The Most Popular Skills to Show Off on LinkedIn

With 313 million users worldwide and counting, you’d be a fool not to be on LinkedIn. But according to an infographic from LinkedIn, you might be overlooking one of the networking site’s key features. Having a profile on LinkedIn is all about telling the world what you’re good at. So why aren’t more people using the Skills feature? Perhaps because they’re not sure what to add. The people who are using that feature, however, offer an interesting look at how job seekers are presenting themselves. Here are a few of the unusual findings from LinkedIn’s analysis:

Health Care Skills Remain Popular…

But food preparation and knowing your way around a cash register are also popular skills to show off. In fact, cash register operation is the second most popular skill across LinkedIn’s network.

Non-IT Skills Matter

American LinkedIn users are all about downstream oil, forklift operation, and medical-surgical skills, according to the infographic. But if you head south to Mexico, you’ll find adult education is big (in addition to architecture, which is also popular in Turkey, Italy, and Argentina). The fastest-growing non-IT skills include CPR instruction, Zumba instruction, and being a barista. Who knew?

Gadgets Gain Traction

Why list your professional skills when you can flaunt your mastery of Xbox One? According to the infographic, some users have taken to adding the gadgets they use to their professional skillset, including Google Glass, Rasberri Pi, and GoPro. If you have a gadget obsession, why not flaunt it?

Bosses, do you like to see these kinds of extra-curricular skills on applicants’ resumes?

via The Most Popular Skills to Show Off on LinkedIn | Inc.com.

The Most Popular Skills to Show Off on LinkedIn

6 Mistakes You May Be Making on LinkedIn

It’s a valuable networking tool, helping professionals connect for jobs and advice. But many LinkedIn members aren’t taking full advantage of the networking features of the site. When used to its fullest, LinkedIn can be an even more powerful social media tool than Facebook and Twitter.

Setting up your LinkedIn profile is only the beginning. Here are a few mistakes you may be making on LinkedIn that could cost you important business connections. By knowing about these mistakes, you can make your profile more powerful and reach more of your industry peers on the site.

Not Completing Your Profile

When LinkedIn members look at your profile, what do they see? Is your entire career outlined in your profile or just your current position? Do you have a current photo that would help your peers locate you at a networking event or conference? Your LinkedIn profile should give a full overview of your experience, including as much background as possible. A position you held early in your career could connect you with a colleague from those days who could benefit your business now.

Failing to Join Groups

LinkedIn offers Groups as a way for members to find other people within their industries or areas of interests. These groups are a great way to share ideas and troubleshoot issues, but at their core, they offer a way to network with other business owners. LinkedIn occasionally suggests groups you may like, but you can also browse the directory or search for a group using the search box at the top of each page.

Not Endorsing Others

Endorsements are an easy way to let your colleagues know you support them. You simply endorse other professionals for specific skills you know they have under the Skills & Endorsements section of each person’s profile. Not only will that person be notified of your endorsement, your picture and name will appear next to that skill under the person’s profile as having endorsed him. You can also write recommendations for colleagues who have worked with you in the past.

Failure to Connect

You can create a LinkedIn profile, but without connections you’re missing out on the “networking” part of the site. Start by connecting with people who are in your professional circles and expand from there, adding past colleagues, others within your industry, and people you meet while networking in groups on the site. You’ll see your connections’ updates on your newsfeed and be alerted when they change jobs or celebrate a work anniversary. Be sure to congratulate them when you see these items to keep your name fresh on their minds.

All Take, No Give

As with other social media sites, one of the top mistakes professionals make is in only posting when they need something. If you’re inactive most of the time, only using the site to ask a colleague for a favor or to market something, you’ll likely be disappointed by the results. Make an effort to interact by posting links to useful articles and commenting on other people’s posts on your newsfeed. Then when you do post about your exciting new product or upcoming event, you’ll find that others are more willing to support you.

Unprofessionalism

While it may be a social networking site, it’s important to remember at all times that LinkedIn is a professional social networking site. Your profile picture should capture your spirit while still being professional, whether it’s a shot of you at your favorite coffee shop or a standard business headshot. Every word on your profile should be grammatically correct and typo-free, even if it means asking a friend or colleague to proofread it. Most importantly, when you post status updates or comment in groups, every post should represent your brand in the best light possible. Resist the urge to engage in arguments with those who are inciting drama by always keeping in mind that others could be judging you by your comments.

LinkedIn is an important networking tool for every professional. The site has many tools designed to help you connect with those you’ve worked with in the past and suggesting those you can work with in the future. When used correctly, it can help you bring in new business and get the support you need as you grow your company.

via 6 Mistakes You May Be Making on LinkedIn | Inc.com.

6 Mistakes You May Be Making on LinkedIn

Three Steps To Writing The Perfect LinkedIn Summary

Guest Blog:  William Arruda

If you read my Forbes article “Move Over, Resume, You’ve Been Replaced,” you understand why your bio (I call it a 3D brand bio) is the most powerful personal branding tool you have.  And in the digital world, the most important version of your bio is your LinkedIn summary. This will likely be read by more people than any other form of your bio. This added exposure gives you a great opportunity to capture the attention of decision-makers—but only if you have summary that shines.

An effective LinkedIn summary makes people want to know more about you and ultimately connect with you one-on-one, so congruence is critical. You need make sure the bio you present online matches your real-world self.

How can you create a summary that stands out from the crowd while still being true to the real you?

Over the past few years, I have worked with career-minded professionals and executives at many of the world’s global brands to help them build compelling bios for LinkedIn and their corporate intranets. The approach we use is part of a comprehensive day-long workshop, but I have created a simplified, three-step version that you can use to make your profile pop:

Step 1: Set the scene 

Before putting pen to paper or finger to key, it’s important to know what you want your summary to communicate and what you want to readers to do. Before writing your bio, answer these questions:

• Who do you want to reach with your summary? Who is your ideal audience?


• What do you want them to learn or do?


• How do you want them to feel?

When you’re clear about your intentions and goals, it’s time to pull together the content.

Step 2: Gather your raw content

Think of your content in terms of these buckets, and then fill them to the brim:

Your most important accomplishments. Write a sentence for each one in terms of the value you create/created (“I saved my company $500k in returned products by ensuring customer satisfaction on the front-end of the transaction; I built our first world-class customer service team from the ground up.”)

Your values and passions. Articulate your operating principles and the things that energize you (for example, optimism, creativity, yoga and meditation).

Your superpowers. Describe the things you do better than anyone else (“I can assemble seemingly disparate facts into a cohesive, tangible story,” or “I inspire and engage even the most skeptical client.”)

