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#JobSearch : Monster Survey: 96% Of Workers Are On The Job Hunt. Be Prepared- A White-Collar Recession Starting to Take Place.

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Monster, one of the early online job boards, reported that 96% of workers are hunting for a new job this year, according to its December survey on job search plans and the 2023 United States job market outlook. The respondents say that they are seeking higher compensation.

About 40% of job seekers said they need a higher income due to inflation and the accompanying rise in costs. Sixty-six percent of the 930 poll respondents believe that it will be challenging to find a new job, and more than 10% report that they may have to take a pay cut due to the current economy.

Vicki Salemi, Monster’s career expert, told CNBC that even compared to the Great Resignation, the number is “phenomenally high.” In 2021, at the height of the Great Reshuffle, nearly 48 million people quit their jobs—an annual record.

The Hunt Begins In January

January is historically one of the best times to engage in a job hunt. The beginning of a new year is ripe for change. Even though it’s only flipping a page in the calendar, mentally and emotionally, it feels like a fresh start or a do-over from last year. Along with the New Year’s resolutions of losing weight and going to the gym, seeking a new job is one of the most common resolutions.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) 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 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

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 …

This year, it’s likely that more people will start looking for a new job for several reasons. They need to increase their compensation to keep up with inflation and rising costs. With layoffs becoming relatively commonplace, if a person is feeling ill at ease at work or worried about being selected for downsizing, it’s rational to start getting in touch with recruiters, going on LinkedIn to network and hitting the job boards.

Right before Thanksgiving, there’s a steady deceleration in job-search activity. People start taking their personal time off, going on vacation or just trying to relax and recuperate. The hiring process slows down, as there is a collective, unspoken agreement to take it easy.

However, by the second or third week of January, it’s the adult version of going back to school. Human resources and talent acquisition are nudged by hiring managers to send them résumés and get the hiring process started, as they need to get through the work that’s piled up over the holidays.

Be Prepared: It May Be Tougher This Year

There is a white-collar recession starting to take place. College-graduate office workers in tech, Wall Street, media and other sectors are seeing significant layoffs.

When companies are downsizing people, they usually also enact hiring freezes, as they’re trying to cut costs. Just because there is a hiring moratorium doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply for a job. Certain jobs are required, such as compliance officers, and the companies will make exceptions for these must-have personnel.

As the Monster survey suggests, many people will be searching at the same time, so there will be intense competition. Job seekers must get started before everyone else also embarks on their job searches. Update your résumé and LinkedIn profile, contact recruiters, visit job boards, prepare and practice your elevator pitch and network.

Hiring Managers Need To Get Ready Too

Hiring managers need to get in gear too. They have to create job descriptions and ensure they are up to speed with newly enacted laws or bills pending, such as disclosing salaries or ranges on job advertisements, asking a candidate about how much they earn, and the possibility of doing away with non-compete contracts. A bill was recently introduced by the New York City Council that would make it illegal for employers to fire people without a good reason. The bill will offer security and protection from a manager capriciously firing a worker, if approved.

 

Forbes.com | January 17, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

 

#BestofFSCBlog : Over 14K Reads! 5 Secrets To A LinkedIn Profile That Can Compete In The 2023 Job Market. Great REad!

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The new year has arrived, and for the career-oriented go-getters, so has another list of professional goals to tackle.  Double the size of your professional network, promote your organization externally, find a new job after getting laid off, increase your annual salary, get a mentor…

Would you believe me if I said you could check any of these items off your to-do list just by giving your LinkedIn page a facelift? It sounds shallow, but it’s true: the likelihood you’ll receive a job interview or have a career-changing conversation within the next year rely heavily on the caliber of your LinkedIn profile.

You may as well shove those high heels back in the closet and forget about ironing that shirt because you can propel your career forward just by laying down on your couch with a laptop while wearing yesterday’s sweats. It may not be a professional nor ergonomic look, but in today’s age, it works. The phrase “getting your foot in the door” has never stood further away from its literal meaning.

 

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current 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, or #Networking) 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 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

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 …

Shiny LinkedIn profiles will dominate the 2023 job market

If the thought of rewriting your LinkedIn bio or brainstorming a catchy headline makes you want to run in the opposite direction, trust me when I say you should think again. With more than 875 million users worldwide, LinkedIn’s role in the hiring process is nothing short of massive. Jobvite’s 2020 Recruiter Nation Survey reported that 72% of recruiters use LinkedIn to hire new candidates. Every second, 101 job applications are submitted through the platform. Eight people get hired every minute.

But don’t be deceived – the prevalence of job listings does not equate to a surplus of work. According to LinkedIn’s December 2022 Workforce Report, hiring across all industries fell 4.9% from October to November and is 20.5% lower than it was during November of last year. Even more concerning, current hiring has fallen 11.9% below pre-pandemic levels – a clear indicator that the job market is entering a shift we haven’t experienced in years.

Job hunters looking to work from home face an especially competitive battle. Remote work makes up only fifteen percent of the jobs listed on LinkedIn, but receives 50% of the platform’s applications. The Washington Post dubs the growing clash between employees’ interest in remote work and the employers who are willing to allow it “the great mismatch.”

In a job market saturated with candidates, those with sleek shiny LinkedIn profiles rise to the top.

5 steps to glam-up your LinkedIn profile

1. Structure your profile around your career goals

Whether you partake in New Year’s resolutions or not, the beginning of a new year comes with the inevitable urge to imagine the future that lies ahead. Use this time to think about the career goals you have for the upcoming year. Doing this before you dive into a full-on LinkedIn makeover will help you structure the changes you do make around a specific purpose. A cohesive profile gives recruiters a clear message about who you are and what you have to offer.

