7 Must-Know LinkedIn Tips for Executives

LinkedIn_Tips_Executives_Laura_Smith-Proulx.jpgAs the most critical site for leaders to express their personal brand, LinkedIn is the place to see and be seen.

But are you making the most of it?

If your LinkedIn activity has been relegated to updating a few words and reading status updates, you could be missing out on significant opportunities.

Employers and executive recruiters WILL search for you online! By crafting a strategy for how to present yourself and build a leadership presence, you’ll be better positioned for job search results.

Here’s what you need to know to extract the best out of LinkedIn: Continue reading

Are You Faceless on LinkedIn?

Businessman holding a question mark paper in front of his faceMaybe you’ve filled in your LinkedIn Profile with all the right data: an attention-getting Headline, solid Summary, robust Skills, and appropriate Experience / Education.

However, it’s possible your carefully selected LinkedIn Photo doesn’t even show up!

Why? You neglected to make it visible.

That’s right: people outside your network cannot see you unless your Profile Photo Visibility is set for Public views. Here’s why this is important:  according to LinkedIn, the ability to see your face online can net you up to 21 times more Profile views.

Think this is a no-brainer? Think again.

Countless faceless Profiles exist, either lacking a Photo or refusing to show it. Yours could be among them if you haven’t checked Visibility settings.

So you not only need to select and upload a great headshot, but if you don’t take the right steps, it won’t be seen by prospective connections (in other words, recruiters or employers).

If you still think photos should only be shown to your connections, think about what happens when you’re confused and trying to track someone down on LinkedIn.

Without a photo, how can you tell if you’re looking at the right Profile? Remember, you’re on LinkedIn to build professional connections and establish rapport:  both are crucial steps to reaching next-level career success.

Changing your Photo from faceless to easily found is simple. Sign into LinkedIn and click on your photo; you’ll see “Visibility” at the lower right-hand corner. Clicking here will show you the current settings and allow you to select Public. If you’re uploading a Photo for the first time, you’ll see that Visibility defaults to Public.

Nothing is as unique as your face – so ensure your LinkedIn audience can match your it to your value proposition, name, and reputation.
Executive Resume Writer

Need a competitive edge in your job search? As an award-winning executive resume writer, I create branded, powerful resumes and LinkedIn Profiles that position you as the #1 candidate.

My clients win interviews and top C-suite, EVP, VP, and Director positions at Fortune 500 firms, niche companies, start-ups, and emerging industry leaders, enjoying the competitive advantage of powerhouse documents and executive job search techniques tailored to today’s job market.

Get in touch with me to experience the outstanding results I can bring to your transition.

– Laura Smith-Proulx, CCMC, CPRW, CPBA, TCCS, COPNS, CIC, CTTCC

 

Job Searching For the First Time in Years? Here’s What to Do

Businessman in crisis facing different roads

If you’ve always been recruited, or jobs just “found” you in the past, you might find things have changed.

You’ll now face an increasingly competitive battlefield in the race for a new C-suite or leadership job – and here’s why.

After the economic ups and downs of the past 10+ years, many executives have gotten serious about job search, taking the time to market themselves with a carefully constructed brand message on social media. At the same time, they’ve become more aware of what works on a resume and what doesn’t, especially in a crowded market.

As a result, your CXO job search now looks much different than 10 or even 5 years ago – and putting out a single-page resume or a weak LinkedIn Profile won’t suffice.

Read on for the new and upcoming reality of executive job search: Continue reading