Fact, figures and stats. List interesting points that are quantifiable. (“I ran five marathons in five different countries; I speak three languages and travel to five continents every year; I worked in six different areas of the business before becoming the head of sales.”)

Differentiation. Cull the things that make you YOU and help you stand out from your peers (“I do my best work from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. before anyone gets to the office.” “Acknowledging others is important to me, so I like to type personal thank-you messages to team members and colleagues on the typewriter I was given on my 16^th birthday.”)

External validation. Include testimonials from others  while showcasing all the awards and accolades bestowed upon you (for example, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Michigan, was named top 30 under 30 by the Chicago Chamber of Commerce).

Step 3: Put it all together

Before writing your summary decide if you would like to write in the first or third person. Either is acceptable – it’s a personal choice. Put yourself in a creative place – literally and figuratively so you can produce your best work. Then:

• Start with a bang.  You want the reader to want to know more, so you need to start with something enticing. It could be a question, statement or even a few words with punctuation, like: High-Energy. Results-Driven. Focused.  


• Next, fill in the details, weaving elements from the various Step 2 buckets  into a compelling narrative about the brand called you. Mix up content from the different categories to enhance the storytelling style. Here is how I did it with my summary.


• Then close with a call to action: tell your audience what you want them to do or where they can go to get more information.

Remember, your summary needs to be 2,000 or fewer characters.

Lastly, after you upload your summary to LinkedIn, bring the text to life  with images. LinkedIn allows you to add video, pictures and documents to your summary, reinforcing your words while providing even more proof, depth and meaning to your story.

via Three Steps To Writing The Perfect LinkedIn Summary.

Three Steps To Writing The Perfect LinkedIn Summary

Which Social Network Has the Most Job Search Activity? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Another day, another cool infographic about social media and job search. Recruiters, employers and jobseekers are all out there using social networks. But what do people think about using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus for career purposes?

Our friends at Jobvite commissioned a study of 2,049 adults aged over 18 across the US, asking them for their opinions on using social media when finding a job.

It discovered that though almost all of those surveyed seemed to be socially active, just 16% used social networks solely to find their most recent job – but a massive 54% have used Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn in some way.

Here’s an interesting result: Most job search activity takes place at Facebook (44%), LinkedIn (26%) and Twitter (23%).

Other key findings from the study were that:

• 45% of those employed were open to a new job

• 86% of active and passive job seekers have a social profile

• 40% are ‘super social’ with over 150 contacts

• One in six found the last job through a social network

 

via Which Social Network Has the Most Job Search Activity? [INFOGRAPHIC].

Which Social Network Has the Most Job Search Activity? [INFOGRAPHIC]

12 pieces of LinkedIn advice you"ve (likely) never heard

Are you a lurker on LinkedIn? Eighty percent of us are.

We watch and read what’s on the network, but we’re not proactive. We don’t use LinkedIn’s newest and best features to our advantage.

If you’re in the business of creating new business, start using these 12 secrets:

1. Message people in groups for free.

This is like having unlimited InMails. Just search for a person’s name in a group, and click “message.” However, use this function very judiciously. I’m not condoning spam. Your message must be relevant, useful and add value to the recipient.

2. Follow second- and third-degree connections from groups.

When you follow second- and third-degree connections in the same groups as you, you’ll see their updates on your homepage like they were first-degree connections. Strategically following group members is incredibly useful when you’re looking to start conversations with prospects or prospective business partners. Like, share and comment on their updates, and interact in ways that will spark new connections and business relationships.

3. Upload multimedia content to your profile.

Upload videos and presentations to your profile, or provide links. Multimedia can be much more compelling than words. Plus, people can view this content without leaving your profile.

You can also load all kinds of calls-to-action within your content to get people to contact you for your services or products.

4. Track your links.

Wouldn’t it be great to know if someone clicked on a link you sent him? It’s possible with bit.ly. Create a free account and send each prospect a custom link.

5. Collect leads directly from your profile.

Do you collect leads directly from your LinkedIn profile? It’s easy. If you have a white paper or eBook that you or your company uses to produce leads, why not use it on your profile?

Build a free Web form with Google Drive. Place links to the form in your Summary section, and share the links as updates.

6. Congratulate contacts when they appear in the news.

Congratulating your connections on appearing in the news is a nice ego stroke. I use Newsle (which LinkedIn recently acquired) to monitor first-, second- and third-degree connections.

Connect your LinkedIn profile with Newsle.com to quickly see if your prospects have been in the news. If they have, message them your congratulations.

Gagein.com is also useful for tracking people and companies in the news. It includes many custom filters to choose from.

7. Share valuable news with your network.

Custom sections on Google News are a powerful way to curate news your network will find useful. Once you build a custom section, you can get industry and competitor news to easily share on LinkedIn. All you need to build a custom section in Google News is a Gmail account.

Share the news you curate as status updates, and send them to individual connections.

8. Stay organized.

The more active you are on LinkedIn, the harder it will be to track everything you do and stay organized. That’s why you need a tool like FiveHundredPlus. FiveHundredPlus connects with your LinkedIn account to track who you need to contact and when.

9. Get a premium account.

People ask me all the time whether a premium account is worth the money. If you’re in sales or business development, the answer is an emphatic yes. All you need is the basic premium account. It has everything you need, including advanced search.

10. Teach, don’t sell.

A Corporate Executive Board survey of more than 1,000 IT leaders found that people who teach and provide insights were perceived as far more valuable than people pushing a new product or service.

Stop leading with your services, and lead to your services. Targeted content curation is an effective way to move your prospects into a sales funnel. Create free Paper.li and Scoop.it accounts to easily find content to share. You should also set up a custom news section on Google News (tip No. 7) to find relevant industry research and competitor news.

11. Don’t be afraid to connect with people.

It’s essential that you connect with as many new prospects as possible. In a recent comScore report titled, “The Social Bridge to the IT Committee,” two out of three IT professionals are open to connecting with vendors on LinkedIn. (That means people who look and sound professional.) You should also focus on connecting with people in finance, operations and marketing.

12. Make your profile your professional website.

Far too many professionals don’t care about or pay attention to their profiles. Consider this: Nine times out of 10, your LinkedIn profile is where prospects, customers, partners and future employers will go to find and judge you online. Use it to your competitive advantage.

via 12 pieces of LinkedIn advice you’ve (likely) never heard | Articles | Home.

12 pieces of LinkedIn advice you"ve (likely) never heard

Why Your Professional Network Is Not About You

Networking–what an overused, self-serving concept! In my experience, the term has been irredeemably misappropriated by those with the social skills of a troglodyte. The expectation is to meet as many people as possible in case you need to use them later. Bad pretense, sad precedent.