Here are a few questions you can help you define the career goals you have for the new year:

  • Where would you like to see yourself by the end of the year?
  • What skill set are you primarily using in your career this year– and what key words reflect those skills when used on your profile (remember! Recruiters search by key words)?
  • How would you like your brand to change over the next year?
  • Think of a dream company you’d love to work for. What impression would you want to give in a conversation with a recruiter?
  • What topics and skills would be beneficial for you to learn and develop?

2. Revamp the details

A sparse or crusty LinkedIn profile gives recruiters little faith someone will perform at a high standard in the workplace. It’s just a fact of life: aesthetics matter, and this is especially true in the job market. Take the time to make sure the details of your LinkedIn profile are all straightened out. Photo lighting, punctuation, job descriptions – these may seem like small things, but recruiters notice when they’re done sloppily.

Look at the content you already have on your page and see how it can be improved or updated:

  • Profile Picture
  • Use a photo that closely resembles your current appearance
  • Avoid using photos with poor lighting or additional people you need to cut out
  • Wear business-casual attire, take the photo from the chest up in front of a plain background
  • Headline
  • Avoid the default headline that shows your job title under your name
  • Instead, give a wide scope of who you are by including skills, certifications, future goals, and your own interpretation of what it means to do the work you do
  • Use your headline to explain where you want to go. If you’re in tech, transitioning into communications, lead with what you want to go into.
  • About info
  • Make sure your bio is written in the first person (use the words “I” and “my”)
  • Double check for grammatical mistakes and punctuation errors
  • Avoid casual language, fragmented sentences, and an excessive use of emojis
  • Background photo
  • Make your profile pop by adding a background photo in the space above your profile picture
  • Avoid personal photos and group photos
  • Consider using a subtle image related to your career
  • New accomplishments
  • Add the jobs, awards, or major achievements you’ve had since last updating your profile
  • Previous work experience
  • Treat this section of your LinkedIn Page like your resume by describing the work you did with a few bullets led by strong action verbs
  • Format text consistently across all job entries

3. Reassess your keywords

This is the part where strategy comes into play. You can create the most aesthetically pleasing profile LinkedIn has ever seen, but it won’t be seen by recruiters if you don’t leverage keywords correctly. Keywords are terminology commonly used in a specific industry. Recruiters hiring for job candidates through LinkedIn will often filter results by entering keywords that relate to the position or industry into the platform’s search feature. The more keywords you include in your profile, the better chance you have at being approached by a recruiter looking to hire someone in that related field.

Think about some keywords that relate to the goals you brainstormed in step 1. If you’re looking to change jobs, you can probably benefit by rewording your profile’s “about” section and previous job descriptions to better reflect the skills sought after in your preferred job or industry. But make sure you avoid using keywords that stretch the truth – you may think this gives you an edge over candidates, but it will only be a detriment to your credibility later on.

4. Expand your network with LinkedIn groups

Scrolling through a seemingly infinite reel of LinkedIn posts makes it easy to forget that the platform, at its core, is a network of professionals. Passively consuming posts from college peers will rarely be enough to propel your career forward. Instead, you need to use LinkedIn to actively seek out professionals with valuable connections and opportunities in your field of work, and the finding right LinkedIn group is a total gem.

The easiest way to do this? Join more LinkedIn groups and take note of which one has like minded professionals and positive engagement. There’s a LinkedIn group related to just about every occupational field and professional development topic out there, including several for job seekers. You can read more about which ones I recommend here.

5. Become more active and explore creator mode

Your posts, comments, likes, and shares all play a role in shaping a hiring manager’s impression of you. In essence, they’re part of your personal brand. While some people may think it’s safer to avoid leaving a trail of activity, this path can be even more detrimental. A lack of engagement on LinkedIn reads as a lack of interest in professional development and few, if any, achievements in the workplace. Of course, this may very well also not be the case, but it doesn’t change the fact that a recruiter has no reasons to believe otherwise.

If you’re anxious about engaging with other professionals on LinkedIn, dip your toe into the water by liking and commenting on posts that come up in your feed. Keep in mind that comments that prompt a follow-up answer will spur more engagement than comments that just affirm the post.

You don’t need to make your own LinkedIn posts overly complicated. A quick update on a team project or a post highlighting your company’s community involvement is a short but positive contribution to people’s timelines. Do your best to remain active and consistent on the platform. Consider giving yourself a certain number of posts to aim every week or month.

Above all else, make sure the content you do contribute to LinkedIn stays classy and avoids conflict. There are better places you can go if you’re looking for tension, namely Facebook and Twitter.

 

Forbes.com | January 9, 2023 | Ashley Stahl

#JobSearch : 5 Tips To Make You Standout In A Competitive Job Market. Getting a Job just Became much Harder in 2023. GReat REad!

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The tech sector laid off more than 150,000 employees in 2022, populating the job market with a wave of talent from some of the country’s most notable companies.

Job seekers energized with a fresh start to the new year may be in for a tough awakening – getting a job just became much harder. CNBC reports that, according to job recruiters, the tech market remains competitive, even if job seekers are considering fewer offers than they have in the past.

Ongoing inflation and talk of a 2023 recession will likely make the job market even more competitive this year. Whether you’re applying for the same position as someone who lost their job or looking for something that provides more financial support, being a top candidate means bringing your A-game to the hiring process.

Here are five tips to help you gain a competitive edge over Twitter’s latest resignee.

1. Clean up your digital footprint

Look through your social media

Most people know to rid their social media profiles of inappropriate photos and posts. But, in case an employer “stumbles” on your Twitter or Facebook profile, double check that you haven’t liked or commented on any posts you wouldn’t love for them to see.

People enjoy Googling themselves as much as they enjoy listening to a recording of their voice – okay, so they don’t tend to enjoy it all. But some things are worth a few minutes of internal cringing, one of which being a shiny new job. Take note of the websites that come up first? Is there anything problematic you need to take care of? If your personal website doesn’t come up within the first page of search results, consider making some SEO improvements.

