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#JobSearch : LinkedIn Executive Reveals New Features To Get Discovered. Secret: There are Three Things Jobseekers Can Do with Their Profiles. A MUst REad!

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Donning a black waistcoat and reclining comfortably in a corner chair edged against the floor length window of his San Francisco office, Rohan Rajiv, LinkedIn’s new Director of Product Management and the brains behind the candidate experience on the platform, was ready to spill all the details.

He had just recently released some ground-breaking features on LinkedIn to fast-track jobseekers’ success with the platform and was already witnessing incredible results and feedback. But Rajiv was no stranger to product management in the career development space. He had been in the business of designing and managing job-search-centered optimization products for over 15 years, with a rather brief sprint in between at a boutique management consulting firm.

There are now approximately 61 million job-seekers searching for roles via LinkedIn weekly, with eight offers to candidates every minute; and Rajiv, who leads a team of dedicated product managers focused solely on the job search experience, had tons of advice to share.

 

“Rohan, what tips would you recommend to job-seekers to become more discoverable on the platform?” I asked, leaning intently, to which down-to-earth Rajiv cheekily retorted, “Do you want the 30-second answer or the 3-minute answer?”

 

Well, 3-minute answer it was!  “The way I look at it,” he began, “there are three things jobseekers can do with their profiles.

“First, you need to create an identity so the LinkedIn community knows you exist and can reach out to you for opportunities. Second, you need to open your identity to a world of recruiters who are all using enterprise products to search for candidates. Finally, you can apply for jobs and express your interest tangibly. But it always begins with having a complete profile; that’s essential.”

The LinkedIn director explained that he and his team are focused on helping jobseekers tell the story of their skills, and therefore have made recent improvements that make it easier for these skills to be expressed and noticed.

“We’ve added features such as Top Skills in your ‘About’ section (this highlights 4-5 skills you most want to be known for). You can also add skills to your education, experience, and projects, to provide context.”

Gone are the days of trying to explain your transferable skills to recruiters. LinkedIn has done it all for you. Rajiv added that the new LinkedIn feature would ease customers’ fears about not getting hired. “The next thing is super unique to LinkedIn, and this really changes how you are discovered.”

 

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Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 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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New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

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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 …

He then introduced three game-changing tools on LinkedIn that are available to everybody, free of charge:

Open to work

“It’s a bit like raising your hand and shouting out ‘I’m here!’ isn’t it?” We both laughed and said the same thing simultaneously.

“Exactly,” he agreed, “and recruiters find this valuable. This increases your chances of receiving an InMail 2x.”

I had a nagging question I just had to get to the bottom of while chatting with Rajiv. What if one decided to turn the open-to-work frame on to just recruiters only? Will it still be effective?

“The frame adds a sense of urgency and gets the community involved; however the frame is not for everybody. It’s only beneficial if you want to amplify your intent,” he explained.

Resume visibility

“People can switch on a setting that permits them to make the details of their resume available to recruiters when they search for certain keywords,” Rajiv continued. “It will show keywords from both on their profile and resume.”

‘I’m Interested’

Rajiv’s face began to really light up and his eyes sparked as he announced his new product launch called “I’m interested,” initially released six months ago. I could tell this was his favorite feature by far, as he made certain to tell me this was something he was really excited about.

“This feature is for employers who want to grow their employer brand on LI; they have a button called “I’m interested” which allows you as a potential candidate to be in their talent pool. It has completed roll-out in May, and so far, we’re seeing a lot of traction and response from members and influencers on TikTok. It has really caught on, so now recruiters can hear back from people who’ve already expressed interest.”

But that’s not all.

Rajiv announced that there was even more in store for LinkedIn Premium members.

Turbocharge with LinkedIn Premium’s new features

“We have our free offering that is available to everybody and has significant value. But for those who choose our Premium offerings, we have a bunch of stuff that turbocharges success. For example, we now have AI assisted profile descriptions to guide you as you complete your profile.”

“There is also AI-assisted messaging for InMails to recruiters.”

By now my jaw had dropped wide open.

“This is still rolling out so you’re getting it hot off the press, no pun intended,” he added with another good-natured laugh.

Top Choice

“With LinkedIn Premium, you have access to a very unique feature called Top Choice. Top Choice Jobs gives job seekers the ability to mark a job as a top choice when applying through Easy Apply,” Rajiv continued,” signaling to recruiters that you have strong interest in a job they’ve posted and can increase your visibility. In fact – job seekers are 43% more likely to hear back from the recruiter for the jobs they are most interested in when using the Top Choice Jobs feature.”

Actively hiring

This tool is rolling out this month. Rajiv and his team are currently rolling out a new tool to Premium subscribers so you can now filter your people search by those who are “Actively Hiring” in or outside your network.

“But what about when you are about to apply for a job, and it already has 200 or 300 applicants? Are the numbers sometimes flawed? How accurate are those numbers?” I was curious to know.

“There are two kinds of ‘applies’ on LinkedIn; one takes you to a website, and the other is ‘easy apply.’ Easy apply is always accurate but the others may or may not have followed through with their application.”

As the interview wound to a close and Rajiv was within sight of his lunch break, I quizzed, “Is there anything exciting coming up with LinkedIn products that you’re able to leak to the public?”

