Accelerate Your Search™ Now

The end of the year brings a long list of “to do’s.”  Is updating your LinkedIn profile on your list?  If not, it probably should be.

If you have identified with my recent comments on “drift,” an update to your LinkedIn profile can counteract professional drift.

If you are experiencing the drift in your career or on your team, this is a great time of year to release the autopilot and counteract drift.  What would happen if your entire team invested two hours between now and the end of the year focused on updating their professional presence on LinkedIn?

What would be the impact? Would it change market conditions or improve sales?  No, it is not likely to have that type of significance.  However, this can provide the rare, yet needed, occasion for your team to pause and focus on the talent and glorious skills that surround them every day.

This works just as well if you are in transition.  Pause and ask yourself, “What value do I offer to the world?  I am missing sharing something important?”

Whether leading a team or in transition, year-end is the perfect time to do just this.

LinkedIn is a great tool, yet so few leverage it.  When was the last time you really thought about your profile or assessed how you use LinkedIn?  When was the last time you updated your profile?

On a daily basis, thousands of people have the opportunity to stop by, visit your LinkedIn profile and take action.  The potential for making business connections and building relationships is big.

Does your profile inspire “Aww’s” and “Wows” or a quick click away?

Does a reader pause and say, “Oh, it’s beautiful. I didn’t know that!”

The truth is no two people will see or read your profile the same way.  Yet, you can influence what people know about you. You can impact how they interpret your skills and talents via your LinkedIn profile.

You can share the value you, or your team, or your organization has in the marketplace — a value that be may visible or hidden without action on your part.

Have you ever wondered:

• What does the market think of my LinkedIn profile?
• What significant message do my peers or company leaders get from reading my LinkedIn profile?
• How are others influenced when they review my LinkedIn profile?
• What signals or messages are received from my LinkedIn profile?
• Is my message clear?
• How do I come across?  Interesting or scary?
• Does my profile say I am uninterested in my career?
• Am I seen as someone ready for the next level?

If you are seeking significance and fulfillment, don’t over look some of the simple steps that will help you reach your goals. Set aside two hours or so between now and the end of the year and update your LinkedIn profile.

If you want help with your profile, let’s talk.

If you are interested in FURTHER understanding how to review your LinkedIn Profile and quickly assess if your profile needs an update, my Presentation may serve you.

The Year-End LinkedIn Profile Update is now available!! You can REGISTER for it HERE!!!!

This focused review helps you take an objective look your profile and the areas you may need to update.  It helps you understand what may be missing that is impacting who calls you (or doesn’t!) and what opportunities are ultimately shared with you.

Think about it.  Do you have connections that are dropping away or not responding to you?  Or maybe you are just not sure how to most effectively build connections and relationships with the “right” people on LinkedIn.

If it’s time for you to review your LinkedIn profile and begin changing the experiences others have with you online, let’s talk.

Are you ready to align awesome?  Doing the work you love, living your purpose, and making an impact is fun and amazing!

If you liked this post, share it with your friends.  And, don’t forget to share your thoughts below too, I’d love to hear from you!

Summer is here.  In fact almost two-thirds of the “100 days of Summer” are behind us.  Are you hot and thirsty?

Harvey Mackay says, “Dig your well before you’re thirsty” and in West Texas we say, “Take your shade with you.”  Shade and water can help you ward off or solve many of the problems that arise due to the summer heat.

Here are a few quick and simple ways to ensure the summer heat does not beat or blister your career.  No matter your industry, career expertise or area of interest, think of these actions as “water and shade” to help you handle any career problems or opportunities that crop up.

Seek out face-to-face connections.  Find professional, industry, and social groups/associations in your geographic area.  For example, the local CPA association, the software developer or WordPress Meetup Group, Rotary Club or the community garden group.  These groups are think tanks, user groups and natural places to make face-to-face connections.  They provide opportunities to build visibility and credibility.  Face-to-face interactions are far more powerful than relationships exclusively based online.  A Google search will help you find the groups in your area.  You can also ask your current network what groups they recommend.

Look for online groups to join and get involved.  LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook all have millions of groups.  There’s one for most anything that comes to mind.  Make a short list of your interests, then search for a group.  You can comment, post a question or add your expertise/technical knowledge to help others solve a problem.  Recommendation: before posting a question, search existing discussions to see if your question has been asked and answered.  If so, comment that you found the information/group helpful.

Connect with people that solve the problems you need solved.  Everyone has problems.  Everyone solves problems.  We need other people and naturally feel a stronger connection to people who like the same things we like and enjoy.  Gardeners help other gardeners with any problem they have, not just things to do with growing a garden.  The same holds true for teachers, Apple junkies, golfers, etc.  Add a keyword to your online profiles to help search features link you with other like-minded people.  In some ways this is better than “carrying shade with you” because it helps shade show up just when you need it from those with whom you share common interests.