There is no question that an extensive professional network is invaluable. It can help you close deals, develop partnerships and facilitate a career change. But it doesn’t happen overnight or without a great deal of effort and personal contribution. As a rule, what you expect to gain, you should expect to contribute at least twofold.

Eight weeks ago, I started in a technology accelerator program to take my business to the next level of capitalization. Right away, I was exposed to an extremely powerful network carefully assembled by prominent entrepreneurs and investors. Many have started and sold companies–some, several times over. Others control hundreds of millions of dollars in top-performing funds. Still more are at the top of their career at Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. But all have one salient characteristic: They develop their network in order to connect people, not for their own personal gain. By using their relationships to bring people together, they forge stronger ties that enable them to maintain their network longer and benefit from the reciprocity.

So if you are set on networking your way to success, you are thinking too linearly. Instead, use these three elementary rules followed by “connectors.”

1. Don’t “work the room”

When you go to a cocktail party or conference, talk to half the people you normally would. You cannot make a substantive connection in five minutes. Instead, spend at least half an hour per person. Be inquisitive. Take note of what they are saying and try to learn something new.

2. Pay it forward–offer help

Is he looking for a new salesperson? Maybe she needs an intro to Conde Nast for a big business development initiative in the pipeline. Whatever it may be, think about ways that you can connect each person you meet with a resource in your network that could help them. People will remember you and go out of their way to repay the proverbial debt.

3. Stay in touch, stay relevant

Following up within 12 hours is a good rule of thumb. It solidifies the relationship and fosters further communication. Then every three or four months, send a quick update e-mail or article that could be useful. Go out of your way to be a connection they can rely on.

via 3 Tips for Building a Dynamite Professional Network | Inc.com.

Why Your Professional Network Is Not About You

The 5 Most Important LinkedIn Features You Aren"t Using Correctly

When LinkedIn debuted in 2003, it was merely an online resume and an entree to e-networking. Since then, LinkedIn has continuously enhanced its offerings – transforming into a complete career management resource. Our mindset about how to use LinkedIn, however, has not evolved as quickly as the product. If you haven’t changed your approach to LinkedIn, you’re missing out on some of the biggest benefits. Here are five elements of LinkedIn that most executives I know are not using correctly – or aren’t using at all – along with suggestions for maximizing them.

1. Headline. Your headline has the same function as the headline of an advertisement; its primary purpose is to get the target audience to want to read on. Yet most LinkedIn members think “headline = job title.” If you don’t write a headline, LinkedIn uses your current job title as a default, and that’s a real snooze.  To have your headline work for you, it should say what you do and entice people to learn more about your services. Don’t make it all about you; make it about the people you serve. Tell viewers what you can do for them. The second crucial function of the headline is to serve as an online “magnet.” If you want to be found in a search, you have to pack your headline with the keywords for which you want to be known. Making this an even greater challenge, you need to accomplish all that in just 120 characters. Here are some excellent examples of headlines from LinkedIn trainer and coach Anne Pryor:

Amanda Klein, MBA: Director of Strategy & Marketing at Star ★ Creating + Building Lasting Impressions for Exhibits & Events

Gordon (Gordy) Curphy, PhD: #1 Leadership Author | Coaching & Consulting Leaders, Teams & Organizations on Improving Efficiency & Effectiveness

Dustin Wellik, PHR: Talent Acquisition Lead – Consumer & Industrial Business Groups | Recruiter at 3M | Be part of what’s next!

Anne Elizabeth Denny: End-of-Life Speaker, Blogger, Author and Software Innovator Inspiring Thoughtful Advance Care Planning

And one more thing. If you’re looking for work, don’t use hollow headlines such as “Seeking my next big adventure” or “Currently open to new opportunities.” Those will work against you in a search (where are your keywords?) and the implication that you’re not being productive right now makes you less attractive to some prospective employers.

 

 

2. Groups. Most LinkedIn members I know spend their time on connections – sending requests and adding people to their network – yet the real value of the site is found in the groups, a powerful resource hidden under the Interests menu Groups serve three functions:

They amplify your message. Many groups have tens of thousands of members or more. Yet according to Craig Smith in “By the Numbers: 100 Amazing LinkedIn Statistics,” the average number of groups to which members belong is just 7. You can belong to 50. An infographic prepared by Brandon Gaille  revealed that over two thirds of LinkedIn members have fewer than 500 1^st-level connections. If you post to your network you can reach a few hundred potential people. With groups, you can amplify that by 100 or even 1,000 times. LinkedIn groups provide one of the best personal branding opportunities you have with social media.

They help you build and nurture your network. When you join groups related to your area of expertise, you can easily connect with like-minded professionals and leaders who can help you reach your goals. Think of groups as professional associations with no geographic limits and meetings that are available to you 24/7. Try out a few groups to see if they are right for you. Ask yourself: Are these my people? Do I want to connect with these people? Do I have content and value to contribute? Am I willing to be a regular part of their conversation?

They enable you to do your job better.  Groups provide a type of on-the-job learning that you can’t get anywhere else. You see which topics are hot, you get introduced to new resources, and you learn and grow each time you take a look at the conversations. They can challenge your thinking or provide data that helps reinforce your beliefs. You can also use groups to source staff, build partnerships and open doors to prospective clients.

3. Multi-media. LinkedIn allows you to integrate images and video directly into your profile, yet most profiles I see don’t contain any multi-media content. Thanks to technology, a picture really is worth a thousand words. With this new feature, you can add tens of thousands of words without turning your profile into a huge, boring whitepaper on the brand called you. According to a study by W.H. Levie & R. Lentz, published in the Educational Communications and Technology Journal, visuals impact us cognitively and emotionally. Cognitively, images speed up and expand our level of communication and increase comprehension, recollection, and retention. Emotionally, visuals engage our imagination and heighten our creative thinking by stimulating other areas of our brain – which translates into deeper and more accurate understanding. By embedding images and video into your summary and your experiences sections, you go from being boring to being a compelling brand. And, because most people aren’t using this feature, it helps your profile stand out. When I added a video reel of my public speaking to my summary, views of that video increased by 25%.

4. Endorsements. Let’s face it. Endorsements seem silly. Yet we make judgments about people based on the skills for which they were endorsed, and LinkedIn showcases those skills in a way that delivers tremendous visual impact. Whether they admit it or not, people are evaluating your expertise this way, so you must work to get your key skills endorsed so that the top ten are displayed in the order of importance to your career success. Yes, LinkedIn gives you control over that. To make it happen, choose the skills for which you want to be endorsed. Pick the ones that bolster your personal branding and will help you advance your career. Be willing to delete endorsements for skills that just muddy the waters.