Full of humor, Rajiv chuckled, “We are rolling out so many features so fast within the past six months alone, so watch this space.” Peering out into the window, the director’s passion for the LinkedIn community, was clear: “It’s a really special thing to come to work knowing we have a shot at helping people find work.”

Who knows what may be on our profiles six months from now?

 

Forbes.com | September 14, 2023 | Rachel Wells

 

#JobSearch : You’ve Been Using LinkedIn Wrong—5 Features You Should Be Using. Advice #1: Never use LinkedIn Only When you Need a Job.

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LinkedIn is highly regarded as the number one social platform for businesses and professionals alike, for sourcing jobs and business opportunities. But how many professionals are really using it to its full potential?

Over the past few years, LinkedIn has rolled out several new features which go beyond the traditional notion of using the platform for finding jobs when one is unemployed, or generating leads for new business. If fully taken advantage of, these LinkedIn features and resources will help you establish your personal brand, catapult your career and thought leadership within your industry, and bring opportunities your way instead of you chasing them all the time.

Let’s explore some of these features below. But first, a word of caution: 

Never use LinkedIn only when you need a job

LinkedIn is not solely a job board. Its inbuilt job board is only one of several features and usages on this platform. The worst thing you can do to hurt your career is to wait until you’ve been laid off or seeking a new career path, before you start building your profile and actively using LinkedIn. If you wait until then, it will be almost too late and you’ll need to build your personal brand from scratch. It will be much harder to position yourself as an industry expert or talented professional.

Finally, note that a couple of the tools listed below may be currently in beta mode, so they may not be accessible to you at this time, depending on your location.

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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 …

5 LinkedIn features you should be using

Before thinking about using the following features and tools, you need to evaluate and ask yourself a few critical questions:

“Do I already have a fully completed profile?“, “What is my purpose on this platform?” and “Who is my target audience?”

 

If the answer to the first question is no, start reimagining and reinventing your profile, ensuring it is fully complete and reflects your personal brand identity, in line with the last two questions.

If you’re not yet sure of your purpose or target audience, consider your overall career objective first, and this will inform your answers.

1. Turn on “Creator” mode

You may not realize this, but turning your LinkedIn profile on “Creator” mode is a fantastic way to establish you as an industry leader. This is because it unlocks access to a plethora of tools such as setting up and hosting LinkedIn Live Audio events, LinkedIn Live events (the video version), and launching newsletters. You can also pick five hashtags to feature on your profile under your headline, that tell others what you talk about and are focused on.

“Creator” mode also ensures that when others visit your profile, the first option they have available to them is to follow you, instead of connecting with you. If they really want to be in your 1st degree network, they can click the “More” option on your profile for the dropdown with the “Connect” option to appear. Your following count will then show, and this assists in creating social proof for your brand using numbers.

2. Collaborate on skills-based articles

LinkedIn has rolled out a new feature which enables you to become a LinkedIn Top Voice in your area of expertise, further establishing your credibility on the platform using the LinkedIn Skills Pages.

When you add skills to your profile’s Skills section that are relevant to your role and industry, LinkedIn will suggest AI-generated articles specific to those skills, that you can collaborate with so you can add your own unique perspective.

The more you collaborate, the more you establish yourself as a knowledgeable leader in your field, and if you do it consistently, LinkedIn may award you a gold LinkedIn Top Voice badge, which you can proudly display on your profile.

3. Undertake skills assessments

When you click into the Skills section of your profile, you may notice that a button may appear which says “Take a skills assessment.” This is a fantastic way to show that you are a bona fide professional and a master at your craft.

Currently, LinkedIn skills assessments test technical and design software skills including AdobeADBE +2.4% and MicrosoftMSFT +1.7% packages.

It would be interesting to see if or how LinkedIn would test soft skills such as customer service or leadership scenarios in the future. But in the meantime, if you’d like to proudly display your proficiency and skill set, especially if you’re considering switching careers to a role or industry that uses these key technical skills, undertaking LinkedIn Skills Assessments is a great option.

4. Subscribe to the LinkedIn Learning Blog

LinkedIn’s “LinkedIn Learning Blog” regularly publishes insights about new skills to learn so you can adapt your career to today’s ever-evolving workforce. One of its most insightful articles is it’s list of most in-demand skills, pulled together from LinkedIn’s own data and research team, such as the “LinkedIn 2023 Most In-Demand Skills” below.

If you are serious about propelling your career forward, this report provides you with data and insights on how to achieve this based on what employers and the market is looking for.

5. Check your LinkedIn SSI score

Ever wondered why you’re not attracting enough career-boosting opportunities on LinkedIn? This tool might help you. Commonly used by sales professionals, this is something you can use if you’re serious about building a strong personal brand. SSI (Social Selling Index) is a score LinkedIn assigns to your profile that is calculated based on four key criteria that have an equal weighting of 25. So in essence, if your profile is perfect in meeting all four criteria, you should have a perfect score of 100.