Update any shared personal information

Long bios, short bios, social media bios – make sure all of these are not only updated with your most recent accomplishments but also reflect the image you want to give employers. A competitive job market is not a great time for self-deprecating humor.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can 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:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

Question: Want the ‘the best/current 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, or #Networking) 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 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

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 …

2. Go a step beyond just doing the research

Companies love it when candidates “do their research.” Not only does it show employers that the candidate is seriously considering the company, it also boosts some egos – just be sure not to overdo it.

Showing you did your research can look like spitting out the statistics and key phrases you saw on their website, but to really be effective, go one step further. Incorporate your own thinking, ideas, and values into the information you’ve gathered about the company. What excites you about their approach to solving problems? How does their mission and values align with your own career goals? Do you have any ideas to bring to the table if they were to hire you into the new role? Share them if they’re open to hearing them, and be sure to know what competitors are doing so that you can be informed on the market you’re in.

3. Leave no threads hanging

Nothing says you’re interested in a company more than a thank you email, and if necessary, a follow-up email. Not only is this a gracious practice, it also leaves employers with a positive image of you before they make their decision.

4. Do some reflecting

You don’t need me to insert an inspirational quote about failure to know that rejection is a part of life. Coming to terms with rejection and getting back on the horse, though, is only the first step. Dare I say – achieving success despite failure is not just about how many times you can get back up.

Dare I say – achieving success despite failure is not just about how many times you can get back up.

If there’s one thing you take from this piece, let it be this: Never ask a company for feedback after getting rejected! Despite their good intentions, many people don’t realize that asking companies for feedback can open the door to legal issues that cause major problems on the company’s end. For this reason, HR is usually well trained to decline that request.

Instead, form your own opinion on how the interview went. Be honest with yourself — what could you have done better? What questions did you feel unprepared for? Were there any moments that made you feel particularly anxious? Also reflect on the hiring manager’s demeanor and body language. Were there any points during the interview when they responded in an unfavorable way? You know more than you think you do.

Take note of the kind of candidate the company was looking for and any interview answers you may have given that revealed the ways in which you might fall short.

Is the gap specific to this company and position? Or is it something you foresee standing in the way of getting other jobs with similar demands in the same industry?

The mismatch may be because you lack a skillset or preferred style of working or because you have location or time requests the company cannot meet.

5. Tweak your approach and head back to the job board

Taking stock of the things that didn’t align during your last application or interview process isn’t enough to make things fall in place during the next go-around. Make a list of things you can change to close any gaps making you fall short of what hiring managers are looking for.

Then, pick a gap to resolve. Maybe this means adding another certification to your tool belt or accepting that you may need to relocate. Whatever it is, repeat this process enough and it will only be a matter of time before you land a job offer. When you do, it won’t be a job that happened to fall into place; it will be a job you put into place yourself.

Forbes.com | January 6, 2023 | Ashley Stahl

#JobSearch : How To Find A New Job In The New Year. Here is a Daily Checklist of Activities you Should Follow.

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Many people wait until the new year to search for a new job. January is one of the most opportune times to seek a new job. The start of a new year universally ushers in a warm feeling of promise and new beginnings, as people establish and try to live up to their New Year’s resolutions. People promise themselves that they will lose weight, stop smoking or drinking, dedicate themselves to a healthier mindset and get a new job. Now that 2023 is here, you don’t have any excuses and need to get started on the job hunt.

Searching for a new job takes time and energy. Think deeply about what you want to do next. You will need to do homework to see how hot or cold the job market is for your specific type of career. Update your rèsumè and LinkedIn profile, start speaking with people in your network to gather job leads, find headhunters that specialize in your space, create an elevator pitch and put together a daily action plan to achieve your goal.

Talk with colleagues, family, friends and former co-workers to gain valuable insights. Read about the type of job you’re going after and how easy or hard it will be to find a new opportunity. Set aside a sufficient amount of time every day for your job search.

Update Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn will be your primary platform to network and get noticed if you are a white-collar professional. Create or update your LinkedIn profile and résumé, which could be added to your account. Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your most current job and go back about 10 years. The recent job should take up the most real estate, as that is what recruiters and hiring managers are interested in. They’ll also look at your career trajectory to see if you’ve grown professionally or remained static. Make sure to add your college and advanced degrees, accreditation, certifications and licenses required for your field.

You can have one generalist résumé, but then specifically tailor your résumé for each job you apply for to ensure that it addresses the specific needs outlined in the job description. In addition to internal recruiters looking at your résumé, it will also be included in the company’s applicant tracking system.

To help your résumé stand out in the applicant tracking system, make sure that you use common terms, nomenclature, abbreviations and jargon that people use in your sector of expertise, as well as using words, phrases and work responsibilities that match what’s called for in the job advertisement.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can 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:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

Question: Want the ‘the best/current 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, or #Networking) 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 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

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 …

Networking On LinkedIn

Actively engage on LinkedIn to get noticed. Set a list of target companies. When you see employees of the organization in the same type of role as you, send out invitations to connect with a polite greeting letting them know you’d love to work at the firm. If an online conversation ensues, be bold and ask if they could point you to the right person who is involved with the hiring process for the role you want.

If someone within your profession posts content on the social media platform, reply with a like and add a well-thought-out comment. Once you get confident, start writing your own posts or share videos you’ve made about a relevant topic about your profession that will resonate with others in your field.

When you apply for a job, search for people you may know who work there. If you’re unfamiliar with anyone at the firm, tap into your network, both online and in person, to see if anyone you know has a connection with a decision-maker at the company. If they are nice enough to go to bat for you, politely ask them to put in a good word for you and offer a glowing recommendation. The recommendation will make you stand out. If you can obtain a couple of people supporting your candidacy, especially an insider, they’ll think you are a superstar.

Partner With Recruiters

Look for recruiters who specialize in your space. Having a couple of smart, experienced, knowledgeable and well-connected recruiters working on your behalf can make all the difference in the world. Top recruiters have deep relationships with companies and hiring managers. They’ll often know about open job requisitions before anyone else. Many times, companies don’t aggressively advertise certain jobs and rely on recruiters to conduct stealth, under-the-radar searches for the appropriate candidates.