Giving targeted endorsements is a great way to acknowledge others. Giving them randomly – whenever LinkedIn suggests you should, whether you actually know about the person’s expertise in that area, has little value. It can even undermine your perceived integrity. It’s best to give endorsements when they are timely, such as when a colleague demonstrates her project management skills or an employee of yours makes a great leadership decision. Endorsements like these mean more to the recipient.

5. Headshot. In a world where most people meet us online before they do in person, people want to connect a face with a name. In addition, your headshot can get you noticed. According to LinkedIn Career Expert Nicole Williams in a NY Post article  “ You’re 11 times more likely to have your profile looked at if you have a photo. ” Your headshot should add credibility to your profile – so make it professional. It’s not just about having a photo. It’s about having the right photo. To make your mug work for you:

• Have your face capture about 80% of the space. Remember that the shot will be used as a thumbnail, far beyond the top of your listing. Whole body shots are too small to see – especially in sections like endorsements.


• Face forward or to the left, looking into your LinkedIn content. Don’t look off-screen.


• Be professional and engaging – save the selfies and vacation shots for Facebook. Make the viewer want to get to know you.

By mastering these five oft-misunderstood LinkedIn features, you can strengthen your personal brand and expand your success!

via The 5 Most Important LinkedIn Features You Aren’t Using Correctly.

The 5 Most Important LinkedIn Features You Aren"t Using Correctly

5 Ways To Network In 30 Minutes Or Less!

If you’re like me, all you want to do after a long day at work is kick off your heels, grab some greasy chinese food, and slip into your favorite sweatpants. It is, after all, your “you” time, and you should spend it relaxing and doing “you” things (like catching up on House of Cards with a glass of wine – or two!).

Those precious hours of freedom are cherished, and no one wants to give them up to do more work. I mean, you work hard all day! You deserve a break.

That said, if you’re serious about advancing your career, you have to put in a little extra effort. It’s just like making time for exercise – if you want to lose weight, sure, you can go on a diet. However, if you want to lose weight and get toned, you need to put the extra effort in and participate in daily exercise.

Okay, so we know you’ve got to make time during your free time to advance your career. But how? You’ve got a life, friends, and family to think about. How can you make time for everything? How can you make time for networking?

5 Ways To Network In 30 Minutes Or Less

Here are some quick tips for working networking into your busy lifestyle (without cutting too much into your spare time!):

1. Find lunch hour networking events in your area


2. Hop on a virtual networking event for 30 minutes, once a week


3. Talk to someone on the bus/train ride to work


4. Reach out to three LinkedIn connections each week to check in or share a relevant article


5. Browse through the “People You May Know” page on LinkedIn and reach out to people you think would benefit from your network (Watch this video to learn how to do this appropriately)

It’s important to make a little extra time for your career. If you want to get ahead, you’ve got to put in the time. However, you don’t have to invest too much of your free time for it to give you a boost. If you can take 30 minutes to watch a rerun of Friends, you can take 30 minutes a day to fit in networking. Think of it as career exercise!

via 5 Ways To Network In 30 Minutes Or Less! | CAREEREALISM.

5 Ways To Network In 30 Minutes Or Less!

Be Easy to Hire

Too many job seekers expect an employer or recruiter to carefully evaluate their LinkedIn Profile and figure out where the person might fit into the organization.

Most employers and recruiters have way too much to do to provide you with mind-reading and/or career coaching services, even if they could.

Unless you have extremely scarce, highly technical skills, that’s not going to happen.

Applying for a job is not rocket science, but the process HAS changed substantially. This is what works today…

Know What Job You Want

Be clear about the job you want, and make that clear in your communications with the employer. “Oh, I could do anything in finance” is probably not true (really, anything in finance?!) and not communicating your value.

Being specific accomplishes two important things for job seekers:

1. The specifics trigger mental connections to opportunities in people’s minds. “Oh, I know someone looking for help with that…” or “Ahhh, this person could fill the job for…” Vague or general responses don’t often help make those connections.

2. The specifics provide the all-important keywords that lead to being visible in resume databases (like Indeed, CareerBuilder, etc.)

Networking contacts, no matter how well-intentioned, won’t be able to connect you with a job without knowing what you want to do. They can’t read your mind any better than an employer or recruiter. Make it easy for people to help you by helping them know what you want.

If you don’t know what you want to do, spend some time figuring it out first. Buy or borrow a copy of the classic book, What Color Is Your Parachute? — if there’s only one “career book” in your library, this is the one. For a reason.

Clearly Align Your Experience With Their Requirements

When you are submitting your resume or application for a job, don’t make the person reading it wonder why you applied for their job. Tell them why. You do that two ways:

1) Only apply for jobs for which you are a good fit.

Look at the job’s requirements and the skills, experience, and education they they want in an applicant. Don’t waste your time, or the recruiter’s, applying for something that’s not a good match.

When you apply for a job that’s not a good match –

You’re thinking: “Why not give it a try, just in case?”

They’re thinking: “Can’t this idiot read?”

Apply poorly often enough with the same recruiter or employer, and you’ll be training them (and — maybe – their applicant tracking system) to ignore you. Not a good thing…

2) Tell them how you are a good match in the cover letter, and show them in the resume.

In the cover letter, list the job’s requirements and match those requirements specifically with the skills or experience you have that are appropriate. (See the “Catching the Recruiter’s Eye” article on Job-Hunt for a great cover letter format).

Yes, many cover letters are ignored, but, for some recruiters, a resume submitted without a cover letter demonstrates a lack of true interest in the opportunity and/or a lack of professionalism. So, on the better-to-be-safe-than-sorry theory, include a carefully-written cover letter.

Customize your resume so that the relevant skills and experience are highlighted. Leave out the things that aren’t relevant to this job, unless your resume is only one page long. If you haven’t had much response to your resume, have a friend look at it, or get professional help. (For more help with your resume, read Job-Hunt’s Guide to Effective Resumes by resume experts Martin Yate and Susan Ireland).

Follow the Directions

Duh! Who doesn’t follow directions? You’d be amazed! Job seekers in a rush, apparently…

Recently, a recruiter put a sentence in a Monster job posting asking applicants to include a one-paragraph description of their most significant accomplishment of the past year.

Only 20 percent of the applicants included an accomplishment, and only 25 percent of those described an accomplishment that was relevant to the job they were seeking.

So, only one out of every 20 applicants got through the initial screening. By actually reading the entire posting, following the directions, and aligning their response to the needs of the job, they jumped over 95 percent of their competition!

Provide Good Contact Information

Be easy to contact. Create an email “signature” that provides the following information:

• Top line: your name, as it appears on your resume and LinkedIn Profile


• Next line: your private cell phone number with a professional voice mail message – NOT related to your work!


