Job Search Advice Archives | Employment BOOST Resume Writers

LinkedIn Profile Tips: Are LinkedIn Recommendations Worth Writing?

07/21/2017

You have plenty of connections on LinkedIn, and many of them are also searching for potential professional openings. They’re not just your competition, but a network of vast opportunities amongst a sea of job boards and company career pages. In the past, online networking was very stale and ineffective. With today’s technology, you can make networking friendly, social, and helpful. With more and more people saving their references for the later stages of job hunting, it’s hard to find personalized accounts of experience outside of the candidate’s own mouth. Now, LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to write short recommendations of your connections. A modern take on the outdated reference sheet, LinkedIn recommendations are personal and effective. You should be writing meaningful recommendations for your closest connections; doing so might provide better opportunities for you in the long run.

Why should you recommend your network? A recommendation is more than a hopeful poke or casual message. LinkedIn recommendations take social media networking to the next level by allowing your connections to write a meaningful review of you, your experience, and the value you bring to an organization. By recommending a connection, you’re helping them and yourself. You’re showing that you value their talents with a display of trust featured on their profile. When you write a LinkedIn recommendation, the website prompts your connection to write one to return the favor. This feature enhances the social media experience of LinkedIn, allowing users to reciprocate and build from one another.

Your 1st degree connections are the only ones who can write recommendations; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree connections can view them on your profile. When you write a recommendation, be sure to share specifics. Don’t just leave generalized statements about your past coworkers or clients; make sure to highlight what’s best about them in a unique, personalized way. Keep your recommendation focused on their professional achievements. Stay away from lengthy stories and focus on numbers. Remember to keep it as professional as possible.

In turn, giving LinkedIn recommendations can help you. By leaving a flattering recommendation, your connection will probably write one for you as well. If you’re looking for a job, a hiring manager could see your recommendation on an old colleague’s page — showing that you have the same experience, you might become a potential candidate. Also, leaving a personalized and meaningful recommendation might mean your connection reaching out to you with potential work opportunities once they make a move themselves.

Five Big Mistakes You Cannot Make On LinkedIn To Network Effectively

07/21/2017

LinkedIn is a social network, but make sure that you’re treating it differently from Facebook or Instagram! A professional networking website has a separate etiquette than other platforms, so make sure that you aren’t making these easy mistakes on your LinkedIn profile.

5. Waiting on Others to Connect

If you’re new to the LinkedIn game, make sure that you’re making meaningful connections! You should connect with your colleagues first to jump start your connections. Sitting around and waiting for others to connect with you first will just level out your productivity. You need to reach out to those in your immediate network, and then branch further—college friends, club members, etc. Doing so will open up new leads.

4. Oversharing

Your profile should have a personal touch, but you don’t want to breach on impropriety. Any personal information that doesn’t pertain to your professional life shouldn’t be on your profile. For example, it’s nice to post a casual update about returning to work from your honeymoon. On the other hand, your professional network on LinkedIn doesn’t care to see the hundreds of photos from your actual wedding day—save that for Facebook.

3. Spamming Your Network

A good motivational quote is enough to lift up someone’s mood. Ten of them a day will just annoy someone. You want to post and update your LinkedIn profile frequently, but if you have nothing better than constant motivational quotes, it’s best to avoid posting at all. Instead, perhaps share some articles that would interest you and your network.

2. Using LinkedIn For Anything Other Than Professional Endeavors

Your LinkedIn is a ticket to professional success, not a date. Besides being impractical, LinkedIn is the most inappropriate social media platform to use for dating purposes. It’s happened to many people in the past; if you receive an unsolicited offer for a date via your profile, make sure to block and report them.

1. Not Having A Profile Picture/Using the Wrong Photo

Profile pictures are essential for LinkedIn. Going without one makes your profile more suspicious and less approachable. People looking for you on LinkedIn will miss your profile. On the other hand, having the wrong picture says volumes about your professsionalim. No one wants to see a selfie, your pet, or your kids—use a professional headshot. Employment BOOST can help you figure out how to get your headshotperfect.

LinkedIn is so different from other platforms, and that’s a good thing. Using the platform can filter out exactly what you need to advance your career, and avoiding these five mistakes easily made on other platforms will make your profile shine.

When Should I Update My LinkedIn Profile To Use The Platform Correctly?

07/07/2017

Many people think of LinkedIn as a job hunting resource, when it’s much more than that. LinkedIn is a way to stay involved and filter news down to your specific industry. It provides all of the resources you might need to stay on top of your competition, professionally and personally. Your LinkedIn should always be up to date, like your professional resume, but always make sure to change your information in case of these events.

1. Use LinkedIn to Indicate A New Job

You’ve landed a job at a new company, so why do you need to keep your LinkedIn updated? Even if you aren’t job hunting, keeping your profile up to date is the best way to market yourself as a master in your field. You may be off the job market, but you’re still available to offer advice and connections to your followers. Remember to take a week or two before updating your profile; make sure you’re settled in the right job before updating your entire network.

2. Employed, and Job Seeking

If you’re ready for the next move, make sure to update your LinkedIn strategically and quietly—doing so will prevent your current employer from seeing your changes as red flags. Under your privacy settings, make sure you’re not sharing profile edits with your network. You can also update your career interests. Under that section, you can mark yourself as an “open candidate”. Doing so will let recruiters know that you’re openly looking for a new job without alerting your current employer.

3. Retirement

If you’re planning on retiring, make sure that you’ve updated your LinkedIn profile accordingly. Your work history should be tied up as you close this chapter in your life. If not, you could find yourself the target of recruiters aiming for your expertise. If you plan on leaving the workforce and staying out, make sure that’s noted on your LinkedIn page.

