Who’s Viewed Your Profile on LinkedIn – And What Do They Want?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive recruiters, linkedin, linkedin profile writing services, recruiters, social media on January 20, 2012
Scroll down the sidebar of your LinkedIn Home Page, and you’ll eventually notice the blurb that asks “Who’s Viewed Your Profile?”
If you click on it, you’ll see a page entitled Profile Stats, which is designed to show you other users that have looked at your information.
To get a glimpse of who is searching for you, you’ll want to leverage Profile Stats.
Start by changing LinkedIn Profile Settings (hover the mouse near your name at the top of the page to click on Settings).
Click on “Select what others see when you’ve viewed their profile” and choose Your Name and Headline (recommended) to allow others to see YOUR information when you review THEIR profiles.
Now, on to the good stuff: there are common categories of users who are surfing your Profile (right now!). Go to Profile Stats to see the types of LinkedIn users who are looking for you – and why:
1 – HR Professionals or Recruiters.
If you’re finding these users among your Profile Stats, then congratulate yourself for providing sufficient information for a strong digital identity.
Your Profile may be drawing in recruiters or HR reps if they find something in it that they need, such as a particular skill or past job experience.
However, you’ll undoubtedly notice that some of the users who view your Profile as listed as Anonymous LinkedIn User, which means that they’ve protected their name, headline, occupation, and industry from view (using one of the Settings described above).
It’s much more likely that recruiters and HR professionals would fall into this category, which allows them to check you out without revealing their identity.
2 – Current Co-Workers or Managers.
Colleagues at your current place of employment will often check out a colleague’s LinkedIn Profile to see if anything has changed, which can lead them to assume that you’re job hunting.
Public Relations Manager or Human Resource personnel often browse LinkedIn Profiles to control the type of information that is broadcast online about the company—as well as to ascertain your intent in looking for another job.
Still others may want to copy your Profile content, especially if they hold a similar position. Many people are confused about LinkedIn Profile writing, and look to others’ information as a template for their own data.
3 – Former Co-Workers.
If you’ve made a job change in the past several years, your former co-workers might be checking to see where you’ve landed.
This can be part of a plan to reach out to you as an inside contact at your employer, where you could be asked to refer them for a new job.
Of course, many former colleagues will simply browse your Profile out of curiosity, especially to compare your record of promotion or career ascent to their own path.
4 – New Networkers or Employer Contacts.
Others who work in your field could be taking the advice of career professionals who advise them to find a company insider for networking. Therefore, one of these contacts might reach out to you as a means of getting their foot in the door.
In addition, colleagues at prospective employers will often check you out before the interview, which enables them to gain a glimpse of your background and areas of competency.
Job hunters who aren’t sure of their own career moves might also check you out as a model for their own career strategy. As an example, career changers can perform an Advanced People Search to identify past professionals in the same field – which gives them an idea of how to transfer their specific skills to other industries.
Bottom Line:
LinkedIn’s Profile Stats Pro can give you a valuable glimpse of activity within your industry and field, both pertaining to your career and to your potential as a valuable networking contact.
So, take a few moments to regularly gauge who might be looking for you, and think about whether you’ve given them enough information on your stellar credentials.
Originally published on www.job-hunt.org
3 Tips to Fire Up Your 2012 Job Search
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in job search, leadership resumes, linkedin profile writer on December 31, 2011
Looking forward to your 2012 job hunt – or dreading more of the same old, same old?
If you’ve spent time job searching in 2011, or are facing a pending layoff, the start of a New Year might not seem exciting or even particularly inspiring.
However, there’s good reasons to reconsider what you might have read or experienced in 2011 – plus ways to drive your job search forward and stay focused on your goal for the coming year:
1 – Realize that companies ARE hiring.
As badly as you want to find the perfect fit in your next job, companies want to find YOU.
Don’t believe this? Run a Google search on the phrase “How to find candidates on LinkedIn.” Out of the 14 million or so results, you’ll see thousands of articles on recruiting.
What this tells you is that there are plenty of companies searching for your talent. Therefore, if you haven’t already optimized your LinkedIn Profile for key search terms, it’s time to get going.