Here is what LinkedIn’s free SSI tool measures you against:

  1. Establish your professional brand
  2. Find the right people
  3. Engage with insights
  4. Build relationships

 

Sign into your LinkedIn account on your browser, then open the below link:

Sales Navigator

Your ideal score should be over 70. Use the insights from this tool to create a LinkedIn strategy to establish your presence as an expert on the platform, network with the right people, and attract more opportunities. This will boost your score over time.

As you can see, LinkedIn is much more than a job board. It is a powerful platform for establishing business connections, sourcing your next career or business opportunity, and developing your personal brand. LinkedIn is continuously rolling out new features, so it’s essential to stay current and be active on the platform so you can be aware of new releases that will help you grow your career. Through using the tools available to LinkedIn Creators, collaborating on skills articles, leveraging your current skills while seeking to learn more, and understanding your current status in the market using the SSI feature, you can take your career to unprecedented heights and open up a world of unlimited possibilities.

Most importantly, don’t wait until you’ve been laid off or are unemployed otherwise, before you start establishing your presence on LinkedIn. Begin today to craft your personal brand here, one that will leave a legacy beyond your job.

 

Forbes.com | August 20, 2023 | Rachel Wells

#BestofFSCBlog : LinkedIn Profile Do’s And Don’ts. First Impressions Matter a Lot, Especially on LinkedIn. A MUst REad!

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First impressions matter a lot, especially on LinkedIn. So, whether you are looking for a new job or want to create a more influential personal brand, there are some guidelines you need to follow. Step one of career management is to have an outstanding LinkedIn profile. As a career counselor, I see many common mistakes you must avoid. These are outlined below with some recommendations on what you should do to present yourself in the best possible light.

The Do’s

Have a complete profile. This is a critical step. Too many profiles need to be updated. Ensure the info is current, and all the required sections are completed. Don’t leave sections blank.

Work history needs specific details. This section should summarize your experience and be loaded with the results and accomplishments you’ve had in that role. Note your key strengths and relevant work tasks. If you only list your job title, employer name, and dates without additional details, you’ll miss an SEO opportunity and the chance to attract a recruiter’s or potential client’s interest.

 

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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 …

Customize your headline. The headline section is the most searched part of LinkedIn. And by default, LinkedIn will create one, simply listing your current job title. You will appear in more LinkedIn searches by using strategic keywords in your headline, listing the appropriate job titles considering your current and future roles. You could also include your industry, such as fintech or healthcare.

Tell your story in the “About” section. Personalize this section so that it shows your personality and is authentic and genuine. It is written in the first person. Share some reasons why you like your work and what you feel you are good at and mention a couple of work tasks you enjoy. If you are a manager, describe your style and note how important the team is. Avoid resume speak, so don’t just pull off your resume or a bio about yourself.

Use a great photo. A smiling, engaging, current headshot is what you want to use. It doesn’t need to be a professional picture; the camera on your smartphone allows you to get a perfect photo. Be sure you have a plain background, good light that shows your whole face with no dark sides or shadows. A solid-colored top works best. And most important, smile!

Point out your top skills. LinkedIn added a new feature called “Top Skills,” which sits right under your “About” section in the profile. You can highlight your top five skills. These impactful, searchable keywords improve your chances of capturing attention and enhancing your profile.

Have recommendations. Everyone looks at these when they check out your profile. These references are powerful and influential. They attest to how good you are at that job and that colleague’s impression of working with you. More is better when it comes to having recommendations on your profile. If yours aren’t current, ask some people to write one.

 

The Don’ts

Do not just describe what your company does. Your profile is about you, not your employer, even if you are the CEO. Emphasize what you have done. Note the results and outcomes you have made in your job roles. Create a personalized “about” section that talks about you and may include what you do for the employer, but this needs to be focused on who you are.

Do not list just job titles, employers and dates of employment. It’s a big mistake when there are not enough work experience details. Give a full description and point out a few key accomplishments, responsibilities, and results you have achieved in that job.

Do not include every job you have ever held. Since careers typically are progressive, it’s unnecessary to detail or even list what you did 20 years ago, as that role has little impact on where you are now and your next career position, so keep the profile to the last 10-15 years. If you are over 50, going back too far puts an emphasis on your age, which is not what you want here.

Never post anything negative. Too many people have sunk their ship complaining about a former employer or boss and posting these thoughts on LinkedIn. Prospective employers read your posts; a negative comment will make them think less of you. Many recruiters say negative comments make them move on to another candidate.

Do not be inactive on LinkedIn. You need to interact and respond to comments. The more you post on LinkedIn, the better you will do with the algorithm that controls the website. Remember that posting is not the same as commenting or liking something. Posting is creating original content, asking a question of your network, taking a poll, or sharing an article that you think is of value to other connections.

Do not have only a few connections. The number of connections makes a difference in your visibility on this platform. People who have connections under 75 are at an extreme disadvantage. Your goal should be to have at least 200-300 connections for a solid network. Add friends, bosses, coworkers, and recruiters.

 

Forbes.com | August 8, 2023 | Robin Ryan

 

#JobSearch : Confidence Taking A Hit? 5 Signs It’s Not You, It’s Your Job Search. Great Check List. Which Area(s) Do You Fall Into?

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Before you started your job search, you probably felt optimistic, confident and hopeful. After all, with the experience you have under your belt and your track record for success, you might have thought landing a new job might take time but it shouldn’t be too hard. Now fast forward months later, and you can hardly recognize that confident version of yourself anymore.

