your About is not your Experience section rewritten in prose. It needs to be more human, approachable, and memorable. When done, it should sit at the intersection of credibility and likability. Give the reader a chance to get to know the real, fascinating human being behind the job title.

4. Keep the Conversation Going

End your About with a call to action, giving readers a chance to learn more. Direct them to some content that reinforces your message, invite them to sign up for your newsletter, or give them an opportunity to deepen their learning. Now that the reader knows about you, what do you want them to do next so you can continue the conversation?

The Added Benefit Of Writing Your LinkedIn About: Personal Brand Clarity

Writing your About helps you achieve brand clarity. The process makes you decide what to include and what to leave out. It forces you to choose which accomplishments to feature, which passions to share, and how to express your aspirations and life purpose. All of these decisions you make as you move through the process define how you want to be known. The process not only shapes and refines your brand, it also boosts your confidence and ability to articulate your unique promise of value in an engaging way.

Here are 11 stellar examples of engaging LinkedIn Abouts, each as unique as the person it describes.

• Damilare Odueso, Co-founder Crendly
• Ana-Maria Butucaru, Partner, PwC
• Charles Good, President, Institute for Management Studies (IMS)
• Paul Gurney, CEO, BecomingX
• Aliza Edelstein, VP, Product Marketing, Scribe
• Gijo Mathew, Chief Product Officer, Spring Health
• Nawal Fakhoury, Senior Director, Culture Experience, Hubspot
• Jacob Schwartz, Founder, Magiscribe
• Rita Wang, IT Communications Training Lead
• Julie Smith, PR Manager, Haworth
• Moe Tanabian, CEO, IntuigenceAI

Now it’s your turn. Use these examples for inspiration. Then, follow the process to craft or update your LinkedIn About. Ask a few people you trust to give you feedback on your draft, incorporate the feedback, and upload it to your profile. Then you can focus on the other three essential LinkedIn profile sections that form your digital first impression.

Forbes.com Author:  William Arruda is a keynote speaker, author, and personal branding pioneer. Join him for practical tips on using AI to uncover, express, and expand your personal brand in a free Maven Lightning Lesson. If you can’t make it live, register to get the replay.

Forbes.com | August 11, 2025