Rita Ashley, Career Coach. Field tested advice for executives.

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By rashley, July 28, 2009 3:11 pm

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?

Working, you say.  What is it supposed to do?  I just want people to know what I do and my job history.

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing prospective employers and gatekeepers see regarding your background.  You know yours is working if you are getting introductions, invitations to chat and even interviews. You can check to see a sample of who read your profile.

Go to your ‘Home’ page and view the right side:  ‘Who’s viewed my profile,’ Click on: ‘see more.’

If you have connected with or were referred to some of the organizations listed and you did not get the results you wanted, chances are, you need to change your profile.  If you didn’t contact the organizations listed, chances are, they thought they were interested but didn’t see any reason to follow through.  Something is missing on your profile.

Most people believe a LinkedIn profile is just a truncated version of the resume.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It can be the single most important job search tool you have. Linda Tancs, an employment writer for NJ.com states: A successful LinkedIn profile takes effort.

Your Profile is a marketing piece. Your profile is a tool, which when used correctly, will entice the reader to learn more.  A tool that tells the hiring authority and people who refer candidates to them, exactly why they want to talk to you, immediately.

That’s a huge job for such a small bit of media.  But think about your own behavior.  How often do you ‘research’ someone before you talk to them or when you only think you may want to talk to them?

Where do you start? First off, let readers know how to contact you if they are interested.  Use your public email address (hotmail or gmail, for example) and insert it close to the top of your profile.  Need some ‘air’ around it?  Type a period/enter to create a blank line above and below your email address.

Most common mistake? Your LinkedIn profile is precious digital real estate; use it wisely.  If you want viewers to know how old you are right out of the gate, say, “19 years experience managing new product designs.”  Don’t tell readers how old you are.  Tell them the most important accomplishment in which they would be most interested.

“Launched seven unique products in six seconds with no budget and one hand tied behind my back.”

What it is not. Your profile is a marketing tool, not a biography.  You do not need to list all your jobs or all your positions.  It is neither a resume nor a legal document.

If you want to list previous companies to attract certain populations, go ahead, but only list those.  Leaving lots of white makes for a more pleasing viewing experience.  Leaving lots to the imagination encourages people to contact you.

Your opinion does not count. Readers are not interested in your own view of your work.  “Successful marketing executive with impressive history of product launches” may be true, but your readers need proof, not your opinions.  Try to give examples of your success and let your work speak for itself.

Other people’s opinions count a lot. Use the ‘references’ section eagerly.  Invite folks who have worked for you, with you and managed you to make comments.  Notice the first line is visible. Recraft them to be punch lines (ask permission to modify) to encourage readers to click to read more.

Invite references over time so your updates appear constantly in your network’s radar.  Nothing better to help them recall what a swell person you are and keep you in mind when they hear about a job or person you should know.

Resist the urge to respond immediately to those who give you a reference.  Space out your responses over time to appear in the updates sections and also to get around the appearance of quid pro quo on references.

More white space. Unless your groups memberships are germane to your profession, leave the logos off your profile.  Go to the membership section of each and click off the ‘show logo’ box.

Do you have a blog? I encourage all my clients to create and maintain an industry specific blog to enhance their personal marketing efforts.  If your blog titles are not spot-on to your professional job search efforts, write some new ones.  These headlines are an effective way for viewers to learn more about you.  Use them wisely.

It goes without saying, though you’d be startled to know how often I am forced to say it, check for spelling and grammar.  One mistake can turn viewers off because they immediately jump to, “Not detail oriented” or “careless” or worse, “illiterate.”  Invite someone to review your profile before you publish because we often can’t see our own mistakes.

When you are truly delighted with your profile, when you believe it is compelling and an excellent personal advertisement, incorporate your profile address in your email signature and use it anytime you write a blog or answer a blog online.  Broadcast this marketing piece and you become your own advertisement agency.

For more advice on using LinkedIn for Job Search download your free copy at www.jobsearchdebugged.com

For a job search tune-up read Job Search Debugged, an insider’s guide to a compelling job search.

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By rashley, June 25, 2009 11:43 am

  Locate Seattle’s hidden job market

Frustrated candidates lament the existence of the hidden job market.  Reason tells us there is no such thing, that instead, the candidate has not found the open sesame’ to reveal where the jobs are.