But, it’s not uncommon for your confidence to waver during the job search process. As a career coach to corporate high-achievers, I hear from top performers who, despite their years of experience and skills, happen to feel the same way while job searching. However, rather than questioning your worth and picking apart your capabilities, it might be time to focus on how you’re approaching your job search instead. Because, it actually might be your job search that needs fine-tuning.

Here are five signs to help you determine if your job search is the real culprit:

You don’t have a solid idea of what you’d like to do next.

A lack of clear direction is one of the biggest detriments to your job search. Without a solid idea of the type of roles, responsibilities and companies worth your time and energy, you can easily get distracted and waste your time on opportunities that don’t yield the results you’re looking for in your career.

You might even start to mistakenly believe that you can’t have a better job or that you must start over to land a new role when the real problem is you haven’t taken the time to get clear on which type of opportunities you’d like to pursue. On the other hand, gaining clarity will not only help you tailor your job search, but it’ll also increase your confidence in finding the right fit for you.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

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

https://www.firstsun.com/2023/07/03/jobsearch-the-tough-love-pep-talk-you-need-for-your-job-search-best-article-to-share-to-your-job-seeker-today/

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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 & contact us @ www.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 …

You spend most of your time constantly applying to jobs.

Gone are the days when you could “spray and pray” and hope for the best. Not only is blindly applying ineffective, but it can also quickly erode your confidence when those countless job applications turn into countless rejection emails. Before you know it, you’re convinced that no one wants to hire you.

So, rather than applying to as many jobs as possible, take a more targeted and selective approach. Be strategic and intentional about which jobs you choose to apply to and don’t be afraid to skip over the ones that don’t align with your career goals, expertise and interests. By only applying to jobs you really love, you’ll find that you’ll feel more confident putting yourself out there and more excited to demonstrate how your skills align with the needs of the role and organization.

Your resume sounds more like a job description.

Your resume is one of the best ways to market your skills, value and experience; it shouldn’t be a collection of past items on your daily to-do lists. So, if you can’t tell the difference between your resume and a job posting, then that’s a sure sign that you might not be standing out from the crowd when applying for new positions.

To fix this, you need to shift your focus from duties to achievements. Understanding the impact you’ve made throughout your career and communicating that on your resume in a relevant way will not only help you stop second-guessing yourself, but will also help you catch the attention of the right employers who want what you have to offer.

Your LinkedIn profile isn’t clear or compelling enough.

Sure, when you were content in your current job, you could get by with a lackluster or even nonexistent LinkedIn profile. But now that you’re ready for a new job, in today’s digital world, a vague LinkedIn profile is not going to attract your dream companies.

For example, without a confident and compelling LinkedIn profile, recruiters actively looking for top talent either won’t find you or won’t be inspired to interview you when they stumble upon your profile. Not to mention, if hiring managers look you up after reviewing your application and don’t see a coherent and consistent message on your LinkedIn profile, they might move on to the next candidate. So, invest the time and energy to optimize your LinkedIn profile so that you can open doors to new career opportunities.

You don’t know how to talk about your skills and expertise.

While you’ve likely spent tons of time developing your skills, building your track record, and excelling in your career, you probably haven’t spent as much time talking about your skills and expertise. So, rather than doubting yourself or assuming you aren’t good enough for the roles you want, you need to focus on getting better at communicating the value you bring to the table with clarity and ease.

As you get more comfortable talking about your track record, accomplishments and skill sets, you’ll feel more confident and exude more confidence during interviews and networking conversations, which will ultimately inspire others to want to help you and hire you.

Of course, it’s tempting to judge yourself or criticize your personal shortcomings when your job search isn’t going the way you hoped. But landing a new job isn’t about changing who you are–it’s about elevating how you present yourself so your ideal companies understand exactly why they need you. By taking the focus off yourself and reassessing your job search strategy, you will feel even more in control of your career journey, and you’ll boost your chances of standing out and getting hired for the roles you desire and deserve.

Forbes.com Author:  Adunola Adeshola :  Adunola Adeshola coaches corporate high-achievers on how to take their careers to the next level. She is the author of the guide How to Go From Zero Interviews to Dream Job Offers.
Forbes.com | July 20, 2023

 

#JobSearch : How To Network On LinkedIn To Get A New Job. How has LinkedIn Helped you get a Job?

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To grow your career, you will need to forsake the stereotypical depiction of networking by going to a conference, wearing a name tag on your blazer, forcing a fake smile and shaking hands. As nearly everything is online these days, you can get noticed by recruiters, hiring managers and human resources on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn.

Before you embark upon a job search, start cultivating a network of like-minded people who can mutually benefit each other. It won’t work out well if you come across as asking for help without the professional relationship being reciprocal.

LinkedIn Photo And Profile

The first thing you need is a robust LinkedIn profile. Ensure you have a good headshot photo and a summary highlighting your skills, experience and past work achievements.

nclude your current position, title, past jobs, education, certifications and licenses. On your LinkedIn profile, allocate the most real estate to your current job and somewhat less space for prior roles. It’s okay to leave off short stints of three months or under. You can explain the employment gap in person when you interview. Be honest about your jobs and responsibilities; otherwise, it could backfire on you when called out in an interview.