Make it easier to be found by adding job titles throughout your Profile, as well as Skills (within the new Sections) that reflect the terms you see in job postings.
Then, sit back and watch what happens by analyzing the makeup of your Profile visitors. You can get instructions on doing this for free accounts here, and for paid LinkedIn accounts here.
By taking stock of who visits your Profile, you’ll be able to see if your search results improve, and can then continue to tweak your keywords appropriately. Hint: it’s all about market testing and experimentation, so the sooner you change things up, the better.
2 – Start creating your own “luck.”
Job search “luck” usually ends up being mostly talent and preparation. Unless you have a well-run network, you’ll need to create your own opportunities. To do this, think in terms of what employers want, then set out to prove that you’ve got what it takes.
Changing industries? Take a class or read a book on your desired market, then mention it in your resume, on your LinkedIn Profile, and in your cover letter. Better yet, note your efforts and ask for an informational interview with a successful pro in your desired field – which might lead to a chance to be mentored.
Think your resume lacks pizzazz? Start googling for resumes in your field, not for copying, but to take notice of what your resume is lacking (here’s how to leverage professional resume samples). Ask former co-workers how they’d describe you. It’s all about getting that brand message out of your head and onto the paper.
Not sure you’re interviewing well? Look online at great sites like www.job-hunt.org that are teeming with wise interview advice on everything from calming your jitters to salary negotiation. Read, listen, learn, and absorb. Then, create power stories for yourself that illustrate your top 5 achievements. Rehearse and take note of what questions you can answer with them. It’s a confidence-building exercise that will have you looking forward to interviews.
Feel like giving in and admitting defeat? Don’t. Nearly every person that you’d otherwise consider successful has been turned down (or laid off, demoted, or experienced another type of setback) at some point in time in their careers.
Remember this when it seems that you’ve been ruled out as a candidate. It only takes ONE – one job, one opportunity to show what you can do, and one person to believe in you.
3 – Act “as if” you’re already successful.
Struggling to envision how your job search will turn out? Put yourself in the “already arrived” category, and invest some time, energy, and even funds in what can make you appear more successful and competent to others.
Get a professional headshot taken for your social media profiles—and dress the part for the job you want (not just the job you have). Polish your resume with a fresh, cutting-edge format and tone.
If you haven’t explored what your competition is presenting to employers, take a look at the best professional resumes in the world. You might be surprised at how things have changed.
In addition, if you’re using the Web as a platform to attract attention (either through blogging, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn), do a self-check to ensure that you’re presenting a positive image, rather than tearing down others through social media. This will go a long way toward persuading recruiters (who DO check you out online) to forward your credentials to their client companies.
Take stock of your career achievements… replacing that “I can’t” tape in your head with the reasons that you’ve been successful thus far. Summon this message during your interviews and in your networking. If need be, re-read your letters of reference, career accomplishments list, or LinkedIn endorsements on a regular basis to boost your confidence.
So, make the dawn of the New Year a time to take stock of your job search techniques – making yourself findable, approachable, and marketable to take advantage of fresh new opportunities.
Reconsider Saying No to LinkedIn Invitations
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in job search, linkedin, linkedin profile writer on December 15, 2011
In the midst of job hunting—but still refusing LinkedIn invites from others you don’t know? You could be hurting your job search (or even your career future) by doing so.
Here’s why: LinkedIn is built on the premise that we are each separated by just a connection or two. Nearly every invitation you accept can put you closer to someone you really want to know.
But there’s another twist as well. Outside of sending InMail (LinkedIn’s internal email), recruiters and employers aren’t able to reach out to you unless you belong to the same Group.
Only a limited number of InMails are included with every account type, which means that power users, such as recruiters, are continually trying to find ways of contacting you for free. Don’t you want to make it easy for them?
Besides, what’s worse about limiting your network is that you’ll encounter situations where YOU need THEM. If you’ve tried to run a closed network, but find that you now need an introduction to facilitate your job search, you’ll be forced to hunt through potential contacts to string together a chain of forwarding InMails (not the most efficient use of your time).
Proponents of using LinkedIn for real-world connections often argue that, unless you’re a declared Open Networker (accepting all invitations), it makes better business sense to restrain your volume of connections.