• Last line: a link to your LinkedIn Profile. Use the custom link specifically for you found in the edit profile screen – like http://www.linkedin.com/in/yourname or http://www.linkedin.com/pub/yourname/123/ab/087…

This information should appear below your closing at the bottom of the message, and it should be easy to read.

Be sure that the information you have submitted agrees with what is visible on your LinkedIn Profile because it will be checked! By including your LinkedIn Profile’s URL in your email signature, you’ve made it easy for the employer to find the right LinkedIn Profile, in case there are others who have the same name you have.

Polite Persistence Is Powerful

After you have had a job interview, ask for permission to stay in touch, and for the name and contact information of the person you should be in touch with. Then, when you have permission to stay in touch, DO stay in touch. Politely. When you said that you would, or when they told you you could.

Follow up. But NOT daily! And, for many employers, not weekly either. Find out what’s happening with the job you want. Remember filling a job almost always takes longer, sometimes much longer, than the employer thinks it will. (Read After the Job Interview, 10 Reasons They Haven’t Called You for why.)

Keep things in context — tell them your name, the job you applied for (job title and requisition number, preferably), the dates of your job interviews, and who interviewed you in every contact. Don’t expect them to remember you, although by the third or fourth phone call or email with the same person, they may.

If you liked the people and the place, ask them for other similar opportunities if this one falls through. (Read “The Biggest Mistake After a Job Rejection” for how and why.)

Bottom Line

It always seems to take too long to land a job, but it will happen. If you have a good network and LinkedIn Profile, you many not need to go through the job application and resume submission process again – your next job may find you.

via Be Easy to Hire | LinkedIn.

Be Easy to Hire

How to Be More Charismatic: 10 Tips

Charisma isn’t something you have. It’s something you earn. Here’s how.

Some people instantly make us feel important. Some people instantly make us feel special. Some people light up a room just by walking in.

We can’t always define it, but some people have it: They’re naturally charismatic.

Unfortunately, natural charisma quickly loses its impact. Familiarity breeds, well, familiarity.

But some people are remarkably charismatic: They build and maintain great relationships, consistently influence (in a good way) the people around them, consistently make people feel better about themselves–they’re the kind of people everyone wants to be around…and wants to be.

Fortunately we can, because being remarkably charismatic isn’t about our level of success or our presentation skills or how we dress or the image we project–it’s about what we do.

Here are the 10 habits of remarkably charismatic people:

1. They listen way more than they talk.

Ask questions. Maintain eye contact. Smile. Frown. Nod. Respond–not so much verbally, but nonverbally.

That’s all it takes to show the other person they’re important.

Then when you do speak, don’t offer advice unless you’re asked. Listening shows you care a lot more than offering advice, because when you offer advice in most cases you make the conversation about you, not them.

Don’t believe me? Who is “Here’s what I would do…” about: you or the other person?

Only speak when you have something important to say–and always define important as what matters to the other person, not to you.

2. They don’t practice selective hearing.

Some people–I guarantee you know people like this–are incapable of hearing anything said by the people they feel are somehow beneath them.

Sure, you speak to them, but that particular falling tree doesn’t make a sound in the forest, because there’s no one actually listening.

Remarkably charismatic people listen closely to everyone, and they make all of us, regardless of our position or social status or “level,” feel like we have something in common with them.

Because we do: We’re all people.

3. They put their stuff away.

Don’t check your phone. Don’t glance at your monitor. Don’t focus on anything else, even for a moment.

You can never connect with others if you’re busy connecting with your stuff, too.

Give the gift of your full attention. That’s a gift few people give. That gift alone will make others want to be around you and remember you.

4. They give before they receive–and often they never receive.

Never think about what you can get. Focus on what you can provide. Giving is the only way to establish a real connection and relationship.

Focus, even in part and even for a moment, on what you can get out of the other person, and you show that the only person who really matters is you.

5. They don’t act self-important…

The only people who are impressed by your stuffy, pretentious, self-important self are other stuffy, pretentious, self-important people.

The rest of us aren’t impressed. We’re irritated, put off, and uncomfortable.

And we hate when you walk in the room.

6. …Because they realize other people are more important.

You already know what you know. You know your opinions. You know your perspectives and points of view.

That stuff isn’t important, because it’s already yours. You can’t learn anything from yourself.

But you don’t know what other people know, and everyone, no matter who they are, knows things you don’t know.

That makes them a lot more important than you–because they’re people you can learn from.

7. They shine the spotlight on others.

No one receives enough praise. No one. Tell people what they did well.

Wait, you say you don’t know what they did well?

Shame on you–it’s your job to know. It’s your job to find out ahead of time.

Not only will people appreciate your praise, they’ll appreciate the fact you care enough to pay attention to what they’re doing.

Then they’ll feel a little more accomplished and a lot more important.

8. They choose their words.

The words you use impact the attitude of others.

For example, you don’t have to go to a meeting; you get to go meet with other people. You don’t have to create a presentation for a new client; you get to share cool stuff with other people. You don’t have to go to the gym; you get to work out and improve your health and fitness.

You don’t have to interview job candidates; you get to select a great person to join your team.

We all want to associate with happy, enthusiastic, fulfilled people. The words you choose can help other people feel better about themselves–and make you feel better about yourself, too.

9. They don’t discuss the failings of others…

Granted, we all like hearing a little gossip. We all like hearing a little dirt.

The problem is, we don’t necessarily like–and we definitely don’t respect–the people who dish that dirt.

Don’t laugh at other people. When you do, the people around you wonder if you sometimes laugh at them.

10. …But they readily admit their failings.

Incredibly successful people are often assumed to have charisma simply because they’re successful. Their success seems to create a halo effect, almost like a glow.

Keyword is seem.

You don’t have to be incredibly successful to be remarkably charismatic. Scratch the shiny surface, and many successful people have all the charisma of a rock.

But you do have to be incredibly genuine to be remarkably charismatic.

Be humble. Share your screwups. Admit your mistakes. Be the cautionary tale. And laugh at yourself.

While you should never laugh at other people, you should always laugh at yourself.

People won’t laugh at you. People will laugh laugh with you.

They’ll like you better for it–and they’ll want to be around you a lot more.

via How to Be More Charismatic: 10 Tips | Inc.com.

How to Be More Charismatic: 10 Tips

Impress In Less Than 2 Minutes

Famously, the elevator pitch is that big chance you get to sell your company, product, service or even yourself in just one or two minutes.

This kind of opportunity won’t always arise – the biggest organisations in particular tend to use strict selection processes and procedures to choose their clients.

But that does not mean that the principle of the elevator pitch should be completely ignored or discarded. Thinking about how to deliver your message in an effective way that goes straight to the heart of the matter can be a very useful and rewarding exercise. Whether you’re going for a job interview or a client pitch, this can be of great value to you.

Here are a few principles to keep in mind.

Simplicity

In my experience too many pitches – whether they are ‘elevator’ style or presentations – get bogged down in overly complicated language or rely far too heavily on eye-catching graphics. There have been times when entrepreneurs pitched to me for investment and I had to stop them after a while because what they were saying wasn’t making any real sense. Some investors may let them continue in this manner and then turn them down, but I always believe in giving entrepreneurs a chance to show what they can do. Therefore I tell them to cut out the unnecessary jargon and tell me things in a business-like yet simple way. You want to sound professional but there are ways to do this without boring people.

Do your research

Keeping it simple should not be an excuse for not doing your research. Even if your elevator pitch is supposed to be short and snappy, you don’t want to get caught out afterwards with a question you don’t know the answer to. Be prepared and know who you are pitching to. As well as ensuring you are ready for any questions you may be asked afterwards, this means you can tailor your pitch to suit the audience.

Sell with subtlety

Remember that whilst an elevator pitch is a tool to sell the best aspects of you or your business, it doesn’t need to be aggressive or over the top. All you want to do is generate enough interest to pique their interest. Explain the essence of what you are pitching and then clearly demonstrate the differentiator. There should always be a unique selling point, or if you are going for a job interview, a clear value-add. This is basically your hook which will make or break the success of your elevator pitch.

Some people don’t really think about the concept of an elevator pitch until the opportunity comes along. But if you can set aside half an hour at some point and just think about what you would include in your elevator pitch, it can have huge benefits. If nothing else, it will allow you to take a step away and think about what sets you apart from the competition and what sort of image you want to project.

via Impress In Less Than 2 Minutes | LinkedIn.

Impress In Less Than 2 Minutes

Master the art of the perfect handshake

A person’s handshake says worlds about them, and the handshake is a major factor in the way each participant thinks about the other.

Before delving into some great handshake “how to” advice, let’s consider mistakes to avoid.

Inept handshakes

Limp: A limp handshake gives the impression of being weak. I think that it goes without saying that the limp shake is a dud. What’s the point of shaking hands in the first place if it’s just going to be a limp experience anyhow?

Too Much Shake: A handshake with too much shake can come across as annoying, inappropriate, and socially inept.

The Finger Grabber: Have you ever shaken hands with a person and instead of properly interlocking their hands with yours they only clasped your fingers? I hate that one; it’s weird.

Dominator handshakes

Then there types of people that take advantage of the handshake as an opportunity to establish their domination.

The Arm Wrestler: The way that “arm wrestler” hand shakers operate is by trying to get their hand on top of the other persons, either by extending their hand with their palm facing downward initially so that the other person will be “pinned”‘ from the get-go, or by finagling their hand on top after the initial contact. The “arm wrestler” handshake seems immature and doesn’t inspire friendship; it simply says that the perpetrator is trying to play mind games with you. I tend to avoid these people the most.

Overbearing: Although someone who squeezes just a little too hard might just be trying too hard to do it right, they give off the impression of being overbearing and aggressive.

The right way to do it

Now that we have established a few of the wrong ways to shake a hand, let’s look deeper into best handshake practices.

Eye contact: This displays confidence and establishes a personal connection.

Firm clasp: This also displays confidence and establishes a personal connection.

Speak during the handshake: Saying something as simple as, “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, John Doe,” goes a long way. It brings the physical handshake to a new level, adding verbal and emotional elements to the process.

Use your left hand too (optional): Using your left hand to touch the shoulder or double clasp the handshake makes the experience a more intimate one. Do this only if the intimacy will be appreciated.

Time it right: A good shake lasts about 1.5 to 2 seconds. Letting go too early can make it appear that you are not interested in the other person or are disgusted by them, which can be insulting. Continuing the handshake too long can appear intrusive. Getting the timing just right also depends on reading the social cues of the other person to decipher how long they hope to be hand-engaged with you.

Considering how much a handshake communicates about you—and how influential it can be in business, social, and personal relationships—it behooves you to practice getting your handshake just right.

via Master the art of the perfect handshake | Articles | Main.

Master the art of the perfect handshake

10 Tips to Master LinkedIn in a Way You Never Imagined

LinkedIn is quickly becoming the new resume.

In fact, I believe that in the next 5 years, the humble resume will fade away into the dustbin of history, to join the iPod, Internet chat rooms and (hopefully) the Kardashians.

This means that LinkedIn will become your primary job search tool and mastering the platform should become one of your top priorities. Here are 10 ways you can get a head start on your competition.

1. Fill out your profile completely.

Sounds very basic, doesn’t it? Yet, you’d be surprised how many profiles I see which are missing critical sections.

Pay particular attention to your summary, title and employment history—they’re the first items which a potential employer will look at.

2. Highlight your expertise.

What differentiates you from everybody else on the job market? Who are your ideal customers / employees? Your summary is the perfect place for this information. Back up your claim with examples of concrete achievements.

For example, “I’m a digital marketing manager for startups. I specialize in scaling $100K businesses into $1M territory” is an excellent, succinct way to define what you do and what you don’t.

3. Create a call to action.

Most people will contact you by either sending you an InMail or a connection request.

However, you can guide the right people to find out more about you by providing a link to your website, other social media assets and content you’ve created on 3rd party websites.

4. Include a photo.

It’s no longer the 1990s, when having a photo of yourself online was a reason to be worried about privacy.

As far as today’s employers are concerned, a photo on your LinkedIn profile is not a “nice to have” option—it’s a must. Don’t give recruiters and hiring managers the reason to think “Why is there no photo—does she have something to hide?”

5. Optimize your profile for search.

To improve your profile’s visibility in LinkedIn search results, ensure that your LinkedIn profile contains relevant keywords throughout.

For example, if you’re interested in job opportunities as a corporate lawyer, then your job title is the obvious keyword to include in your main job description, summary, job titles and descriptions of your job history.

However, recruiters won’t always search for you purely by your role. That’s why you need to think outside the box when constructing your LinkedIn profile. For example, if you were the project manager above, you could include keywords such as:

litigation

financial services law

mergers & acquisitions

IPO

oil & gas industry

6. Post consistently.

LinkedIn is not Facebook, so your updates can’t be photos of your breakfast.

Think carefully before you post and make sure that everything you say is consistent with your personal brand.

I suggest you get into the habit of setting aside some time a few times per week to curate and read interesting content from the Internet. This will allow you to post interesting content as status updates.

Don’t forget to put your own spin on the topic. For example, if you post “check out the latest article about the financial sector New York Times,” you’ll sound just like everybody else.