 

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Article continued …

500 Connections Is The Goal

Make a goal of achieving 500 connections on the professional social media platform. Within the LinkedIn ecosystem, that number shows you are serious about your career and networking. If you only have a few connections, people on the platform won’t be interested in engaging with you, as you come across as disinterested in participating. You want to appear well-connected and on the fast track.

Target List Of People

Put together a list of the companies you’d love to work for. Then, search for their hiring managers, human resources, corporate internal talent acquisition professionals and decision makers on LinkedIn and send out invitations to connect. Once you have the person as a first-degree connection, you can personalize messages and InMails to hold private conversations with them. You can ask for an introduction to the professional handling the job you’re interested in and have applied to.

In addition to in-house recruiters, you can connect with headhunters who specialize in your space. A search professional will know the industry, the ranking of the companies, the hiring managers, interviewers and human resources. They’ll be able to get your résumé to the right person’s desk. Recruiters also offer exclusive entry into well-paying jobs in the hidden job market, as many corporate jobs are not posted online for confidentiality reasons.

Reconnect with former colleagues who are now at other firms. Ask your connections for referrals to job openings or introductions to hiring managers. This can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of getting hired, as an employee referral goes a long way. Take someone out for coffee to brainstorm about your prospects.

How To Get Noticed On LinkedIn

A thoughtful way to garner attention is to “like” and participate in the discourse on LinkedIn by responding with well-thought-out comments to other people’s content. The authors of the posts will appreciate your support, and over time, online friendships form.

To establish your own social branding, create content by writing compelling articles on LinkedIn or coming up with interesting, short-form videos. At first, putting yourself out there can be uncomfortable, but you can start slowly. You don’t need to author lengthy articles or viral videos. It can just be informative content about fast-moving developments within your field of expertise. Then, tag some prominent people in your sector, so they can see your post and add their own two cents.

There are easy layups to communicating with people on LinkedIn, such as giving kudos to someone for getting a new job or promotion or celebrating a work anniversary. On the platform, you can join up to 100 groups that cater to your profession or industry. Just like you “like” and share articles on your main LinkedIn feed, you can do the same within the groups.

Posting sparingly on LinkedIn will not prove to be an effective strategy. You’ll need to contribute regularly to build up an audience to get noticed and increase the number of people who can help you grow your career.

 

Forbes.com | April 27, 2023 | Jack Kelly

#JobSearch : Does Your Résumé Pass the Six-Second Test? How to Make your Résumé Stand Out in Today’s Job Market.

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No pressure, but your résumé has six seconds to make an impression before it is sent to the don’t-even-bother pile.

That is how long a recruiter typically skims a résumé to decide whether to pass it on to a hiring manager, said J.T. O’Donnell, chief executive of career-coaching site Work It Daily. Recruiters often have hundreds of online applications to wade through, even with algorithms helping filter many of them out. They will likely give yours little more than a glance to judge whether you make it onto the shortlist of candidates.

In other words, your résumé has to be highly “skimmable,” Ms. O’Donnell said at The Wall Street Journal’s recent Jobs Summit. “The human eye works in a Z-pattern, and I’m going down, looking for four to five things that I was told you need to have or you cannot be considered.”

The CV won’t clinch a job offer, but it gets you to the next step, she and other career coaches say. A résumé that’s hard to skim or fails to mention key skills needed for the job could keep you from ever getting the chance to make your case in an interview.

Some ways to make your résumé stand out, and some job-search killers to avoid, according to the experts at the summit:

1) Forget the professional statement.

Job seekers have long been advised to include a short paragraph atop of their résumé summing up their skills, experience, achievements and goals. No more.

“Recruiters don’t have time for that,” Ms. O’Donnell said. Instead, open with a one-line “headline” stating your occupational specialty—ideally with words matching the role you’re applying for, like “digital marketing specialist” or “technical writer,” she said.

Follow the headline with two short columns of bullets with concrete skills. If you coordinated a team to pull off a big assignment and the job posting mentions project-management experience, use that same language, since that’s what recruiters and their applicant-tracking-systems will screen for, said Jane Oates, president of WorkingNation, a nonprofit focused on workforce development.

“Every job you apply for, you should customize your résumé just a little bit by putting in some of the words that are in that job description,” Ms. Oates said.

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Article continued …

2) Don’t be a jack of all trades.

It is tempting to pack your résumé with the entirety of your work experience, especially for those who have a lot of it. Resist the urge, and focus on your relevant professional work history. “You don’t need to have any more that you scooped ice cream at the Margate Dairy Bar,” Ms. Oates said.

Recruiters are looking for a match to that particular job opening, Ms. O’Donnell said. They aren’t interested in the twists and turns of your career, which could suggest you’re overqualified for the role.

“A lot of companies don’t want to overpay, and that’s exactly the message you’re sending when you put everything on your résumé,” she said.

It is OK for a résumé to be two pages, if necessary, she adds. But make sure it is formatted with enough white space to be easily skimmed. Start each line about your experience with the bolded job title, so that they are easy to scan down the left side.

3) Use numbers.

