Archive for category linkedin profile writer
Quick Fixes to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin profile writer on April 11, 2012
When you first joined LinkedIn, it made sense to fill minimal facts to get your Profile up and running, allowing you to begin connecting with others.
However, if it’s been a few months and you still have a bare-bones Profile, it probably won’t generate any results for your job search.
Even if it does attract visitors, they’ll quickly leave to find someone more interesting.
The reality about LinkedIn is this: it’s an amazing job search tool that brings you new leads, impresses your network, and entices recruiters to call—but only if you use it in a way that promotes your professional image.
Look at these types of problems to see if you recognize yours – and take action to improve your LinkedIn Profile before it brings your job search to a halt:
Problem #1: The Minimal-Effort Profile.
Here it is—your name, college education, and current job. Wait – where’s the rest? Read the rest of this entry »
What Recruiters Really Think About Your Missing LinkedIn Photo
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin profile writer, linkedin profile writing services, Uncategorized on March 16, 2012
For years, job hunters have been told that their resume should arrive sans photo in order to avoid 
discrimination (either in their favor or against them).
Now, we’re being urged to provide a photo in order to be considered for a new job, all due to the new “normal” that is LinkedIn.
What happened? Well, it seems that the “social” part of social networking has become even more critical to your job search success.
As an example, LinkedIn Profiles have emerged as a part-professional, part-personal way to convey your brand—meaning that as a job hunter, you’ll benefit by responding to the age-old need to pair a face with a name.
After running a quick survey of recruiters who actively source candidates on LinkedIn, I found that the subject of Profiles that are “missing” a photo stirs some intense feelings. Read the rest of this entry »
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. Read the rest of this entry »
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
Writing Your LinkedIn Profile Headline for Searchability & Branding
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin, linkedin profile writer, personal branding, social media on October 9, 2011
Like any other announcement, your LinkedIn Profile Headline can deliver a powerful first impression
Using LinkedIn for your job search? You might have assumed, as many others do, that your mere presence on the site is enough to make your Profile findable by employers and recruiters.
However, the key information used in some LinkedIn Profile fields can actually make a huge difference in the way employers become aware of your qualifications.
Specifically, your Headline is prime LinkedIn real estate—critical to the marketing and search optimization methods that might be used by recruiters to locate you when they search for candidates.
Here’s how it works: As a quick identifier, your Headline should be tuned to not only your job level, but your goal, enabling LinkedIn’s internal search engine to do its job more efficiently.
When you first populate your Profile, LinkedIn will ask if you’d prefer to use your current job title as the Headline. Even if you respond with “Yes,” you can (and should) take the time to update your Headline to a branded representation of your job target and value to employers—filling up as many of the 120 characters allowed as possible.
To change your Headline, click on the Profile option at the top of your Home Page, then choose Edit Profile. In the area that lists your name, select Edit to change your Headline.
Consider the following examples when tuning your Headline for greater searchability and relevance to your job goals: Read the rest of this entry »
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LinkedIn Now Prevents Connections & Endorsements From Being 100% Public
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin, linkedin profile writer, social media on August 17, 2011
LinkedIn recently made a significant change to the way Recommendations are viewed, where you cannot see the name of the endorsing party, unless you are linkeded as a 1st-degree connection to that particular individual.
Instead of “I highly recommend Bob for his leadership capabilities,” by Tom White, CFO at Any Company, you’ll now just see the recommendation itself, with no information on who wrote it, their career level, or how they even know the original user.
Given that one of LinkedIn’s strongest points has been the ability to gather and leverage public endorsements as references, this change strikes a blow to the credibility and usability of Recommendations – especially Read the rest of this entry »
Executive Job Hunting? You’ll Need More Than a Resume
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in cover letters, executive biography, executive job search, executive resume writing, linkedin profile writer, networking resume on May 25, 2011
If you’re an executive planning your next career move, it might surprise you to learn that you’ll be judged by more than just your resume during your job search.
In other words, a full resume is NOT necessarily the best fit for every job search contact.
Surprised? You’ll find that recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations—which means that your executive resume is just one part of the process.
Here are 4 must-have documents for an executive portfolio designed to capture attention at all the right levels—along with recommendations for the timing of each component:
1 – Executive Biography.
A short, narrative-form document, the Biography often appeals to readers that are not engaged in the technical detail of a full resume.
The best readers for an Executive Biography are usually networking contacts (who are easily overwhelmed by a full resume) or Boards of Directors (who typically interview you in the later stages of the hiring process).
2 – LinkedIn Profile.
While not technically a “document” created just for job hunting, your LinkedIn Profile is a critical—and often underutilized—piece of an executive portfolio.
Most executives set up a Profile very quickly and then abandon it, becoming preoccupied with their work, which is a costly job-hunting mistake.
Your LinkedIn Profile may actually be the first piece of information encountered by a recruiter. Therefore, it must be polished, professional, and keyword-heavy (to aid others in finding you through LinkedIn’s search engine).
3 – Cover Letter.
Despite the myth that hiring authorities rarely read cover letters, some audiences (company owners, CEOs, and Presidents) might not even glance at your resume until they’ve fully digested the contents of your letter.
These groups are usually probing for leadership abilities that they feel are more evident within the letter. Investors, in particular, like to read a very short, bottom-line value proposition letter, in lieu of a resume.
In short, don’t write off a cover letter as an important document in the hiring process, as you might find that it was this part of your portfolio that influenced an interviewing decision.
4 – Full Resume.
Not a month goes by when a social media or recruiting expert poses the question, “Is the resume dead?” No, the need for a resume won’t go away soon. You’ll absolutely be asked to send your resume to many contacts at different stages of your search.
No matter who reads it, an executive resume serves as the centerpiece of your presentation, and therefore must convince employers of your brand, value proposition, and leadership standing—no small feat.
Often, the best readers of a full resume will those that thrive on analytical detail (such as operations or technology executives hiring EVP and Director-level candidates).
In summary, an executive portfolio is a must for serious job hunters ready to assume a leadership role. The days of distributing an executive resume without backup in the form of a Executive Biography, LinkedIn Profile, or Cover letter are gone.
Your job search will be smoother, faster, and more effective with a well-rounded and branded portfolio that appeals to the diverse audiences you’ll encounter.
What LinkedIn’s IPO Means for You
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin, linkedin profile writer on May 20, 2011
Now that the dust has settled a bit on LinkedIn’s successful IPO, you might have wondered what the implications are for your job search. Will the site change? What will happen to your membership?
Are more people expected to join? Will another networking hub overtake LinkedIn as the favorite of businesspeople and job seekers?
Here are some musings on what the new state of LinkedIn can mean for you:
Site changes.
Interestingly enough, LinkedIn HAS changed its functionality significantly over the past 18 months, potentially in prepartion for its IPO.
In case you didn’t notice, the new Skills sections and search functionality appeared late last year. In addition, site functions that once were available from the top menu bar started to drift around. More notably, the Settings page became more user-friendly, with the Privacy controls a bit easier to understand.
So, it IS possible that the navigation and menus will continue to shift… but keep in mind that much of the change may have already occurred.
More jobs.
No, I’m not referring to the site’s job search engine, but the company itself.
It’s expected that the company will start to boost its technology workforce, and may even open offices outside of California – meaning that a slot could open up for you.
A burgeoning membership.
Imitators and new social networking sites aside (Quora, anyone?), LinkedIn is on a tear with its growth, and most site watchers don’t expect it to slow anytime soon.
At last estimate, the site had around 100 million registered users, but this number is somewhat skewed from the volume of orphan and duplicate profiles.
As many recruiters (more than 90% of all active headhunters, according to careers industry surveys) mine the site for the ultimate candidates, LinkedIn is still a mecca for those wanting to find (companies, jobs, services, etc.) and be found.
The takeaway? Keep that LinkedIn Profile polished for searchability and branding, and your radar up when it comes to maximizing the site.
As business activity continues to grow, and the site continues to attract attention, more features and more active users can only mean that you’re in the right place as a job hunter.
5 Reasons Why Your LinkedIn Profile Isn’t Working
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin, linkedin profile writer, linkedin profile writing services on February 5, 2011
By now, you’ve certainly heard why a polished, professional LinkedIn Profile could actually be MORE important than your resume.