However, an update such as “The New York Times just predicted that finance industry is dying. What do you believe?” is likely to spark debate and create more exposure for your profile.

7. Create and participate in LinkedIn groups.

Which aspect of your career are you most passionate about? Chances are, there’s a lively discussion happening right now in one of LinkedIn’s groups on that topic.

The best thing is, being part of a group allows you to bypass LinkedIn’s standard requirement to be connected to someone in order to reach out to them. If you and another professional are part of the same group, you can communicate without limitations.

8. Be savvy about who you connect with.

It’s great to have 500+ connections; however, not all connections are created equal.

Engagement with your network is far more important than its size.

Requesting connections with people you don’t know and can’t find common ground with has little benefit—it only robs you of your most precious asset: time.

9. Make your messages personal.

How many times a week do you receive the stock standard “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” message?

Most influencers, heads of departments and business owners receive hundreds of such requests.

To rise above the noise you must personalize your connection requests.

Remember that LinkedIn is primarily a relationship-building platform. Not many great relationships start with sending a cold, pre-formatted template.

10. Dive deep with content trending tools.

It’s no secret that producing original content is one of the best ways to build your personal brand.

However, creating blog posts and videos is just half of the story. The trick to getting the most out of your content is to make it shareable.

How do you know which topics are shared often and which aren’t? LinkedIn’s new Content Marketing & Trending Tools allow you to do just that. There’s no more need to fly blind.

Simply research what content is popular amongst your audience right now, create it, then monitor its performance in real time.

via 10 Tips to Master LinkedIn in a Way You Never Imagined..

10 Tips to Master LinkedIn in a Way You Never Imagined

How To Be The Master Of LinkedIn in A Jedi Way

 

How To Be The Master Of LinkedIn in A Jedi Way.

How To Be The Master Of LinkedIn in A Jedi Way

Why Networking in HR Doesn’t Work Anymore (And What You Should Do Instead)

Guest Blog: Alan Collins

Let me make a confession. Networking is a pain.

And if you’re like me, you’re probably horrible at it.

So, I don’t do it anymore.

But that doesn’t stop me from reaching out to meet new people who can help me advance my career and interests in HR.

Hey, wait a second, you might say….isn’t that networking?

Not at all, and I’ll explain why in a moment. But first, a little story.

Dinner and networking

A few weeks ago, I had dinner with a former colleague, Ken (not his real name), who was frustrated about his career in HR.

He’s currently a senior director in Organization Development at a well-known national car rental company. He’s in the #2 role and reports to a vice-president who heads up the department.

After five frustrating years, he’s ready to move into a #1 role. And he’s prepared to jump ship to do it. He’s also thought about hanging his shingle out as an independent OD consultant. Confused over his options, he asked to meet me over dinner to talk things over.

Personally, I absolutely love having these kinds of conversations. I can brainstorm for days and love exploring career alternatives with HR folks and seeing if I can help them out.

The fact that he picked one of the best restaurants in town and covered the tab for the steaks and wine, didn’t hurt either.

Anyway…Ken’s current position is not in jeopardy, fortunately. He doesn’t need to find a new job tomorrow. He’s doing well. He’s cool with his pay package. And his clients love his work. But deep down, he’s pissed because he was passed over yet again for a VP-level promotion that was filled by someone less-qualified (his words, not mine).

One suggestion I offered was, if you’re hellbent on leaving the company, start getting yourself out there. Get out of the trenches. Start meeting people. Get involved in your local HR association. Reach out to your existing contacts. Set up coffees.

And…

Before I could go on, Ken interrupted by blurting out: “I’ve tried all that crap. It doesn’t work. In fact, I’ve been networking like crazy for the last three months. I meet people. I give them my card. We hook up on LinkedIn. And I even follow up reminding them to contact me if they hear about any opportunities. Most people are nice and cordial, but they’re busy as hell. I get a few thank you emails and texts back. But none of this has produced any new opportunities for me.”

“Wait a minute,” I said, raising my hand like a traffic cop and bring him to a halt. “Ken, let me get this straight. Networking to you means meeting people, giving them your card, telling them that you’re in the job market, connecting with them on LinkedIn, then following up.”

“Sure, that’s it in a nutshell. And none of that has been effective,” he said sadly.

“Well, Ken,” I said, “Lots of people do what you’ve done. I used to do that a lot too. That is. until I discovered…

…The huge problem with networking.”

“The problem is people do it incorrectly and they come across as selfish jerks. That is, I meet someone new…I give them my card….…I connect with them on LinkedIn…I follow up with them to remind them that if they know of any opportunities, they can contact ME.”

“There’s only one issue with all that…

There’s a lot of “I” and “me” in those statements.

“What’s the benefit for the other person? Unless they have an immediate, unmet need for the services you provide–– which is a long shot — there’s little benefit they gain by connecting with you. And you’ve just become another person they’ve met who’s looking to get ahead.”

“To be blunt, you can’t approach networking with the kind of mindset. It just screams: ‘I gotta go meet some people who I might be able to get some job leads from’ or ‘Are there going to be a lot potential hiring managers at this event,’ etc.”

“That mindset is all wrong. And it’s absolutely arrogant and self-centered.”

“Ken, that’s why your networking attempts are failing and have been fruitless so far.”

I went on to offer some suggestions on a different approach. And, over the next hour, we had a great discussion. It was a learning experience for both of us. Here are the highlights of our talk.

1. Stop networking and start…helping!

Stop thinking of what you’re doing as “networking” and start thinking of them as opportunities to help people.

Be a giver, not a taker.

Change your mindset from a selfish one to an unselfish one.

Think about this way: If you can provide a benefit or helping hand to someone, they’re a lot more likely to remember YOU down the road when they actually need your services or can make a referral.

For example, who do you think will remember Ken first?

Person A, who got Ken’s card and heard him go on and on about all the terrific organization development skills and experience he has.

Or Person B, who shared information when Ken asked about their business. Who then disclosed their difficulty in finding the right consulting firm to help in managing their employee engagement survey process. And in return got a helpful article a few days later from Ken on selecting the right survey firms along with his offer to introduce them to some of his contacts who do that kind of work for Fortune 500 companies?

My money’s is on Person B.

People will send job leads to contacts that they know who’ve helped them out in the past. They don’t provide them to the guy who wants to meet for coffee, then gives them an uninterrupted 15-minute-long sales pitch. (Yes, that’s happened to me).

So stop aiming to get job leads and contacts.

Just aim to understand and help people.

2. Put this new mindset in practice.

Based on our discussion, Ken decided to swap out his OLD mindset for a NEW one.