Avoid subjective, ambiguous language, such as “passionate self-starter” or a “dedicated hard worker.” The hiring manager or recruiter will assess your soft skills when they interview you, Ms. O’Donnell said. A résumé is about your hard skills, which are best told through numbers.

Her tip: Circle all of the nouns on your CV, because they can usually be quantified.

If you are describing your experience as a receptionist, for instance, don’t just say “Answer phones.” More effective is something like: “Work for a 300-person company, answering more than 100 calls a day, on a 12-line phone system,” she said.

4) Make your LinkedIn profile the priority.

“Your LinkedIn is really your best résumé,” said Brian Liou, founder and CEO of Rora, which advises tech-industry professionals in negotiating with employers. Recruiters trawl LinkedIn to find candidates for a given job opening. A few hacks can improve your chances of coming up in their searches.

First, set a reminder to switch up some of the keywords in your profile every two weeks. Changing the content helps prompt the site’s algorithm to re-scan your profile, keeping it toward the top of recruiter searches.

And take advantage of Creator Mode, which Ms. O’Donnell calls one of LinkedIn’s best-kept secrets. The setting alters the presentation of profiles to emphasize topics that users discuss most on the platform and lets them choose hashtags aligned with their skills, showing LinkedIn you are an active user. “This is going to help get your content showcased,” she said.

One LinkedIn feature she does discourage using is the “Open to Work” banner. Though more hiring managers say they don’t frown upon career breaks, discrimination against people between jobs persists, she said. Instead, tweak your privacy settings to signal more indirectly to recruiters that you’re open to invitations, she suggested.

5) Resist using ChatGPT.

The artificial-intelligence chatbot from OpenAI has quickly become a popular tool for creating and tweaking résumés. The trouble is, recruiters can spot a ChatGPT-built résumé “a mile away,” Ms. O’Donnell said, “and you get points off for that sort of thing.”

The chat assistant can be helpful if you’re building a résumé from scratch, but use it only as a starting point, she cautions.

One tool she does suggest is a free word-cloud app. (Wordart.com and wordclouds.com are two popular ones.) Paste the text of the job posting to see which words show up as the biggest—the ones repeated most often in the ad.

 “That’s how you’re going to find your top five or six things” to describe your skills and experience, she said.

WSJ Author:  Write to Kailyn Rhone at kailyn.rhone@wsj.com

WSJ.com | April 17, 2023

#JobSearch : LinkedIn Job Search Strategy You Should Be Using But Probably Aren’t. Great REad.

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Kaitlyn, a career counseling client, was finishing her MBA at Columbia University. She started job hunting and saw her dream job listed at Goldman Saks. She knew that positions there were super competitive. She asked,” Besides applying online, is there anything else I can do to help me get on their radar?” My answer was yes. She was surprised when I explained what I thought she should do. It involved using a unique networking technique that is highly effective and almost no one uses. When Kaitlyn exhausted her contacts, she felt her networking options were over. Not true. She overlooked an effective strategy you likely aren’t using – her college alums. Let’s review what Kaitlyn did to see how this technique works.

She went to her College’s Alumni Association to determine if they had an alum career group. Columbia did. They had one group for MBA graduates. These groups exist to help people with networking and job search. She searched the alum listings for executives at Goldman Saks with an MBA from Columbia. Kaitlyn uncovered a high-level executive. I recommended she send her a LinkedIn message that said, “I’m finishing my MBA at Columbia, and I saw you graduated from there too. I am applying for a financial analyst position at Goldman, and I wondered if you could help me and forward my resume to HR?”

 

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Article continued …

To her great astonishment, the executive she asked said yes. So Kaitlyn sent her resume, and the executive passed it on. She only spoke to the executive again to say thank you. Yet, that simple but critical referral opened the door, and as a result, Kaitlyn got hired.

Most people recognize that networking should be the cornerstone of your job search efforts, but not many people do that. Some contact a few people they know and leave it at that. Yet you open an array of possibilities and opportunities when you network. This technique works well. You most likely didn’t even consider asking for help by connecting to alums.

Jessica Hernandez, President of Great Resumes Fast, advises job hunters to seek out alums for job search help. She teaches a LinkedIn course outlining how to use this strategy on LinkedIn. She explained, “The Alumni feature is one of the most effective tools on LinkedIn, and it’s been reported that alumni are more likely to help you than any other type of connection.”

Finding alums on LinkedIn

Hernandez said to start by finding your college’s LinkedIn page. Just type the school’s name in the search bar. Once you’re on the college’s page, you’ll see a tab for Alumni. Click that tab.

This Alumni feature allows you to search for job titles, industries, and the years attended — you can broaden this range to find people who graduated close to you or ahead of you. You can also search for alums employed at a specific company where you want to work.

“I love this alumni networking feature because you can find multiple points of commonality, which is what networking is all about,” noted Hernandez. “The first connection point is that you’re alumni of the same school. Next, find alums where you live. Now, you have two common issues of connection with this person. Then identify the organization you want to work for. For example, it’s Mayo Clinic, so click Mayo Clinic. Now, you can see all the alums that work for Mayo. Next, do a deep dive search for your department, such as Operations or Accounting. You now have several things in common you can mention when you reach out to connect with that person.