Recruiters offer insider information about hiring managers and corporate culture. You’ll gain tips on what the hiring managers really want in a prospective employee, what you should avoid saying and what are the hot buttons to push to ingratiate yourself with your future boss. Recruiters will smooth out any bumps in the road, advocate for you and help with the awkward negotiating process.

Put Together And Practice Your Elevator Pitch

Put together an elevator pitch. The elevator pitch is like a commercial on television. Like a luxury-automobile company needs to quickly and effectively communicate its message and sell you on its product in one minute or less, you need to do the same thing in your pitch.

An elevator pitch is a term used to describe yourself, your job and current responsibilities, highlighting a huge win and why you are the best fit for the job, within about 30 or 45 seconds. Visualize yourself on an elevator ride with an executive at a company you’d like to work for. You need to seize the opportunity and quickly sell yourself before they exit the elevator to their floor.

Role-Play Answering Interview Questions

Review commonly asked interview questions and prepare answers to them. Research and learn all about the companies you plan on meeting with, so you’ll be comfortable when the interviewer asks, “Why do you want to work here?”

When answering questions, don’t go off on tangents. Answer by selling your relevant, on-target experience, background, interpersonal skills, educational background and other softer skills that you offer, which directly addresses the job requirements and shows how you can make their lives easier.

When responding to questions, come across in an enthusiastic, concise and compelling manner. You also want to demonstrate that you are a caring, hardworking and empathetic person they would love to hire and work alongside. Additionally, you are comfortable in your own skin and can handle stress. Lastly, think of questions to ask the interviewer when they say, “Do you have any questions for me?”

Hunting for a new job is your new job. To get you started, here is a daily checklist of activities you should follow:

  • Search job boards, the career pages of target companies and job aggregators, like Indeed, Simply Hired and Glassdoor. Try to send out a certain number of rèsumès every day. Tailor your rèsumè to each job listing.
  • Keep track of the résumés you’ve sent out, calls made and emails sent thanking people for taking the time to interview you.
  • Contact a recruiter and ask for in-person or video interviews to build a relationship. Set up calls with people in your network.
  • Make yourself known on LinkedIn by posting content and commenting on others’ postings. Prepare and practice your elevator pitch. Find someone to role-play interview questions with.
  • Research companies that would be a natural progression for you to go next in your career. Investigate them to determine if they are doing well or not. Check out the company’s career page for its job listings. Ask around your network to see if anyone has a connection with the company and whether or not they can make an introduction for you.
  • Scour LinkedIn to find the decision-makers, possible hiring managers and human resources or talent acquisition professionals.
  • Clean up your social media footprints. Since hiring managers, recruiters and internal talent acquisition personnel may snoop around your social media postings, ensure that you’ve cleaned up anything embarrassing, cringey or hurtful to others.
  • Network by sending out emails to people you’ve worked with in the past, old college friends, business associates and all others who could potentially turn you on to a job lead or supply a referral or recommendation to a key insider at the company you’d like to join.

 

                                                                                                                Forbes.com | January 3, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

#JobSearch : 7 Reasons To Update Your LinkedIn Profile Before 2023. A MUSt REad!

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In 2023, LinkedIn will be two decades old. A lot has happened since it first launched as your e-resume and online networking platform. In fact, the current version of the platform has little resemblance to its original format thanks to the dozens of extremely valuable personal branding features that have been added over time.

Here are 7 reasons why you need to polish your profile now so you can shine online on 2023.

1. The changes you want to make are fresh in your mind. If you go through a year-end review, you’ve spent some time over the past month or so thinking about what you accomplished in 2022 in preparation for your annual performance assessment. You likely have a good inventory of relevant and valuable content you can use to bring your profile up to date. An annual refresh is always a good idea.

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can 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:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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

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

Question: Want the ‘the best/current 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, or #Networking) 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 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

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 …

2. LinkedIn is the first place where people go to check you out. When people want to research you in a professional capacity— even people who work down the hall from you—they’ll typically go directly to LinkedIn and type your name in the search box at the top of the screen. And if, like some computer users, they start their search at GoogleGOOG -0.5%, they’ll end up at your LinkedIn profile. That’s because your LinkedIn profile will likely show up in one of the top three spots. And we know that most clicks on a Google results page go to the top three spots. This is great news. It means you can tell your story in a powerful way online using just one social media tool. If bolstering your career success is a goal for 2023, it just takes one platform to set that goal in motion.

3. We’re likely entering a recession. Most economists agree that a recession is probably on the horizon. There’s less agreement about how serious it will be and how long it will last, but regardless of that, you want to be prepared for any eventuality. With a complete, current and compelling profile, you’ll not only be able to pursue relevant positions should you end up on a layoff list, but you also become an attractive passive candidate: recession or not, your next job might just find you.

4. You need to position yourself for what’s next. If you haven’t updated your profile in a year or more, it may not align with your career aspirations. Although personal branding is about being authentic, there’s also an aspirational element. You want to demonstrate that you’re ready for that role you seek to fill. One place to focus on is skills. When someone checks out your profile, they only see the top three skills for which you have been endorsed. So make sure those are the skills that are relevant for what you want to do next. Reorder your skills to get the right ones on top.

5. You’ll get up to speed on all things LinkedIn. While you’re in the process of updating your profile, you’ll inevitably check out your feed, the queue of connection requests that have come in since the last time you visited LinkedIn and the messages that arrived in your LinkedIn inbox. If you get caught up now, you’ll be well positioned and fully informed to help your professional circles kick off new initiatives at the start of the new year.