However, refusing to add someone to your LinkedIn network when you’re job searching can be downright foolish… especially if this person has a wide circle of influence themselves.
So, forget about the implications that seem to come with taking on a new connection (it isn’t “friending,” after all).
Unless you have a very good reason to ignore that new invitation, it’s possible that clicking Accept might put you closer to your career goals.
- Dedicated to Mark
Yes, Virginia, you can use color on your resume
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in cio resumes, Engineering resumes, leadership resume writing on December 7, 2011
As long as job hunters have tried to stand out (and feel they need new tricks to do so), there’s been the question of color for a resume.
Way back in the Stone Age when I was a candidate, the big no-no was colored paper. Now, it seems that the concept of color ON a resume is still catching on.
My recent Careerealism post on resume trends brought this to light very quickly.
While I mentioned several up-and-coming techniques that have helped my resume clients immensely, one hot button seemed to be color.
Should you or shouldn’t you? Here’s what I’ve found to be true:
IF you’re in a field that is reasonably cutting-edge (say, technology), IF you’re wanting to spark interest and intrigue among employers, and IF you’re open to trying new things, then resume color is for you.
However, if your idea of novelty is using borders for the first time, then it might be best to hold off on color and rely on shades of gray to spice up your resume.
Several other rules of resume color that I apply in my work include:
Resume color must fit the industry.
Blue is a nice touch for technical fields (see this Senior Software Engineer resume example), while a deep, regal red can be effective in financial industries (as in this Auditor resume example).
You can take a look at these samples in PDF here as well.
Resume color should be used to highlight specific elements.
This CFO held positions that were more relevant to his goal than his former employers. (trust me, I changed their names)
If you want a particular piece of information to stand out, color works VERY well.
Resume color should reflect your personality.
If you aren’t comfortable with an edgy, look-at-me tone to your resume, you should back off on color or just use it in one place.
However, if you really thrive on attention and want employers to get with the program and hire you, then consider ways to incorporate it without going overboard.
You can read more about my perspective on resume color trends at Examiner.com, or look at Donna Sweiden’s post on resume trends.
Why Just Joining LinkedIn Is Not Enough
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin, linkedin profile writing services on November 28, 2011
If you’re like many job hunters today, you’ve heard the buzz about LinkedIn as a must-use job hunting tool that can help land your next gig.
Yet, you might have signed up for a Profile at the site, looked around a bit, and then wondered, “What am I missing?”
The truth is, if you’ve only just joined and are standing back at a distance to observe, what’s missing is YOU. Your personality, value in building relationships, and online identity are still not fully formed if all you’ve done is merely join LinkedIn.
So, even if you’re late to the LinkedIn party, here are some steps you can take on the way from novice user to super-connected, job-hunting expert:
Fill in your Profile with as much information as possible.
As one recruiter recently said about finding nearly empty Profiles of job seekers, “It’s a turnoff to see someone create a Profile and then abandon it. It’s as if they’re at a networking even standing in a corner with their back to the room, saying leave me alone.”
The way that you populate your information and the search optimization of your content is critical to the impression others have of your professional status.
In addition, it pays to take a look at the way others use the site. Get used to searching for people in your field (see that drop-down box at the top of your LinkedIn Home page with the word “People” next to it?
Click on “Advanced” to the right, and you’ll uncover a full search function that lets you find others in your industry or occupation). Note the keywords, Summary sentences, and job titles that help you navigate these users’ Profiles.
One recruiter noted that when she uses LinkedIn for recruiting, she’s “more likely to skip over someone who has not filled out the descriptions in their job history.” Even if all you have to use is your resume content or job description, this data can help recruiters understand each of your jobs, degrees, and skills.
Don’t forget to add a professional headshot to your Profile, as this is also a critical piece of your online brand message.
Accept others’ invitations to connect and create some of your own.
This isn’t Facebook, and you aren’t being judged by the company you keep. Each Connection brings you closer in the web of relationships on LinkedIn to a recruiter, potential new colleague, or hiring manager.
Gaining new relationships is critical: as you become more familiar with the site and take more action visible to your connections, you’ll benefit from wider exposure to others that can help with your job search.