In his often quoted commentary on the costs incurred by an unfilled position, Dr. John Sullivan, Head and Professor of Human Resource Management College of Business, San Francisco State University, cites a litany of deleterious affects resulting from unfilled jobs.

To name only a few:

• delayed product development
• loss of new product ideas
• increased time to market
• loss of team productivity
• increased management time and effort
• resentment of superstar employees who are as asked to ‘fill in,’

Tangible losses often amount to hundreds of thousands in lost revenue, and significantly more if the open position is a senior sales executive or business development professional.

Knowing this, why would any company keep their job openings hidden?  The truth is the job market is not hidden, it is only not yet discovered by you.  How does the executive or technology professional learn who is hiring?

The obvious answer is, ask people. But while networking is the simple and obvious solution, it is not easy.  Many people find networking when they require information or introductions for themselves to be extremely difficult. 

I suggest taking networking to a different level than is commonly considered.  Bonding is far more effective than collecting contact information.  Just as an introduction is more powerful than a referral, so to is a personal relationship more effective than an request from a stranger.

Often, the more senior a job seeker, the more difficult it is to ask for help.  Thus, I suggest, ask for advice instead of help.  “My instincts tell me my experience is a good fit for the VP Development at Disney.  What would you do to get connected to the hiring authority?”  If you achieve critical mass in your exposure to many people, just like Brownian motion, you are bound to connect with exactly the right elements to become newly employed.

Resources:

Digital Eves –  a virtual community of 1,500 women (and some men) in technology.   A group that discusses everything from how to debug a bit of JavaScript, to feedback on a portfolio, to dealing with an HR problem at work, to technology news. It’s also a great place to post and look for job openings.  There are strict guidelines for the posts, but it is a direct link to peers and if you participate in the threads, you will make new friends who may be able to direct you to job openings.

Linked Seattle is a LinkedIn a Seattle-specific group for locals.  While not a job search site, it is a profoundly good place to network.  Interact, create discussions and get to know people.  You never know who will offer a tip or introduction once you get to know them.

Eggsprout.com is a technology site specific to Seattle for social networking, community building and a large data base of Seattle technology jobs.  Visit often since employers list jobs and contact information.

Craigslist.com has many listings for major cities, Seattle included.

Gay professionals can select from a variety of meet-ups and social networking activities for professionals. Participate, don’t be a drive by shooting attendee.  Another resource of over 1000 GLBT professionals is Seattle gay scene.  While not specifically a job search social networking organization, many find leads and introductions to gay-friendly companies.

A grass roots organization, Seattle Job Social has grown to attract hundreds of attendees, recruiters and hiring authorities.  Geoff Tucker and a few of his friends needed a place to gather where employers could find them en-mass. The result is an event where folks  exchange resumes, instant interviews are conducted and appointments are made.   There are many such activities and groups in Seattle.  Periodic search engine research will reveal others.  Set a news alert on several search engines.

The Jewish Jobs Network serves hundreds of Jewish professionals in Puget Sound.  The network provides help and connections in meetings and informal networking.  Contact Ben Meyerhoff at bmeryerhoffl@msn.com.

Don’t forget LinkedIn.   Join all the Seattle-centric groups available and participate.  Ask questions and respond to discussions.  Make new friends.  Reply privately to keep the discussions going; create real bonds.

Many groups host job search related activities.  While most of them are great places to meet other job seekers (who may offer leads to jobs in which they are not interested) the job search information shared in these sessions is rarely valuable.  Vet the speakers and presenters carefully.  A well trafficked web site does not an employment expert make.

MIT in Washington is the venerable place to meet technology executives and often even investors and hiring authorities.  The programs are rich and often include name-brand executives and highly relevant topics.  Go to participate.  Arrive at least 30 minutes before the program because that is when networking is done.  Come prepared with conversation starters, business cards and a genuine interest in the topic.  During the event, ask incisive questions.  Follow up the next day from the business cards you collected.

WTIA, formerly the Washington Software Association, has morphed into a commanding resource for the Seattle technology community.  If you want to connect to technology executives, volunteer for one of the many activities of the WTIA.  Contribute. Go to the events, become an expected figure.  Make new friends. 

Seattle is host to countless business-building events.  Keep track of the calendars for the investment community presentations. 

Those interested in early stage or start up companies may find attending the $250 Fast Pitch conference sponsored by WTIA a good investment. Twenty-five early stage companies are on display and exhibit their product and give a short overview to investors and other attendees.  Great place to meet people, learn about new companies and be seen.