Say “Yes” to friends and invitations.  It is sad to me when I hear, “I only connect with people I know well.”  Why?  Knowing someone well takes time, interaction, and effort, saying “yes” can be that first step toward getting to know someone well.  Those you connect with today may be those you know well tomorrow.  They also know people you don’t who may be able to help you achieve your goals.

Connecting with people may be all you need to find water, shade and the solution to keeping the heat from blistering your career.  Enjoy who you connect with during the final “100 days of summer.”  Have fun and add prosperity and satisfaction to your summer, your career and your life.

Have an amazing week!

LinkedIn is a great tool.

Yet you can  harm your online presence with just a few common mistakes.

Fortunately, like skinning your knee, the mistakes are easy to avoid and usually not fatal.  Your profile should always be more helpful than harmful.

Recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates.  Hiring managers use LinkedIn to prep for interviews and decide who lands on the short list.

Your network contacts (new and established) access and use your LinkedIn profile to share information about you, connect with you and decide if they would like to do business with you.  Review your profile.  What messages are you sending?

Check your profile for these 4 common mistakes:

1. Pasting your résumé into your profile.  Personalize your LinkedIn profile.  Use it as a gateway platform to your online presence.  With LinkedIn’s volume and traffic your profile shows up in most searches for you.  Create a compelling summary that gains you favorable attention.
2. Ignoring the details.  Your LinkedIn profile is a 24-7 marketing site for you.  Optimize your profile so it will be found in a search.  Focus on your key skills, the benefits you offer and the problems you solve.  Be selective and highlight the talents for which you want to be known. Include your contact information.
3. Being generic. Your profile needs to pop and paint a clear picture of you.  If it reads like a dry job description, it may be ignored.  Manage your endorsements.  People hire people, not lists of skills.  Include your personality.
4. Dropping in only occasionally. Create a plan to engage in the community and regularly update your LinkedIn profile.  Just as not returning a phone call reflects your lack of interest, so does not responding on LinkedIn.  A slow response reveals much to those who use LinkedIn as a recruiting or sourcing tool.  Drop in often.  Be visible.

Now, edit your profile as appropriate to be in the running for the ‘right’ positions.

Do you think your schedule is too busy for a great, well-managed LinkedIn profile?  You can have a great LinkedIn profile and manage it in just minutes a week.

Email me to learn more about effectively managing your LinkedIn profile.  I will send you a video link and a fun tip sheet.

Do you say things like:

“Job search networking is so overrated.”  

“I hate networking!”    

“I don’t think networking is worth the effort.” 

“I have never known someone who got a job from networking”

What are your real feelings about job search networking?

Do you believe your network can help you?  Are you willing to ask your network for help?  How will you ask your network for assistance?

Having a basic understanding and respect for your feelings about networking is important.  Think about what you are willing and not willing to do to connect with the people in your network.

What is the size of your network now?

Would you like to build and sustain a larger network?

If you are just going through the motions of contacting people and asking for a job, that is not tapping into or building a network.  It is just asking people you know for a job.

In my view, calling someone and saying, “Hi, I am out of work.  Do you have a job available?” is a little like begging on the street corner.  It sure would not feel good to me.

On the other hand, reaching out to people in your network, sharing what you are up to and letting them know you are searching for your next position is a very different approach.  This type of approach includes specifically sharing the type of opportunities you are seeking and ASKING them to let you know if such an opportunity presents itself, whether inside their company or another.  Remember, these conversations can be very awkward if you haven’t stayed in touch.

If you hate to network, start with the people you know.  Reaching out to the people you know well and speak with often will increase your comfort level.

What is one of the best ways to learn to enjoy networking?  Just do it.  Get out there and try it.  It can be that simple.

Leveraging your network is one of the most powerful tools in your toolbox.  You may be amazed at the reach of your network.  Often clients are surprised at the power and generosity of even a very small network.  You may just discover your network is more extensive than you thought.

AND – once you reach out, make a plan to stay in touch and execute that plan.  Networking includes the word “work” for a reason.  It requires some work on your part.

Have an amazing week!

Share, in the comments below, what you like about networking.

LinkedIn is a great tool.  Yet, if you are making some of the most common mistakes, your profile may by hurting you more than helping you.

Recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates.  Hiring managers use LinkedIn to prep for interviews and decide who lands on the short list.  Your friends and network contacts (new and established) access and use your LinkedIn profile to share information about you, connect with you and decide if they would like to do business with you.

What message are you sending?

