Mastering Networking on LinkedIn for Job Success
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Linkedin for job hunters and networkers Class created by Pierre Rosen, MLIS Last modified 4/29/2014
Parts of the Job Search Process • Self-Exploration * • Research your career and its job market * • Network with others in your field * • Find job openings through networking contacts • Find job openings through job postings / ads • Find job openings by pounding the pavement * • Create, update, and revise resumes for each job • Send out highly personalized cover letters along with each resume • Get interviewed • Handle all those job offers that come in at the same time • Start your new job • Evaluate and incorporate lessons learned • Continue networking • Continue job hunting while employed • *We have tools to help you with this! • Source: http://mbacareers.wharton.upenn.edu/student/files/Complete_GTMYC.pdf
What is networking? • “Engaging in conversations to build relationships” • Informational Interviewing • Meeting people at conferences and other events • Having conversations with people who have been: • arranged through personal connections or • professional referrals • Source: http://mbacareers.wharton.upenn.edu/student/files/Complete_GTMYC.pdf
What benefits do I get from networking? • Company and market research • Develop relationships within an industry • Identify open positions or job leads that may not be publicly listed • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, approximately 70-75% of jobs are found through networking rather than job postings • Demonstrate interest in a new field / Evaluate potential career options • Help prepare job applications, resumes and cover letters • Follow up on an application to a posted position • Source: http://mbacareers.wharton.upenn.edu/student/files/Complete_GTMYC.pdf
Why should I join LinkedIn? • Networking • “I often refer to LinkedIn as the great cocktail party in the sky.” • Source: LinkedIn: Busting 8 Damaging Myths About What It can Do For Your Career, Kathy Caprino. 13 Sep. 2011. www.forbes.com . • If You’re Not on LinkedIn – You Don’t Exist • More than 90% of recruiters are using LinkedIn every day to find talent, some of them ONLY use LinkedIn. This means that, if you're not there? You don't appear in their searches. • Source: http://www.jobjenny.com/the-blog/2014/3/6/linkedin-youre-either-there-or-you-dont-exist.html • Source: http://web.jobvite.com/rs/jobvite/images/Jobvite_SocialRecruiting2013.pdf • LinkedIn is an essential component of the networking process. It is a form of reputational management. • Remember, LinkedIn is ONE part of your job hunting and networking strategy. You have to continue to look for jobs in other places too.
How do I use LinkedIn? • Your Profile Content Defines Your Online Reputation • Your Profile Picture tells recruiters a lot • Add new contacts after a business meeting for further networking • Use in conjunction with ReferenceUSA before a job interview to conduct competitive intelligence on your interviewer. • Use connections feature to get introductions for informational interviews. • Join industry groups and have conversations about articles you and others have posted. • Use your Home page to keep track of your contacts professional developments updates, congratulate them on new jobs, or e-mail them about opportunities.
How do I write a good summary? • This is a good place to put a written elevator speech • Each of the below elements could be a sentence in a paragraph: • Describe who you are, and what drives your professional passions. • Describe your job background in general. • Highlight your most important accomplishments or projects • State what you are looking for (if you are looking) • Use your own voice • Use keywords from your industry • Look at other professionals from your industry to model after • Source: http://mymarketability.com/blog/how-to-write-a-killer-linkedin-summary
How do I write a good job description? • Take a job duty and turn it into an accomplishment. • First, only include job duties that your targeted job is seeking in the job ad. • Then, expand it further by adding numerical or concrete evidence of an accomplishment. • Meh: Proficient in Microsoft Word • Okay: Used Microsoft Word to create monthly orders. • Awesome: Used Microsoft Excel and Word to create a mail merge that increased office productivity by 25% by automating monthly ordering. • If you need help brainstorming a list of accomplishments, start by listing everything that set you apart. Ask yourself: • Have I ever taken on additional job duties? • How have I made myself stand out at work and won my bosses praise? • Have I won any awards at work? • Did I discover or implement a new work flow? • Did I solve a difficult problem that stumped others? • Have I met or exceeded goals or quotas? • How have I saved the company money? • What things have made me excel at my job? • Then add some hard data / numbers and explaining how it benefited your organization • Don’t forget to upload examples of your work from your job here, if possible!” • Source: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/article/msn-66-cover-letters-resumes-qualifications-versus-duties-why-knowing-the-difference-matters/?catid=cl&SiteId=cbmsn466&sc_extcmp=JS_66_advice • Source: https://www.themuse.com/advice/resume-revamp-how-to-turn-your-duties-into-accomplishments
Skills & Endorsements • I would definitely choose to allow endorsements! • Choose to include me in endorsement suggestions to my connections • Optional: Choose Show me suggestions to endorse my connections • Optional: Send me notifications via email when my connections endorse me
Resources Complete Guide to Job Hunt Process: http://mbacareers.wharton.upenn.edu/student/files/Complete_GTMYC.pdf LinkedIn Summary: http://mymarketability.com/blog/how-to-write-a-killer-linkedin-summary Elevator Speeches http://careerservices.wvu.edu/r/download/139899 LinkedIn Learning Webinars: http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/530 Informational Interviewing: http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing
