Get Linked to enhance job search
Submitted by matt on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 6:21pm.
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Article: http://www.montereyherald.com/business/ci_10174499
Some good tips here, esp. for using LinkedIn. I like the suggestion about establishing a personal brand; you'll see people who do that on LinkedIn - a well-done profile can sell you.
The advanced search feature is useful too. If you are a member of some LinkedIn groups (ones relevant), you can use this search for looking within groups of which you are a member. And as a group member, you can InMail any group member without an introduction. Of course, that applies to the Austin High-Tech LinkedIn group, as well as any others to which you belong.
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Interesting article... My LinkedIn profile doesn't seem to be getting me much interest... anyone care to critque it for me?
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/6b1/60b
Invites also welcome.
Without making any specific comments about your profile in particular, I think the idea is to not merely describe yourself ("did this, did that, attended here, worked there"), but rather sell yourself as as whole. That means to describe what sets you apart from every other person out there, esp. those in your industry. If you can show yourself as distinct, then you're creating a niche for yourself.
That doesn't mean fluffing up your profile with all kinds of crappage (excess fluff verbiage). I see some profiles that sound like the person is the foremost visionary on all things and the savior of the world. However, I think the right amount of marketing of yourself can make a difference.
I hear what you are saying, but I am not really that comfortable bragging or even comparing myself to others. Maybe that is my problem I suppose, there is nothing subjective about my profile. I've seen way too many cases over the years where people who puffed themselves up the most really when it came down to delivering and getting the job done just didn't live up to the hype.
Perhaps a different angle is appropriate... Can you point me at some examples of LinkedIn profiles that illustrate what I should shoot for?
I just made some upgrades to my profile here and on LinkedIn, and hopefully that might help get me some interest.
While you're at it, consider editing the link to your public profile to get rid of the generic and personalize.
Mine is http://www.linkedin.com/in/jayfraser
Yours is http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/6b1/60b
Minor, but as they say, "it can't hoit."
I have taken your advice, my new profile link is:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/leelandheins
We'll see if that makes any difference but you are definitely right it can't hurt, especially since the old link still works as well.
I wasn't suggesting that you brag - definitely not; that's not your style, and not mine either. However, it's just a matter of stating the individual facts versus describing the product. In other words,
A = fact 1
B = fact 2
C = fact 3
D = fact 4
You can state these individually. OR, you can state the product:
A x B x C x D = ?
My assertion is that someone looking at a profile may be wondering what "?" is. What can you do with all your abilities? What does the integration of all your skills and experience benefit the potential employer? You need to do the math for them. That's not lying or bragging, but providing some conclusions for them so they don't have to draw them themselves.
Does that make sense? I need to browse around for some model LinkedIn profiles.
I guess I'd need to think on what the sum of my skills equals. Kind of hard to put 20+ years for several different companies in a number of different industries into those kinds of terms. Unfortunately it seems like there isn't a lot of value placed these days on what I consider to be my strongest points... being able to draw from a varied background to both avoid common pitfalls when developing software but also to solve problems and add value to existing systems. A recurring theme through my career has been to be brought in to "rescue" failed projects, complete unfinished systems and be able to fix, document and be able to enhance and maintain systems developed by others, in some cases after others have failed to do so. Adaptability and ability to quickly learn new technologies and business rules seems to be shunned in favor of trying to find the perfect ready made cookie cutter candidate who has already (or at least claims to have) done exactly what the employer wants. Part of it seems to be that employers don't want to pay more than the minimum they can get away with, and going with specialized people rather than those with broadly generalized skills seems like a cheaper alternative.
"A recurring theme through my career has been to be brought in to "rescue" failed projects, complete unfinished systems and be able to fix, document and be able to enhance and maintain systems developed by others, in some cases after others have failed to do so."
Dude! THAT is your headline. THAT is what you sell. Just add the bit about avoiding situations that need rescuing in the first place, and you have something that managers and recruiters can grok.
I've tried to work that bit into my skill set and profiles and I will probably put it into my resume in some form when I start reworking that. At this point it seems like it has to be in at that point, because I'm not getting the opportunity to interview for the kind of quality jobs that I'm interested in right now. I'm not even getting callbacks on most of the stuff that really interests me, and the stuff that has been coming my way has mostly not been a good fit for one reason or another.
Linked in is a pretty good place to locate tech jobs.
I've found LinkedIn useful to re-connect with former associates and friends. One of them may lead to a consulting gig (out of state) planning for the "future" (and maybe even the tomorrow). I'm going to restructure my profile a bit when I get some time to refocus on skill sets instead of the "I've done" stuff.
Oh yeah, another thing that helps is that I also have two blogs. It is a good place to show your knowledge and at the same time help other people.
Absolutely! Blogs can be very helpful to self-promote and get exposure for expertise. But they also take alot of work to keep current.
I don't have a blog for consulting or management/marketing at this point because I've just re-started my LLC; my company doesn't have a website yet either (it might be useful for investors, but we've still resisted because of the nature of our technologies). Between my company and rebuilding the consulting work, I find pushing out articles for the two blogs I do write (one anonymous and the other one in the open) is often hard. But I still do 3-5 per week. The blog in the open gives me broad readership and exposure on a subject matter.
The ultimate purpose of personal branding...
Even though I "preach it," I don't always practice it (I'm not sure that my own profile does what it needs to do to differentiate me from the crowd"). In the end, the point of the exercise is to communicate as simply and as clearly as possible what it is that sets you apart from others, and why, when an opportunity arises, they should call you (and only you), because of your unique skill sets and capabilities.
However, creating a personal "brand" is a delicate and evolving process. Stand for something that fits you, your skills and experiences, and that if asked, your performance will justify (stretching the truth or "puffery" can only lead to disappointment). In my earlier life on Madison Avenue, we were taught that a brand needed to have a "Unique Selling Proposition." We were also taught that an ad (in this case your LinkedIn profile), needed to contain a "reason why." Why should someone look to you for a solution?
It may sound trite, but if your house or building is over populated with spirits and apparitions, "Who ya gonna call?"
GHOST BUSTERS!!!, of course...any doubts?
One observation (ok, really it's a pet peeve), no using the third person to talk about your self on YOUR linkedin profile... talk about yourself!
Mostly this is seen when exec's cut and paste from their corporate web site; Mr. Jones is an experienced blah, blah, blah. Mr. Jones brings blah blah blah... He is yada, yada...
Put a little effort into it!
-tim
Interesting point about 3rd person stuff. I know I'm guilty of it myself. But, there is a split camp (maybe not equal camps) about 1st vs 3rd person. So, what you're suggesting is instead of "his experience includes..." say, "my experience includes."
PS: I never did "yada."
As bad as the 3rd person thing is (and I always think it seems weird when I see it on a LinkedIn profile), most of us poor techie schlobs don't have professional writers to create the text for us...
3rd Person;
Jay, I didn't want to point you out, but since you identified yourself as having this kind of profile... YES exactly! You're not the only one, by far.
Use "I am a business yada-yada" or "I presented a paper at..." etc.
Also, in your summary you have your education, there's a whole section in LinkedIn for Education... why the duplication?
Your LinkedIn profile, while professional, should be a little more personal in tone. The 3rd person copied profile from the corporate web site just seems a little lazy to me... especially when it's pretty easy to find that profile through Google.
-Tim
And BTW, I know I'm guilty of it myself. Pretty clearly, I know that it needs to be revised. And when I finish the stuff I'm into..."yada"...I'll get'r'done. And that was supposed to be < grin >. I wouldn't call it lazy as much as it is a reflection of not really understanding the power of LI when I pasted it into the format. I might get to it in a week or so...or month or so...when my gov't contract settles down.
Ouch! Oooo! I'm revising it (). Its part of the "not enough time to do the right thing" syndrome. Also part of the not practicing what I preach "thingy." But you're right. And my point about personal branding still stands.