6. You can demonstrate relevance. A relatively new feature of LinkedIn that you’re likely not using is Creator Mode. Although this feature was designed for thought leaders who want to publish content on the platform, it can also be used to tell people about your area of expertise. Creator mode allows you to identify your top five hashtags—the topics you want to be associated with. These hashtags sit at the top of your profile, right below your headline, letting viewers know a lot about you from the second they click on your profile.

7. You’ll stand out from your peers. LinkedIn provides one of the best opportunities to increase your visibility and credibility with the people who need to know you. It helps you stay connected to large networks of important contacts. A powerful element that’s rarely used but extremely valuable is called Featured, which allows you to add videos and images to your profile so you can develop a truly three-dimensional tour of your brand in the two-dimensional world. It will give you the edge and allow others to connect with you on a deeper level. It takes time to polish these assets before you post them, so use the holiday lull to choose the best of the best. And if the holidays reunite you with family members and lifelong friends, you can tap their insight to make sure you’re posting the samples that reflect your true brand traits.

Before that New Year’s Eve countdown, make sure your LinkedIn profile doesn’t look like it was created in 2003. Start the new year by making the most out of the platform’s valuable innovations.

 

Forbes.com | December 19, 2022 | William Arruda

#JobSearch : Five Social Media Secrets To Get Yourself Hired. People Fail to Realize Social Media Can Be the Very Reason Why/How you Got that Job. A MUst REAd for All!

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With 2023 right around the corner, most people already know employers will scroll through their social media profiles before offering them a job at their company. But in case no one has told you, let me be the first to say you should probably take photos of yourself partying in the college on your Facebook page.

It only takes 15 seconds and an impulsive tweet about quiet quitting to go from a company’s top candidate to another resume tossed in the recycling bin. Fortunately, most social media mishaps can be avoided by relying on common sense and using a little extra caution before you post something.

What people fail to realize, though, is that social media can also be the very reason why you do get a job position. Sending a cold email to an employer? Submitting your resume to a company after coming across a job description? You’re not paranoid if you think the next thing they’ll do is look at your social media profiles.

A survey from the Harris Poll found that 71% of U.S. hiring managers think looking at candidate’s social media profiles is an effective way to screen applicants. Sixty-seven percent of hiring managers actually do use social media as a way to research candidates, more than half of whom say they have come across content that has caused them to reject a candidate.

Recruiters are less likely to look at an applicant’s resume now more than ever. A study from Capterra found that 75% of recruiters use applicant tracking systems to weed out candidates before their resume is seen by a real recruiter. In other words, submit a resume that doesn’t match enough key words in the job description and you’re out of the race before a recruiter even knows you applied for the position – and that’s how it works for most jobs you’ll apply for.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

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 …

If a recruiter does like your resume, they’ll assess a second source of information: the narrative that emerges from a collection of your LinkedIn comments, Facebook updates and Twitter thoughts. For recruiters, social media is SparkNotes about a candidate’s job history, life accomplishments, networking history, personal woes, and life philosophy.

Modest candidates may feel inclined to avoid the trend of commemorating their achievements with posts on LinkedIn. But this is the wrong approach, especially during a time when employers are less likely to reach out and communicate to get information that could just as easily be posted online. In other words, if your social media doesn’t portray you as an active student or standout employee, recruiters will likely assume that’s because you aren’t one.

But enough with the negativity — social media also offers job candidates several advantages, namely curating the image of themselves that employers see.

So, how do you make yourself stand out from the crowd when recruiters are looking at dozens, if not hundreds, of social media profiles? It all comes down to having the right strategy.

1. Choose your network wisely. At their core, social media profiles are essentially digital networks visible to the public. This concept, however, gets lost in the addiction that keeps us coming back – scrolling. LinkedIn, particularly, gives employers a pretty good idea of what your professional network looks like and the connections you’ve made in your respective industry. Be mindful of the people who you add to your circle. Influencers, business owners, teachers, or scholars — following these people not only exposes you to their insight, but also gives employers information about the kind of person you are and what you value.

2. Plow into the discomfort. If the rules for communicating were the same on social media as they are in real life, we’d be professing our latest achievements to strangers before having enough courtesy to introduce ourselves . Which is to say, catching the eye of an employer on social media means throwing some of the etiquette you’ve been taught out the window. Get comfortable posting about your accomplishments, even if doing so may feel out of character in the beginning. Employers check social media platforms because they want to see what you can bring to the table. Playing it modest by not highlighting these skills and accomplishments won’t get you rewarded.

3. Practice active liking: What you like, retweet, share, and comment can say just as much about you as what you post. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter will show your followers what you’ve liked or commented on, so it’s important to be intentional. Engage with posts that show the latest happenings and updates in your industry, but also think about the message you’re sending others through the posts you like. Endorsing ideas that are negative, political, or unprofessional is not only off putting to a future employer, but also overshadows the posts you do want them to see.

4. Reach out; stay consistent. One of the biggest benefits of job hunting in the age of social media is that distance doesn’t poses fewer obstacles. Networking with an employer through social media takes the same amount of time and energy regardless of whether they live across the country or down the street.

You don’t need to direct message an employer on LinkedIn to get a lot out of the platform – and that actually poses a problem. It is easy to tell yourself that scrolling through social media and commenting on people’s posts is a version of networking, but there’s really much more to it than that. Launching yourself into a career that fascinates and energizes you is quite the challenge – especially without any help. Professionals who can shine some light on the industry – and maybe even be a future mentor – are what helps people get their foot in the door. But none of them are going to reach out to you first. It’s your job to take the first leap that gets the conversation going. While cold messaging someone can be intimidating the first few times you do it, setting a goal for yourself, like initiating one networking conversation every week, is a good way to hold yourself accountable when nerves begin to hit.