4. Going Back to School

You’re advancing your education, and your LinkedIn network should know that. If you’re going back to school to receive a certification, masters or doctorate, make sure that your connections know. You’re mastering a subject, and probably not looking to make a linear move. Make sure your profile reflects that you’re currently in school so recruiters know that you’ll be ready to accept higher level positions in the near future.

LinkedIn is a great network to stay involved in your field, so make sure that your profile reflects any changes that you’ve made in your career!

Three Tips for Finding a Job on LinkedIn and Maximizing Your Success

07/05/2017

With more than 3 million active job listings, and some 70% of companies reporting that they only use LinkedIn to post their job openings, the platform is a vital tool for the modern job searcher. Whether you’re actively looking for a new position, or just keeping your options and eyes open for potential opportunities, using the platform is a good idea. Here are three tips for finding a job on LinkedIn:

1. Update Your LinkedIn Profile

The first of our three tips for finding a job on LinkedIn is to make sure your profile is updated and as complete as possible. If you have a professional headshot, make sure that you upload it (no selfies!). In fact, profiles with headshots get 21 times more profile views and up to 36 times more messages that profiles without one, so it is important to maximize the opportunity to showcase yourself in the best light on your profile. The next sections of your profile to update are the headline and summary, ensuring they match your resume. Hiring Managers hate when a candidate’s profile is not up-to-date and still shows them working somewhere they are not.

2. Use Your Profile like a Resume

One of the most convenient and useful aspects of using the social network to find a job is the platform’s Easy Apply functionality. The second of our three tips for finding a job on LinkedIn is to use this functionality to your advantage. Having an updated profile is paramount to maximize the effectiveness of the Easy Apply function, though.

By using Easy Apply, finding a job on LinkedIn is made simple as you are able to send your profile in to hiring managers directly, without any added steps. If your profile is updated, you’ll be presenting all the necessary information needed to declare your interest in the position, and potentially get a call-back!

3. Use Your Profile to Network

Our third of three tips for finding a job on LinkedIn involves using your profile as a networking tool. Connecting with thought-leaders and key individuals in your targeted industry is a great way to start building your professional network. Statistics show that 40% of users utilize LinkedIn daily, so the website is truly a hub of activity all the time. In fact, more than 27% of users have between 500 and 1000 first-degree connections!

LinkedIn is an important tool for the modern job searcher. By following our three tips for finding a job on LinkedIn, you’ll be setting yourself up with a great chance of finding the job you have been looking for!

Returning To The Workforce: How To Reinvigorate Your Career

01/09/2017

Are you wondering how to return to the workforce after some time away and want to reinvigorate your career? Looking for the fastest, most efficient way to find a job and return to work? We have compiled some tips from our expert career services managers on how to return to the workforce.

There are countless reasons why individuals would need to leave the workforce, and returning to the workforce can be both planned or unexpected. Whether you are planning on returning to the workforce or your hand has been forced, it is important to understand what employers are looking for and the best strategies for competing against an increasingly competitive pool of highly qualified candidates.

Leverage Your Existing Network

One of the quickest ways to return to the workforce after some time away is to leverage your existing network of contacts. Start off by contacting former employers who have experienced your quality of work and know you as an individual and employee. By reaching out to people that you have worked with in the past, you are looking to achieve two things: either land a job with a former employer, or see if your contact can assist you in your search for an opportunity to return to the workforce.

Acquire Skills During Your Time Off

Potential employers are always looking for skilled candidates that are continuously learning and finding ways to increase their knowledge to add value to the company. This is no different for candidates who are returning to the workforce after some time away, especially with an increasingly competitive pool of talent available to employers.

Being able to showcase that you acquired some additional skills while away from the workforce will make your transition and return to the workforce much easier. Taking courses, obtaining certificates, and increasing your knowledge while away from the workforce shows initiative and ambition, two things employers are always looking for in potential employees.

Identify areas of weakness in your professional profile, or take classes in areas of business that will make you a top candidate, as growing your knowledge base is always a great strategy before returning to the workforce.

Work On Your Resume and Interviewing Skills

Competing against the modern applicant pool for the opportunity to return to the workforce is not going to be easy. Ensuring that you possess a killer resume that is formatted correctly for the industry you are looking to return to is extremely important. But equipping yourself with a great resume is not the only thing you need to worry about when thinking about returning to the workforce. You may not have experienced job interviews in some time too, so practicing and preparing to ace your job interview is another aspect of the process that needs to be addressed.

Preparation is key when it comes to explaining the time away from the workforce. Any hesitation can be detrimental to the interview. As you prepare yourself to answer questions concisely and thoughtfully regarding your overall experience, it is definitely just as important to attack the employment gap the same way. This is a great way to win over potential employers and increase your chances of returning to the workforce.

Be Patient and Open-Minded

Returning to the workforce, looking for and landing a new job, after time away is a difficult and time-consuming process for everyone. It is important to be patient and open minded during the hunt. If you are returning to the workforce after some time away, it is almost inevitable that you will receive some rejections. However, stay strong and continue pursuing your next opportunity.

It is also a good idea to remain open minded to new industries and positions, too. Returning to the workforce, with your added skills and acumen, could mean that you are now qualified to take on roles and positions at companies in industries that you haven’t worked in before. Determine whether you are willing to take an entry level position just to get your foot in the door. Keeping an open mind will be a big advantage in your pursuit of returning to the workforce.