The Northwest Entrepreneur Network, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs succeed. Activities and programs are focused on building the entrepreneurial and venture community in the Northwest and enabling entrepreneurs to access resources and funding to accelerate their business growth.  They host several events and provide an excellent forum for networking.

While job search with a nonprofit requires the same highly targeted and polished job search, there are additional resources for Seattle.

• I Love Seattle lists nonprofits
• Yelp offers discussion of nonprofits
• Seattle Times lists nonprofits and contact information
• LinkedIn has valuable informaton on connecting to nonprofits.
• Puget Sound Business Journal Book of Lists has details on the 25 largest not for profit companies.

Subscribe to the Puget Sound Business Journal and be especially protective of your complimentary copy of the Book of Lists. If you are interested in the top 25 companies in any sector, the Book of Lists will tell you the players, the company revenue and so much more. 

John Cook’s Venture blog and his Tech Flash are up to the minute reviews of what is going on with technology companies in Seattle.  Follow the names, companies and products with John’s constant vigilance.

Xconomy, another Seattle-based resource, is dedicated to providing business and technology leaders with timely, insightful, close-to-the-scene information about the local personalities, companies, and technological trends that best exemplify today’s high-tech economy. 

Set search engine alerts for events, companies and people to keep informed.  If you want to drill down even further, create a Boolean String for your anticipated job title, prospective employer or other relevant information to cull from a search engine.   Be sure to include Seattle or range of zip codes in your string.

For all its horrendous traffic and densely populated neighborhoods, Seattle’s technology sector is a ‘small town.’  Once you are connected to a range of people, you are only one or at best two degrees of separation from the person who will hire you for your next job.  It is all about how you ask, who you ask and your nuanced messaging.  But that’s another topic.

For even more links to resources:  http://www.jobsearchdebugged.com/blog/?p=334

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By rashley, June 3, 2009 5:51 pm

A thread in the Executive Marketing Group of LinkedIn* opened a discussion on the value of social networking sites and extreme SEO as marketing tools.  Many great points were made, but the main idea was, would social networking take the place of current marketing techniques and outreach?

As a former marketing executive back in the day when computers were steam driven, I tire of listening to all the pet rock conversations.  The basics of marketing are the basics of marketing for a reason.

As for the social networks and commerce, doesn’t it all depend on the target audience?  The assumption is that the entire customer base for all the products uses Twitter et al. The increased population of social network sites does not reflect those who stay away in droves…read, missed opportunities.

I whine; cannot commerce benefit from a focus on more than just genX, genY.

In the words of one savvy respondent, Paul Van Winkle, Corporate Marketing Officer, “There are clear basics and fundamental principles (of marketing and any other practice) — and there are new developments and contexts. New developments don’t change the requirements for basic principles and knowledge! Yes, false prophets and counsels of fools seem often confused, and are often driving the buses.”

I keep track of the thread and have contributed my own two cents. The concept of using social networking for job search reared its ugly head and I am provoked to rant.  Readers of my blog know it doesn’t take much.

In my practice for executives and technology leaders I often field questions about the viability of Facebook and Twitter as employment resources. The answer remains the same and probably will for years; nothing beats talking to people to create a real network (as apposed to simply acquiring contact information). There are better places for executives to spend their precious time be it online or off.

Again, as a job search coach, I am inflamed by the mythologies and carpetbaggers who derail candidates’ job searches with simplistic solutions.   I shake my virtual fist at Paul’s false profits who encourage candidates to rely heavily on Twitter et all for leads, connections and job opportunities.

Those who embrace that advice take what looks like the easy way out (it is hard to pick up the phone when you are an exec and you more so when you need something; far easier to use the keyboard) and thus postpone the time when they are once again contributing to the economy by spending their six figure income.

Net?  In my view the big picture is the ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS DELAYED by job seekers who embrace all the hoodlihoo about social networks as job search nirvana…And that’s the truth (a quote from Edith Anne, which tells you, I am not a GenY,X.)

I anticipate as I post this blog that I will receive many comments, anecdotal declarations of success using Facebook or Twitter.  But the fact remains, statistically, a technology leader or executive’s time is best spent establishing personal connections to real people with whom they create a bond.

*you must be a member of the group to see the thread.  LinkedIn is not, in my view a social networking site; it is a business networking site and does not fall into the category discussed in this blog.

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