Finding alums on LinkedIn

What should you say when sending the alum a LinkedIn connection request? Hernandez advises that you list one or two of your common points. She offered a few messages you could use. Remember, it’s all about pointing to something you have in common. For the example below, the commonality point is highlighted so you can quickly see how these can be woven into a message.

“Hi (name), we’re both UNF alumni and Jacksonville natives. I studied and worked in HR, too. I’d appreciate the opportunity to connect and network since we’re in the same field.”

After you’re connected, you can follow up and ask questions like:

“I aspire to work for Mayo Clinic one day. I’d love to hear what path you took to work there.”

Alums are much more likely to help you. These are the people you want in your network. They are the people who are willing to hold informational interviews with you, share their stories, and give you advice. That’s the goal of networking when you are looking for a new job.

 

Forbes.com | March 21, 2023

#JobSearch : One LinkedIn Trick That Enables Recruiters To Find You. Here’s How to Set up #Opentowork Tag, so Only Recruiters See it.

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People were skeptical when LinkedIn added the #OpenToWork feature a few years ago. Many job hunters worried that this tag surrounding their profile gave off an “I’m desperate” vibe. At that time, recruiters said it had no effect on them and that they ignored it. Fast forward to now. Things have changed a great deal because of the labor shortage. As we start seeing more layoffs and many people quietly job hunting, more people have been using this tag. But is there a better way to get recruiters’ attention without telling the universe you are job hunting?

Theresa Chow, Senior Recruiting Manager for Clark Nuber, shared her insight. “The #OpenToWork tag on a candidate’s photo doesn’t impact me. However, candidates seem unaware they can use that tag so only recruiters see it. Marking their profile as ‘Open to Work for recruiters’ makes it a searchable item for recruiters. I consider those candidates first as they are looking to leave versus those that are passive candidates. Usually, I start my search with the skillset and get hundreds of names. I can sort those so I see #OpenToWork candidates and contact them first. Only once I get through those individuals do I look at the passive candidates,” she says.

Another Senior HR recruiter said, “I like the tag because there is a higher chance that an individual might actually write us back! In today’s marketplace, we get ignored—a lot.”

Matthew Warzel, president of MJW Careers, noted that whether or not to use this feature is a personal decision involving your comfort level with publicly declaring that you are looking for a new job. Some job seekers may prefer to keep their job search private.

 

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Article continued …

LinkedIn has reported that members who have added the “open to work” tag to their profiles are more likely to receive relevant job recommendations and more messages from recruiters. However, there is no guarantee that using this feature will lead to more interest. Numerous other search techniques, such as networking, should always be a part of any candidate’s strategy.

I had not been recommending using the #OpenToWork tag with my career counseling clients. But considering several recent conversations with HR people who explained that their talent search has changed due to this tight labor market, I now recommend that people use the Open To Work tag but make it only visible to recruiters. After all, those are the people whose attention you are trying to get.

Here’s how to set up #opentowork tag, so only recruiters see it. In the LinkedIn Recruiter help section they explain precisely how to use this feature to share with Recruiter privately they are job hunting. Only recruiters who aren’t affiliated with your current or related companies can view this tag.

To activate this feature, follow these steps on your Profile page.

Below your picture and headline, you’ll see the blue button “Open to.” Click on it and select “Finding a new job.”

Complete all the information requested. Note titles, locations, type of work—remote, in-person, hybrid.

Select Onsite location—identify where you live (select the city name if you are in a suburb).

In the Remote section, you can pick five locations to appear in searches. This makes locations a searchable item for recruiters so everyone should use it.

Select Immediately for the start date.

Select the Type of Work you desire—full-time, contract, etc.

On the bottom tab is a drop-down menu. Check the Recruiters only tab and they will be the only people who see the tag. (If you wish to make your search public, so anyone on LinkedIn can see this tag with its green label around your profile picture, click that option.)

Hit save.

 

Forbes.com Author: Robin Ryan  Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

 

Forbes.com | March 8, 2023

 

#YourCareer : 10 LinkedIn Learning Courses Worth Taking. Our Favorite: Professional Networking. Must REad!

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Despite all of their achievements, high achievers are life-long learners. They realize there is always more to learn, and their mind is consistently open to new knowledge. They are eager to learn from anyone, including those who are junior to them. In today’s digital world, continuous learning is more important than ever.

While billionaires Marc Cuban, Warren Buffet, and Bill Gates are known for reading three to eight hours a day, there are many other ways to increase your cross-industry knowledge base. You could read articles, listen to podcasts, and watch TED talks or webinars. The point is there is no shortage of opportunities to learn something new if only you are open to the idea.

Learning and Development Departments at your company might offer professional development classes. However, a minority of the employees can usually access these courses due to fixed time commitments that conflict with their other obligations. But that doesn’t mean you cannot take professional development courses to advance your career according to your timetable.

 

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

Article continued …

Previously Lynda, LinkedIn Learning has been a leading e-learning platform that exploded with courses and learners eager to upskill during the pandemic. E-learning, or online learning, through mediums such as LinkedIn Learning, has allowed users to further develop their skills by learning a variety of hard (technical) and power skills (often referred to as soft skills) from the comfort of their homes. This asynchronous learning puts content experts on your screen and learning at your individualized pace.