5. Reverse engineer an employer’s ideal candidate. Employers scouting candidates through social media are looking to fill a company need. The job may only require a qualified and competent candidate, but ideally a recruiter would prefer to hire someone who also checks a bunch of other boxes, like being collaborative, enthusiastic, motivated and insightful. Take some time to think about the job you’re applying for and ideal qualities a recruiter is likely looking for. What would you want to see in a candidate if you were trying to fill the position? Then, look through your social media profile and assess whether these qualities would shine through to someone who hasn’t met you in person. If the answer is no, tweak your content, bio, likes, or comments to reflect the qualities and skills think recruiters will be looking for.

 

Forbes.com | December 15, 2022 | Ashley Stahl

#JobSearch : 3 Things Job Recruiters Wish You Knew. The Job Market is Still in your Favor for at Least the Next Few Months. A MUst REad for All!

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If you feel like the job market is shifting again, you may be right. Though job seekers have had the “upper hand” for a couple of years, the power is slowly reversing as the labor market stabilizes. In other words, now may be the time to leap—but not without a plan.

As a job candidate, you need to develop a strategy that allows you to quickly pull in offers. The last thing you want is for your search to become so scattershot that you have little leverage. Negotiating with potential employers is far easier if you have a bevy of choices on the table, and a solid job search plan will help you get there.

Where should you start when it comes to a modern job-searching strategy? Check out what professional recruiters are saying in industry publications, trusted news sources, and LinkedIn blogs. They know what it takes to succeed in today’s job market. After all, they’re involved in the hiring process every day. Here are three fundamental recommendations from recruiters to guide you as you look for your next position:

1. It’s your job to identify your career goals.

It can be tempting to jump straight into job hunting, especially if you’re burned out in your current position. However, this could add tons more stress to your life if you don’t set goals first. Think of your next career move as a destination. If you don’t know where you want to go, you’ll end up aimlessly traveling around.

Set aside some downtime to write out professional goals that are a natural extension of your authentic personal brand, even if you plan to work with a recruiter rather than go through your search solo.

“Recruiters can only know your goals if you know them, so take some time to think about what your professional and career goals are,” says Marti Willett, president of Digital Marketing Recruiters, a leading digital staffing agency that aims to find high-quality candidates who will enhance a marketing agency’s culture and grow with them. “In other words, what is your dream job? What industry or niche is it in? What kind of company do you want to work for?Answering these kinds of questions will help you find the right recruiter that will be most beneficial to you.”

After taking this step, you should feel more invigorated and invested in your job hunt. You’ll also have a better idea of which jobs to apply for. Nothing’s more frustrating than discovering that you’ve been applying for positions that don’t align with your goals or abilities. Knowing what you want allows you to quickly identify which openings are meant for you.

2. Don’t be shy about connecting with recruiters and hiring professionals on LinkedIn.

It’s no shock that LinkedIn is the social site you can’t afford to ignore. According to the platform’s own statistics, 77% of recruiters use LinkedIn. Is it any wonder that eight people are hired off LinkedIn every minute? These mind-blowing facts indicate just how important it is for you to update and adjust your LinkedIn profile.

Is your profile really going to be viewed? According to a MyComputerCareer blog post, the answer is yes. “Every time a recruiter contacts you, you can be sure that they’ve looked at your profile,” the post explains. “Your LinkedIn profile will act as a validator in that you are a real person, and not someone whose cover letter or resume is too good to be true.”

To begin, polish your whole profile from top to bottom. Give it the spring cleaning it needs. When it’s brimming with the traits and achievements that distinguish you from the rest of the herd (see point #3 below), start following recruiters who work in the industry, market or position you’re targeting. Don’t feel bad if you connect and hear nothing in return. Recruiters may not reach out unless they have an opportunity ready to go. Remain active on the platform and have confidence that you’re on their radar. (And don’t forget to use this chance to update your other public social pages, too. Consistency is a key to effective personal branding.)

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

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 …

 

3. Self-awareness leads to self-fulfillment.

Do you know what the number-one leadership skill is? Self-awareness. When you are self-aware, you aren’t likely to start wavering. You know who you are, what your goals are, and how you plan to achieve them. When it comes to job searching, you know exactly what you bring to the table and how it can benefit employers.

Often, candidates fall into the trap of saying only what they think recruiters want to hear. They either don’t know or fail to bring up their individual attributes and abilities. Making this mistake can set you back. “Employers want to hire the crème-de-la-crème of the job market just like employees want to be the icing on the employer’s recruitment cake,” says Sophie Heatley, content writer for Perkbox.

So, think about what makes you unique, and ask for input from those who know you best. For instance, maybe you’re passionate about environmental issues and you started a podcast devoted to sustainability tips for families. Highlighting this would be great during an interview because it reveals your distinct passions and drive. Remember: It’s important to stand out, but not in disguise. You’ll undermine your path to success if you’re faking the traits that are getting you noticed.

The job market is still in your favor and will be for at least the next few months. If you’ve been hemming and hawing about testing the waters, put these three tips into practice to ensure smooth sailing.

Forbes.com Author:    William Arruda is a keynote speaker, co-founder of CareerBlast.TV and co-creator of the Personal Brand Power Audit – a complimentary quiz that helps you measure the strength of personal brand.

Forbes.com | December 6, 2022

#JobSearch : How To Quickly Rebound From A Layoff. Networking Is The Top Job Search Strategy. A MUst REad!

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Losing your job is one of life’s most stressful events. Unfortunately, most people are unprepared for this life-changing news. Last year employers let go 321,970 people, reports Challenger, Gray, & Christmas, Inc. For the first six months of 2022, 179,506 became unemployed. Ellen was the HR Manager at a midsize company. Distraught, she called asking for career help, saying she’d just been laid off from her employer of 12 years. Ellen was shocked, having a hard time trying to accept this had happened to her. “I am a dedicated employee,” she said. “I worked long hours through the pandemic, and now I realize my loyalty means nothing. I feel so betrayed. I’ve become depressed. I am 59 years old, so I’m worried my age will prevent me from finding a new job, and I need to work,” she said with panic in her voice.