Here are 4 common mistakes to avoid if you want to be in the running for the ‘right’ position:

1. Pasting your résumé into your profile.  LinkedIn is not a job board, rather it is a gateway to your online presence.  With its volume and traffic, your LinkedIn profile will show up in most searches for you and for the job you do.  Create a compelling summary that gains you favorable attention.  Ensure your prose encourages people to read your summary, click your links and learn more about you.  People hire people they know, like and trust.  Use your profile to become trusted and to build relationships.  Job opportunities will follow.
2. Ignoring the details.  Your LinkedIn profile is a 24-7 marketing site for you.  Be sure you optimize your profile, so it will be found in a search.  List, at minimum, your past three job titles and link to your past employer(s) Company LinkedIn page’s (if they have one). Focus on your key skills, the benefits you offer and problems you solve. Be selective and highlight the talents for which you want to be known.  Manage your endorsements — looking like a ‘Jack or Jill of All Trades’ does not enhance your value.
3. Being generic.  Your profile needs to pop and paint a picture of you.  If it reads like a dry job description, it may be promptly discarded.  People hire people, not lists of skills.  Include your personality.  Create an emotional connection.  Use facts to tell your story and demonstrate your experience and value.
4. Dropping in only occasionally.  Create a plan to regularly engage in the community and update your LinkedIn profile.  Just as not returning a phone call reflects your lack of interest, so does not responding on LinkedIn.  A slow response reveals much to those who use LinkedIn as a recruiting or sourcing tool.  If you are shopping for a home and pass a house with neglected gardens, what is your first thought?  Do you perceive it to have a lower value or be a bargain due to its need of repair?  The same principal applies to LinkedIn.

Do you think your schedule is too busy for a great well managed LinkedIn profile?  You can have a great LinkedIn profile and manage it in just minutes a week.

Email me to learn more about effectively managing your LinkedIn profile.  I will send you a video link and a fun tip sheet.

Listening is a mix of art and science.  The investment is low, yet few job searchers really listen to the companies they are targeting.  Are you listening? You know doing research on potential employers is important.  You know how and where to research companies. Do you think research trumps listening? Too often I hear, “I have done the research and know the company, so why listen?”  OK, I get it.  You know your target market. You have narrowed your list of companies.  You are focused on those who have problems you can solve.  But, do you know if these companies want to solve the problems you’re best at solving?  That is one good reason to listen. What if by listening, you discover that all the companies you are targeting don’t want or need to solve the problems you solve.  What will you do?  Will that change your next action? The real value and impact of listening is saving time.  Listening helps you shift your actions and improve your results. Can you think of other reasons to listen? Here are a few:

• You may discover other problems or wants you can help solve
• You’ll hear about new products or services that are about to launch where you’re experience would be valuable
• You’ll learn about changes in the marketplace or competition that enhances your value

Where do you “listen” to your target companies?   One of my favorite places is industry blogs.  Another helpful place to listen is LinkedIn.  Did you know there are 3 Million LinkedIn Company Pages and Counting? What is your top reason to listen to the companies that you follow?   Where is your favorite place to listen? Please post your answers below and share your great listening tips with others.

Check out the look and words of a newspaper headline.  It is designed to help sell newspapers and get readers to at least scan the article.  Your LinkedIn headline serves the same purpose.  It helps you be found, favorably communicate what you do and why someone should care.

If your current headline is relevant and doing its job, leave it alone.  On the other hand, if it is advertising you are out of work and begging for a job,  its time to change it.

Those interested in interviewing you will look you up online.  Your photo and headline will determine if they read or scan your profile.  Your headline may be the only thing they read.  Does it make a favorable impressions?  If not, they may just move on.

Your LinkedIn headline communicates your brand and gets your profile read!

Which profile would you read?

Your photo is critical.  People are visual.  A LinkedIn profile without a photo seems as if something is missing.  In fact, something is missing – your photo!  Today everyone needs a good professional head shot.

If your head shot is old, consider updating it.  If you are still a “no photo” hold out with one of these excuses  …

• no time to schedule a portrait appointment
• hate having my photo taken
• have a head shot but don’t like it
• worried about age discrimination
• or …  <add your excuse here>

Here are the top four tips to getting a great head shot:

1. Look at the work of potential photographers.  Do you like it?  If not, keep looking.  They are not the photographer for you.
2. Like their work?  Interview them.  Ask questions, learn about their style, studio and rates. Tell the photographer about your photo’s use and the look you are seeking for your head shot.  Do you click?  Will you enjoy working with them?
3. Set an appointment — do it a good time of day for you — then do some planning.  Think about hair, clothes, and the look you want.   Love the clothes you wear for your head shot.   I thought this was interesting advice because in a head shot you don’t see much of the outfit.   One photographer pointed out that if you don’t like what you pick to wear, it will ‘show’.  Another  photographer had a note in the studio that said “If you don’t like the outfit – neither does the camera.”  Great point!
4. When you arrive for your appointment think “Showtime!”  Be on-time, listen to the photographer, be coachable and have fun.  If you drop the self-consciousness and enjoy the session, odds are you will get a great head shot.

Have a comment?  Post it below.