There are over 20,000 courses available in three main categories: Business, Creative, and Technology, with new courses added regularly. You can take technical programming and data analysis courses or leadership and communication. These on-demand courses allow you to learn anything ranging from leading high achievers mastering Canva, and becoming an Excel ninja. With a LinkedIn Premium subscription account, or if your work has an enterprise account, you can access tens of thousands of LinkedIn Learning courses for free, and take the courses based on your interest and availability. The bonus is that when you complete the course, you get a certificate of completion which you can add to your LinkedIn profile.

Long before I taught my courses on LinkedIn Learning, I was a devoted user of the platform and, to date, have watched over 100 courses on topics ranging from mentoring to Photoshop. The courses are always relevant, up-to-date, and expertly taught.

Here are ten must-see courses which should be on your radar:

10 Mistakes Leaders Should Avoid by Halelly Azulay

Cultivating Growth Mindsets by Gemma Leigh Roberts

Quick Scripts for Difficult Conversations by Alisa Cohn

Create and Deliver Standout Presentations by Melissa Marshall

Professional Networking by Dorie Clark

Preparing for Successful Communication by Sam Horn

Learning to be Promotable by Elizabeth Lotardo and Lisa McLeod

Managing a Multigenerational Team by Lindsey Pollak

Disrupting Yourself by Whitney Johnson

How to Have a Great Day at Work by Caroline Webb

If you want to learn new skills or reinforce those you already have, take charge of your professional development by taking online courses. This online opportunity to upskill might be a solution that is right at your fingertips.

 

Forbes.com Author:  Dr. Ruth Gotian – Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

 

Forbes.com | February 28, 2023

 

#JobSearch : How To Land Jobs That Aren’t Advertised. Best Way to Stay Away from the Stack. Great REad!

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When looking for a job, many will start with job boards and Google searches to find open positions, which makes sense. The problem is, if you rely solely on these tools, you will only find those positions being advertised to thousands of other internet users.

It is only when you look beyond these platforms to the hidden job market that some of the most exciting opportunities present themselves.

What is the hidden job market?

For those who are unaware of this hidden job market, this refers to job openings that may exist but are currently not being advertised online. There are several reasons an organization may choose not to actively advertise a position, perhaps they intend to hire internally, or they rely on employee referrals.

It might also be that a newer role is still evolving and they’re not set on how to define the job title or daily responsibilities. But if you sit back and wait for this position to appear online, you might miss your chance of landing your dream job.

So, by looking beyond the jobs posted online, you’ll open yourself up to a whole host of new opportunities, but how do you find a job if you don’t know the role exists?

Reach out to your network

Over the years, it’s likely that you’ve built up a network of connections in your industry, and you should never stop expanding this network.

When looking for your dream position, it’s a good idea to reach out to relevant connections and let them know that you’re looking for work. You should also give them an idea of your skills and experience, as well as how you believe you can help their business.

This can be done by email, simply asking if they have any positions going. Alternatively, you could set up a business meeting to discuss this with them in person or over the phone.

 

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

 

Article continued …

Turn to LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to continue growing your network, but it also presents you with lots of other techniques for finding unadvertised jobs.

Firstly, you could share an update letting your connections know that you’re available for work and your credentials. This might encourage them to reach out and let you know about positions within their company.

Alternatively, you can join industry-related groups where you can share interesting insights and join relevant conversations. Getting your name out there and being part of the conversation increases your chance of being approached with exciting opportunities.

Attend industry events

Trade shows and industry events can be the perfect way to meet others in your industry and open yourself up to unadvertised positions.

Before you go, it’s a good idea to put together a quick elevator pitch and keep this at the forefront of your mind when meeting new people. You should also take with you an up to date copy of your resume, or at the very least, a notepad and pen so you can jot down email addresses and fire over your resume when you get home.

You might even wish to volunteer at these events, showing your passion for your industry and giving you the opportunity to network with lots of like-minded professionals and organizations.

Start with the company

Job hunting doesn’t just have to be about looking for the perfect role; in fact, in many cases, it pays to start with the company instead.

If there is a specific organization you’ve always dreamed of working for, this is the ideal opportunity to reach out to them and find out if they have any positions available. Just because they may not have advertised these online or on their website, it doesn’t mean the position isn’t there.

So get the contact details of the most relevant employee, for example, the in-house recruiter or the manager of your chosen department. Then, you can contact them with your resume, outlining why you think you’d be an asset to the company.

Suggest freelance work

Finally, and this will very much depend on the type of work you do, but if there is a specific company you want to work for, you could consider completing some freelance or contract work with them first.

Reach out to the relevant employees with your pitch, explaining your services, past experience, and how you can add value to their business. Then, if they think your services could be beneficial, you’ll have a chance to work with them, get to know more people in the company, and learn about any open roles.

In fact, if your freelance abilities are as good as you say they are, they might offer you a full-time position before you even enquire.

As you can see, when you’re job hunting, it always pays to be proactive. That way, you’re more likely to uncover unadvertised positions and secure your dream role.

 

Forbes.com | January 19, 2023 | Andrew Fennell