When the job ends like that, you need some time to process this loss. You’re likely to experience a complete range of feelings: fear, isolation, loss of identity and confidence, depression, and some trepidation. Try writing out the emotions and give yourself a few days to recover. There is one mistake you must not make. Be very careful you do not burn any bridges with your boss or former employer, no matter how angry you are. Avoid complaining on social media. One VP of Recruiting shared she was ready to make a job offer and went to see a candidate’s LinkedIn profile. She read recent posts he’d made, and several were very critical of his former employer. Because of that, he lost the high-paying job she was about to offer him.

As a career counselor with decades of experience, I shared something with Ellen that helped reassure her. If you are suddenly unemployed, now is the best time for that to happen. Why? It’s a job hunter’s mecca. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the time unemployed people remain out of work. The average unemployment duration was 7.5 weeks between leaving a job and obtaining a new one. That is significant when you consider what it was a few years ago, when it took at least five to six months to land a new position. So, reframe your thinking and focus on this opportunity to land a better, higher-paying job.

Great News: Your new job will likely come with a pay hike—and a big one. The most significant salary jumps almost always come from leaving a job and taking a new one. CNBC reports that the typical increase is now about 10%. Yet when you talk to recruiters who are in the trenches trying to hire new employees, they all complain that it’s taking a major salary increase to get people to accept their job offers. They report that when the average professional switches jobs today, they will likely get a pay increase between 15-35%. Unfortunately, the accurate figures of what employers are paying today aren’t incorporated into the salary data available on the internet. Whether you are a Baby Boomer, Millennial, Xer, or GenZer, HR managers report that people at all levels are starting with better salaries than they left. Being unemployed seems to have no impact on the salary offered.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

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

Article continued …

Know Your Real Value

You have marketability talents other employers would be interested in. Do a self-assessment of what your accomplishments are, the knowledge you have acquired, and most of all, the accomplishments and results you have achieved in past roles. To begin your job search, define your actual worth as an employee performing your type of job. You may worry that you were overpaid, only to learn you were underpaid. For example, a laid-off Boeing engineer stated he didn’t know what his skills were worth to other employers. He researched the subject and uncovered salary surveys and in-depth salary data on Payscale.com that were enlightening. As a result, he landed a new position at Hewlett-Packard that paid $20,000 more than his prior salary.

Networking Is The Top Job Search Strategy

Connections are key. Ensure you are using LinkedIn to connect to all former managers, colleagues, vendors, customers, friends, clients, etc. They are vital sources of insider information and knowledge about job opportunities. LinkedIn has made networking easy, allowing you to reach out and send a personal message. A terrific strategy includes asking a colleague for a referral to their employer by passing your resume on to the hiring manager. Referred applicants always get heightened attention. For more specifics, read the Forbes.com article “Here Is A LinkedIn Secret Weapon To Land A Job.”

One of the country’s top job search strategists, Hannah Morgan, who writes a newsletter and blog, offered her best advice on getting hired.

“Uncover the hidden job market via LinkedIn,” says Morgan. “An impressive LinkedIn profile is where you start. Ensure that recruiters find you by creating a more compelling headline instead of the default that lists your current job title. Customize your headline to spell out the type of roles you are looking for and note any special expertise. As you craft your profile, use the LinkedIn “About” section to tell your story. Include the kind of information you’d use in a cover letter or how you’d answer this question, Tell me about yourself? Write the “About” section in first person, which means use “I” throughout this section.”

Morgan continued, “Sell yourself effectively when you write about your work experience on LinkedIn. Take credit where credit is due. Be specific on how the employer benefited. Did you save time or money? Did you create something new? Don’t just list the job title, employer name, and dates of employment. Be sure you outline the results you achieved working at your current and previous positions.” For additional guidance, read “How to Write an Impressive LinkedIn Work Experience Section.”

Keep a positive attitude and be able to describe in an interview why you are right for the job. Demonstrate the value you’d bring with specific details of the past results you delivered and how that prospective employer would benefit if they hired you.

 

Forbes.com | October 18, 2022 | Robin Ryan

#JobSearch : How To Write Networking Emails That Get Opened. Networking to Connect with Decision Makers. Great REad!

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Building strong relationships is an essential part of your career, but they don’t always happen organically. As with any other aspect of your career, creating close and meaningful connections takes time and work.

And every new relationship has to start with an introduction.

There are lots of ways you can meet new people and expand your network in a professional capacity. For example, attending industry events, through your current job, or online using networking sites like LinkedIn.

But how do you go about turning these brief encounters into solid working relationships?

Well, the best place to start is with an introductory email. But it can be tricky to know how to word this correctly. Especially when you’re targeting other busy professionals. After all, you’ve probably sent a few emails straight to your junk folder in your time.

However, there is a way around this. Here’s how to write networking emails that get opened.

Do your research on the recipient

First and foremost, you need to do as much research on the recipient as possible before you even consider sending that email. You need to be able to prove to them that you’re reaching out for a valid reason, that you can add value, and that you have something in common. If you don’t know enough about them or their current position, that is going to be much harder.

So before you begin, carefully check out their online presence using tools like LinkedIn and their company website to ensure you know who you’re conversing with.

That way, when you come to write the email, you can create something that is engaging are more likely to get opened. You also increase your chances of getting a response as you prove to the recipient that you’ve done your research and have something to offer them.

 

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current 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, or #Networking) 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 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

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

Article continued …

Create a captivating subject line

Subject lines can make or break an email.

Think about it; this will be the first thing your recipient reads and will determine whether they choose to open the email at all, let alone read it. Therefore, you need to create a compelling subject line that is going to implore them to click on it.

This can be tricky if you don’t have much experience with email marketing or networking. However, there are some simple steps you can take for success.

You must ensure that your subject line is short and attention-grabbing, ideally around three to five words that will immediately garner their interest. It’s also important to make these personal, for example ‘nice to meet you, {their name}’ or ‘following up from {event name}’.

