It’s been called “Facebook for grownups” and “the world’s biggest networking
group.”
LinkedIn is both of those — and more.
Used correctly, LinkedIn can be one of the most valuable weapons in your
job-search arsenal.
To get the latest and best tips, I interviewed Rob Mendez, an expert on
LinkedIn and other social media, who helps job hunters via his
CareerNetworkMinistry.com web site.
Here’s what we talked about .
“First, you have to figure out your target audience and your goal with
LinkedIn,” advises Mendez. “Use LinkedIn to network with as many people as
possible, because it is not about who you know; it is about who other people
know.”
He urges job seekers to make connections at companies they want to work for.
“If you can’t find someone to champion you at an employer, you may have a
hard time competing.”
Another tip: Know that first impressions count for a lot on LinkedIn.
“If someone searching LinkedIn and you pop up, they quickly see three
things: your name, your picture, and your headline,” says Mendez.
Your name, photo, and headline should be compelling enough to cause someone
to click through and view your profile. Otherwise, people will move on to
someone else.
How can you make these three items stand out effectively?
For a start, your name can repel more people than it attracts, so play it
safe there.
“Some people include an e-mail address as part of their name, or numbers or
special characters, in the hopes of being different. Yes, they stand out,
but in an annoying way. LinkedIn is a professional network, so make sure
your name looks professional,” advises Mendez.
What about your photo? Again, the more professional looking, the better.
“It does not have to be taken at a studio. It should a headshot of you
dressed up nicely. Not a body shot, not wearing sunglasses, not at the
beach,” says Mendez, who recalls one profile picture of a man in a hammock.
“If I am looking to hire someone, do I really want him working for me, based
on this picture?”
What about the headline section of your profile? In a nutshell, make the
most compelling claim or promise you can about yourself.
“If I search LinkedIn for a realtor, for example, I can find a thousand of
them. The results will include headlines like, ‘realtor, realtor, realtor,
real estate agent,’ etc. Then, one profile has this headline ‘I’ll sell your
house within 30 days guaranteed or I will buy it for cash, even if it is a
bad economy.’ That person just got my attention,” says Mendez.
Attention is everything online. No employer will click through and read your
profile unless you first grab their eyeballs.
Final LinkedIn tip: Use effective job titles on your profile.
If you owned a small business, for example, don’t refer to yourself as
“Owner.” Because, how many employers want to hire — and butt heads with –
a former owner of something? Call yourself a General Manager or something
similar.
“I have talked to recruiters and they say it is perfectly fine to change
your official job title,” says Mendez. “For example, I was once a Technical
Systems Manager. When people look at that title, it doesn’t stand out and
they don’t know what it is. However, if I change it to, Post Sales
Implementation Project Manager, now they understand.”
Now, go out and make your own luck on LinkedIn, remembering that your goal
is always to turn online connections into offline meetings — and job
interviews.
copyright (c) 2011 by Kevin Donlin
Resource: Guerrilla Resumes are a great foundation for your LinkedIn
profile. They’re getting people hired in 6-12 weeks — even in this economy.
To learn more, visit: Guerrilla Resumes
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