However, you could spend hours perfecting your Profile, and still not receive results from it.
But don’t give up! Here are 5 common reasons that your Linked presence isn’t drawing attention for your job search or business:
Problem #1: You forgot to apply the principles of SEO.
A fantastic LinkedIn Profile is still like the proverbial tree falling in the forest, because if you fail to make it easily searchable, no one will actually find it.
The best way to do this is to conduct some due diligence on the keywords used by others who are looking for new hires. Recruiters and employers often look for candidates with a particular job title, and specify a city as another parameter.
Think of a recruiter intent on finding a Senior Vice President of Sales in San Francisco, and you’ll have the right idea.
So, you’ll want to pop that desired job title or career level into as many parts of your Profile as possible, in addition to skills that describe your experience.
Problem #2: Your profile text looks like a dry bio.
Your digital presence should do more than merely exist, pulling in the reader with a narrative that lets you explain your unique selling proposition (USP) in detail. Therefore, if you dump the contents of your resume summary or biography into LinkedIn, it’s not going to work.
In fact, pasting sections of your traditional resume straight into any online social networking site is asking for trouble, because these documents are written for print, not the Web.
Online copy is fresh, concise, and a bit more energetic than your resume, and it should be written in first-person to engage your reader as an individual.
Problem #3: You gave away the store.
I’m commonly asked where and how to attach a resume to a LinkedIn Profile. Well, there IS a way, but don’t do it!
Generate a little intrigue by refraining from providing every last bit of information to employers and recruiters. Think of your Profile as the introduction (with almost the same purpose as a cover letter), where you can add just enough data to make employers want more.
Then, then back off and make it easy to connect with you (or contact you directly) so that you don’t commit Problem #5.
Problem #4: Your dates aren’t working to your advantage.
Searching for a job in your 40’s, 50’s, or 60,’s? Don’t give employers reason to filter you out by including all that work history dating back to the 1980’s or 1970’s – please!
In fact, assuming that your resume has a great strategy for combating age discrimination, be sure to employ the same techniques on your LinkedIn Profile.
You’ll quickly find that employers are most interested in your last decade of experience, and that adding too much information leads to Problem #3.
Problem #5: You didn’t pay attention to Contact Settings.
Yes, LinkedIn is a social networking site (with a business purpose, of course). Then what’s the idea behind preventing others from contacting you?
There’s nothing worse than finding a great professional contact on LinkedIn, only to see the message that “Bob is not open to receiving invitations or InMail.”
The Contact Settings section allows you to give a brief blurb about the best way to reach you, and this is a great place to list either an email address, a phone number, or both.
However, you’ll also want to ensure that the parameters within your Contact Settings are checked so that you can receive any combination of Introductions, InMail, and OpenLink Messages.
So, if your Profile isn’t generating enough interest, I recommend going back over your content and ensuring that you’re using a well-thought-out strategy to draw the world to your digital door.
Did You Short-Circuit Your LinkedIn Profile With Overused Words?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in linkedin, linkedin profile writer on December 16, 2010
So your LinkedIn Profile’s all suited up and ready for a job search – with plenty of information for employers to view, all in an effort to get that ultimate seal of approval under the 100% Profile Completeness display.
But wait – it’s still possible that your LinkedIn Profile will deflate your job search efforts, especially if you populated it with some of these terms in LinkedIn’s 10 Most Overused Buzzwords List.
Ironically, this is the same suite of fluff words that should be used either sparingly or not at all in your resume!
In fact, the more cliches that readers encounter, the less they can see the ROI in your background and the faster they’ll move on.
As an example, you could replace proven track record with:
I deliver an average 34% revenue increase in Sales Executive roles by identifying and leveraging market trends.
Extensive experience could be stated as:
Global manufacturing leadership as VP Operations that created a 30% annual rise in productivity.
(Note the SEO built into each example.)
It’s the same principle that applies to your resume – don’t show, TELL.
And given LinkedIn’s character limitations, the faster you tell, the harder your Profile will work for your job search.
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