Even if you don’t “know” your Connections personally, you can think of LinkedIn as an open forum that allows you to expand your professional reputation, person by person, toward your goal.
You can create new Connections by letting LinkedIn import the contents of your email address book, reaching out to those contacts that interest you, or by accepting the invitations sent your way.
Take a moment to look closely at the upgrades.
As LinkedIn continues to release beta versions of new search tools, Profile sections, database categories, and other goodies, there’s always something new. In fact, you can click on the tab marked “More…” at the top of your Home page, and see at least 1-2 new areas that are listed as beta releases.
Rather than ignore these functions, take a moment to review the releases to see if they can benefit you. As an example, LinkedIn released a Skills section in late 2010 that allowed users to input various competencies and rank them in terms of proficiency. Now, there’s a new site tool that allows these Skills to be searched as keywords.
Given that many users skipped over this section, guess who’s going to benefit as recruiters and business users start to mine Profiles for their hiring requirements? As usual, those who pay attention and leverage the site to its fullest.
Surf around to see what the site has to offer.
There’s a wealth of activity on LinkedIn that will escape you if you don’t take the time to learn about it. For example, you can join Groups that reflect both your job title and field of interest, making it easier for recruiters to contact you through these areas on the site.
Events are also often posted in various industries; as some are virtual, you can make a note to attend even if you can’t be there in person. This activity is also frequently scrutinized by others on LinkedIn.
The Answers section is a great tool for building an online identity. Here, you can respond to others’ queries or add one of your own. Be aware, however, that this is a professional forum, and anything you post is widely readable by all site users (including your boss!), as well as indexed for widespread search on Google.
Bottom Line
These steps toward maximizing LinkedIn are just your crash course! To learn more about LinkedIn, consider downloading a copy of I’m on LinkedIn: Now What???, which has become the gold standard for job seekers and users who want to leverage the power of the site to its fullest.
- Originally published by Laura Smith-Proulx on www.job-hunt.org
The Magic of An Executive Biography for Your Job Search
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search on November 15, 2011
If you’re an executive or rising leader looking for your next choice opportunity, you’ve probably shined up your resume in anticipation of calls from recruiters, and taken the time to prepare a targeted cover letter.
But have you considered using a biography as well?
A narrative of your career designed as a short, yet powerful summary of your accomplishments, a career biography can help different members of your target audience (such as CEOs, networking contacts, or Boards of Directors) grasp your value proposition and personal brand.
In fact, you’ll find that some interviewers will react more positively to an executive biography than they will to your resume, favoring the bio because of its brevity and narrative flow.
Here are some reasons to wrap an executive biography – as well as your resume – into your leadership job hunting portfolio:
— A biography is more succinct than a resume—and this works to your benefit.
Who has time to read a full resume? Many HR professionals and CEOs don’t.
The next time you’re in an interview, notice the interviewer’s finger tracing down the second (or perhaps third)
pages of your executive resume… because they haven’t fully digested the contents of it yet!
Most biographies are a just page in length (although very senior executives may have a multi-page bio)—making them simpler to skim for pertinent detail.
However, just like a resume, a career bio can display varied sections to demonstrate your skills in action, as in
this sample of an Asset Manager Biography.
— Your professional bio can be a powerful networking tool.
In cases where a multi-page resume is too cumbersome, a career biography makes for a door-opening, concise
introduction.
A bio is a perfect fit during networking events, expanding upon the traditional elevator pitch by outlining your brand message in more detail.
If you are meeting (or conversing online) with someone other than the hiring decision-maker, try presenting your
professional bio instead of your resume. It’s less likely to overwhelm your contacts, and provides just enough data for someone who isn’t calling the shots… but who might be impressed enough with your background to carry it to an employer.
An executive biography is also a great leave-behind document after the interview. When written strategically, it can offer a slightly different perspective on your leadership value—as well as an indelible impression.
— Executive biographies often captivate different audiences.
Many of the people you’ll meet during a job search will form an opinion—positive or not-so-great—of your resume, especially if they believe it should be formatted or written differently. Executive resumes are often filled with analytical detail, which can also be information overload for some interviewers.
A professional bio, on the other hand, employs a different, softer tone, while still delivering a compelling story.