Remember, you don’t want your subject line to get cut off in the preview, so keep it as concise and engaging as possible. This will increase the chances of them opening your email in the first place.

Keep your introduction concise

OK, so the subject line has got you through the door, and they’ve opened you’re email; you don’t want them immediately sending it to junk because they lose interest.

Therefore, it’s not just your subject line that needs to be short and sweet. In the body of the email, you need to give a quick introduction that gets straight to the point. At this stage, you should briefly state who you are and where you work and clarify to them why you’re reaching out.

Although you might have lots you want to talk to them about, save this for a follow-up call or meeting. Everyone is busy, and you don’t want to immediately put them off by jumping in with huge rambling paragraphs.

Mention common ground

Although your email shouldn’t be too long, you should take this opportunity to mention some of the things you have in common aside from your field of work. For example, did you attend the same college, or are you from the same hometown? This increases your chances of them replying and, once again, shows you did your research.

You could also take this chance to complement any of their impressive work, especially if they were part of a project you particularly enjoyed or admired.

Let’s caveat this: don’t be creepy or come across as if you’re brown-nosing. Make sure you are always genuine and the tone is professional but conversational.

End with a strong CTA

Finally, you need to make sure you end your email with a strong CTA (call to action) that will encourage them to get in touch. This might be asking them to look at your resume or arrange to meet for a coffee, but whatever the case may be, ensure you provide them with your preferred contact details in the email.

 

Forbes.com | October 13, 2022 | Andrew Fennell

#JobSearch : It’s Time To Up Your Social Media Job-Search Game. Rule# 1 – Start with LinkedIn. A MUst REad for All!

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By now, you’ve seen the writing on the wall. Layoffs, hiring freezes and job offers being rescinded are the unfortunate new corporate trends. Businesses are in cost-cutting mode, fearful of the adverse effects of a possible global recession. Some companies, such as the Mom Project, are letting go of people in anticipation of “economic uncertainty” ahead—and not due to a current need. In the herd mentality of corporations, once one major organization downsizes, all the others follow suit.

                              Question: How do you stand out?

The traditional job-searching methods still hold true: seek out recruiters, tap into your network and respond to help-wanted ads online. Since there are continued waves of layoffs, you may want to take your job search to the next level by leveraging social media to get noticed.

Many people use social media to find news quickly, argue politics, troll others, see what Elon Musk is up to and watch cat videos. It’s also a great way to brand yourself and gain attention from prospective hiring managers, human resources professionals, recruiters and others who may be of assistance in finding you a new job. Using social media, you can also get a deep sense of a company’s culture and values through its online presence.

Start With LinkedIn

It may not be as sexy as Twitter or TikTok, but LinkedIn is the go-to platform for career-focused professionals and job hunters. With over 800 million members, the odds are in your favor that you can find the right people who could help place you in the perfect job.

Take a fresh look at your LinkedIn profile, as you most likely haven’t needed the site up until now, and your information may be woefully outdated. Tailor your profile and job responsibilities to relate to the roles you’re seeking specifically. Ensure that you include all of the relevant keywords, acronyms and corporate jargon that recruiters and HR would use in a search to find candidates for their open job requisitions.

Send out connection invitations to people who are in your field that look like possible decision-makers. These folks include internal corporate talent acquisition professionals, hiring managers for your desired roles and those who work in different companies within your field.

Start a marketing campaign to garner attention. If you notice a person posting an article or other type of content that’s relevant to your line of business, like and comment on it. As you get more comfortable, write your own content. It could be something about a new development within your area of expertise or sharing how your job search is going. If you are creative, make short videos. The key is to position yourself as a competent and experienced expert within your domain. It’s not a one-and-done. You must post regularly to stay on everyone’s radar. The only caveat is that if you are gainfully employed, you need to be more cautious and low-key in your marketing efforts.

Many newly laid-off workers opt for the #opentowork banner on their profile. The green banner alerts recruiters, HR and hiring managers to get in touch. The cold reality is that someone in between roles won’t need a two or three weeks’ notice period, and could start immediately. Along with the banner, you need to provide some context. No one will just reach out to you if they don’t know what you did or the type of work you’re looking for. Clearly set forth the information people need to easily see if you are fit for their open roles.

 

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TikTok, Instagram, Facebook And Twitter

In addition to LinkedIn, depending upon your type of job and career, get active on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Each platform has a very different and distinct feel to it. If you are not an avid user of TikTok, for instance, before diving in head first, test the waters. Watch several videos to gain a vibe check.

Once you gain an understanding of the sites, tailor your photos, videos and written content to fit well within the platforms’ generally accepted practices. Similar to LinkedIn, the goal is still the same. You want to create a genuine and authentic feel that will make people comfortable reaching out to you.

Instagram offers a visual and video platform. With a professional account, the app would be a perfect vehicle to showcase your portfolio and burnish your brand if you are in a creative or marketing role.

You may not have noticed, but TikTok has moved away from just young Gen-Zs dancing. Elder Millennials, Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers are all over the site. TikTok now boasts a substantial career-oriented section with creators offering résumé and career advice in a refreshingly upbeat and enthusiastic way.

It may feel weird for people who are of a certain age; however, if you have a little creativity and are open to taking a risk, start making TikTok videos. You can then download the short, one-minute or so video to LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media sites. The fresh feel of the videos will make you stand out compared to stodgy, clichéd content.

You can also gain some attention on Facebook with over one billion users. First, join groups that are relevant to your field; then, get active. For example, let people know that you’ve lost your job and would like some help with leads.

Put aside all the trash talking and trolling on Twitter and consider using it to your advantage. Look for your tribe on the site. Seek out trending topics that align with your skills and background. Then, weigh in with your comment, offering your unique perspective. If you stay active, people will start seeing you as an expert and you will get noticed by headhunters, HR and hiring managers.

Forbes.com Author:   Jack Kelly    – Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com | July 21, 2022