This is why a Board member might find your biography intriguing, but skim over your resume just to hit the high points.
To decide if you should present an executive biography at each stage of the job hunt process, first identify the
parties that you’re likely to interface with, and then gauge their tolerance for technical detail.
As a general rule, the higher-up and more strategic the decision-maker, the more likely your biography will suffice as a welcome introduction.
In summary, consider including an executive biography as part of your job search plan… not to replace your resume, but in addition to it.
In addition, perusing executive bio samples will give you a good idea of how a biography can showcase your personality and career achievements—all crucial parts of the brand value that you offer prospective employers.
The #1 Way to Stand Out on Your Resume
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in resume writing on November 7, 2011
Worried that your resume won’t stand out for that perfect job when compared to hundreds of eager job hunters?
One of the BEST ways to distinguish yourself is to measure and document your performance against that of peers (or previous incumbents).
Competitive intelligence isn’t new. Anyone who sells solutions is constantly positioning their product for a win against similar offerings. And guess what? In a job search, YOU are the product.
Therefore, your resume must explain the reasons you’ll continue to outperform others in your next job.
Here are 3 tips to help gauge your work against others, and then add the results to your resume: Read the rest of this entry »
Does Your Executive Resume Miss Out On the Latest Trends?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive resume writing, executive resumes, leadership resume writing, leadership resumes, resume trends, resume updates on November 2, 2011
Putting together your resume for the first time in years? Believe it or not, resume trends have changed substantially in just a short period of time, due to intense competition in the job market.
You’ll soon find that you’re up against other executives with custom-designed, focused documents. Therefore, you’ll need to ensure that your resume is in line with cutting-edge changes in format and style.
What’s changed? Besides the fact that an objective isn’t workable anymore, many executive resumes now contain a splash of color, a branding headline, or a metrics- and detail-packed summary that replaces tired, overused phrases.
Consider implementing these trends into your executive resume as a way to stand out:
A touch of color.
While color can seem like a huge stretch for a resume, it can also be a valuable tool that makes certain elements stand out. Read the rest of this entry »
3 Strategies for Writing a Bold, Branded Executive Resume
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, executive resume writing, leadership resumes, personal branding, resume writing on October 26, 2011
Launching a strategic executive job search – and hoping to make a splash?
In previous years, listing the size of budgets managed, divisions run, or revenue generated might have been enough for a recruiter to hunt you down.
However, in today’s economic climate, executives are being asked to deliver more and brand themselves as well-rounded leaders prepared to tackle industry challenges and obstacles to growth.
Your executive resume will be judged much differently than in the job markets of years past, due to intense competition and the fact that employers can be much more selective.
It’s important to look at your executive resume with a fresh perspective. Have you missed opportunities to market yourself?
Do hiring authorities fail to understand what you bring to the table? Are you being passed over for jobs, even though you’re well-qualified?
If so, these 3 strategies can help you reassess the strength of your executive resume – with ideas for powerful content and leadership storytelling:
1 – Demonstrate strategic, not tactical, value.
Employers are not only looking for your leadership skills – they’re intent on finding a leader that will impact growth, retain top talent, and impress their competitors.
Therefore, your executive resume has to take your brand message a step further than just listing results, and talk about the situations encountered in your career.
Consider whether the following scenarios apply to your background: Read the rest of this entry »
How to Ace The Panel Interview
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, interview tips, job search on October 16, 2011
Facing a panel interview? Prepare by anticipating the mix of personalities and questions you'll face
Had a call for a panel or group interview recently?
While you might be thrilled to make it to this stage of the hiring process, the mere thought of fielding not just one, but a whole TEAM of interviewers can be enough to put your stomach in knots.
However, the reason most employers conduct panel interviews isn’t to intimidate you; rather, it’s a time-saving way to meet with people that will likely interact with you in the new job, and gather their impressions all at once.
So, when you stride into that group interview, remember that the team is there to learn about you and your value-add, NOT to interrogate you or make you uncomfortable.
These 5 tips can help you feel more in control of the process while facing a group of interviewers—with a professional, enthusiastic demeanor that helps win the job: Read the rest of this entry »
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