Gone is his OLD mindset and approach that went something along the lines of: Gear up for “networking” — an opportunity to drum up some job leads or contacts. Approach, say, an SVP of HR at a SHRM event. Shake hands with her, swap cards and talk about himself a bit. Then, a day or two later, follow up with an email that comes across as, “Don’t forget about me — I’m a great OD person. Give me a job!”

His NEW mindset and approach will be more like this: Gear up for an opportunity to learn about other people’s interests and challenges — don’t even think of the word “networking.” Approach that SVP of HR — but this time, introduce himself, shake hands, then ask questions about her business and what they do. (It sort of goes without saying that you need to be genuinely interested, but I hope you are — there’s a lot of interesting stuff to learn out there.). Get their card and later reach out to her on LinkedIn.

Then, a couple of days later, followup with an email with something actually helpful to the HR SVP’s business or that directly addresses one of the issues she discussed. Perhaps that’s an article on executive development you stumbled upon; maybe it’s an ebook on cutting costs in HR; maybe it’s new HR strategies for volatile times. Ken will repeat this last step here and there, and importantly, he has ZERO expectations from her in return.

Here’s the bottom line…

Meet people and look for ways you can help them.

Understand their business, their pain points and their challenges — keep them in mind.

Then, when you come across a helpful article, ebook, contact, resume, referral or so forth, send it to them.

Don’t expect anything back in return. Be genuine.

Let the principle of reciprocity that underlies this approach act as a powerful catalyst for you. This principle says that anytime someone gives you something you weren’t expecting, it naturally inspires them to look to return the favor in some way…and support you because somehow they feel indebted and obligated to even the score. Putting this compelling principle to work for you as you meet people can be very effective.

But again, it’s critical that you expect nothing in return. Most people won’t spring forward to reciprocate immediately, if at all. However, the “good karma” you’ve generated will cause this favor to be returned to you down the road – maybe not from this person – but from places you might not expect. At least, that’s been my personal experience.

That’s the biggest reason why I don’t “Network” anymore. Yes, I’ll screw up and use that “N” word occasionally (old habits die hard). But today, mostly I simply try to meet and help people.

And for those thousands of people I’ll never meet, that’s why I write articles like this one.

If you genuinely do the same thing, opportunities will follow.

Count on it.

Why Networking in HR Doesn’t Work Anymore (And What You Should Do Instead)

17 Must-Haves for Your LinkedIn Profile [INFOGRAPHIC]

So you’ve got a LinkedIn profile, and you want it to be perfect – so what do you add?

This infographic by our friend Neal Schaffer at Maximize Social Business lists 17 things your profile must have.

Takeaways:

• A serious profile picture is necessary on LinkedIn – you don’t want one that will turn people off you.

• Be active – update your status regularly and share relevant content.

• Make yourself contactable – add an email address, and links to Facebook/Twitter to the description.

via 17 Must-Haves for Your LinkedIn Profile [INFOGRAPHIC].

17 Must-Haves for Your LinkedIn Profile [INFOGRAPHIC]

5 Networking Questions to Ask on LinkedIn

Sure, you know how to send an invite to other LinkedIn members, but making the most of these valuable connections involves more than just adding them to your network. The real key to maximizing your LinkedIn membership is to employ the same techniques during online networking that you’d use for face-to-face interactions. That often means asking the right networking questions when interacting with others individually and in LinkedIn groups.

Here are five questions that will help you build familiarity, provide insight and get more connected.

1. “How did you get started?”

There’s no better way to get a conversation started than asking, “What do you do?” But, for obvious reasons, this and other similarly phrased networking questions simply don’t work on LinkedIn.

Instead, ask how your connections found their current position or how they began in the field. You’ll gain information about a person’s unique experiences and give them an opportunity to talk about their careers (and who doesn’t like talking about themselves?). This inquiry could be especially fruitful if your contact is in a field you’re trying to break into.

2. “What is your biggest challenge at work?”

This question can be particularly effective as a post in a networking group. For one, it’s a great way to build camaraderie. Asking for comments and sharing your own challenges helps those in the group bond over shared experiences. It also provides an opportunity for people to assist each other by describing strategies they’ve used for overcoming on-the-job difficulties. If you’re struggling with something at work or want to offer yourself as a resource, consider this query.

3. “What are your thoughts about …?”

Fill in the blank here with the industry’s latest buzzworthy book, breaking news about the field or a blog post that’s making the rounds. The point is that questions that address changes in your profession are almost guaranteed to get a response and generate discussion.

These types of networking questions also help you accomplish two things: First, a question like this shows your contacts that you’re clued-in to the latest trends — you’ll score extra points if you offer your own opinion, of course. Second, it helps you gather insight into the impact of new developments.

4. “Can you recommend other people or groups I should connect with?”

The most effective networkers are always looking to make new connections and uncover useful resources. And this question helps you do just that. After querying your contact, offer to return the favor. And be sure to thank him or her later, even if the recommendation did not pan out as you’d hoped.

5. “How can I help you?”

This question gives people an open opportunity to ask for what they need — and allows you to position yourself as a possible solution. Even if you’re not able to help outright, you’ll know what your connections are seeking. And the next person with whom you connect may have the perfect solution to the last person’s problem. Introduce them, and you’ll quickly become the most popular kid in class.

Although having a few networking questions in mind to get the ball rolling can be useful, always remember to let conversations unfold naturally. Make the effort to be genuinely interested in what your connections have to say and respond accordingly. It’s a surefire way to establish a strong relationship, instead of just an acquaintance.

via 5 Networking Questions to Ask on LinkedIn.

5 Networking Questions to Ask on LinkedIn

5 Tricks to Remembering Anybody"s Name

What’s in a name? A lot, it turns out — particularly when it comes to garnering new business contacts. When you remember somebody’s name — even after meeting them just briefly — it sends the message that the interaction was important to you. Perhaps no other skill can make others feel as valued, or open as many doors to new connections.

While some people possess a gift for remembering names, for others, it’s more of a learned skill. But every new introduction is an opportunity to practice recognizing faces, and, as you improve, others will begin to perceive you as a valuable connector in business and in life.

Use the strategies below to practice — and make it a point to challenge yourself at networking events. My advice? Start slowly, and then increase your repertoire with each new introduction:

1. Repeat names throughout the exchange. Repetition helps your brain form the connections necessary to retain information. As soon as you’re introduced, say, “It’s lovely to meet you, Jane.” Refer to the person by name upon greeting and then repeat it again in parting.

2. Make mental associations. Make a visual connection with a person’s name to something memorable in your world — the more outlandish, the better. For example, if you meet someone named Jay who happens to be a music producer, visualize a blue jay at a mixing board. The humorous image will imprint his name and career onto your memory.

3. Study names in print. Use your eyes as well as your ears. When someone wears a nametag, for instance, look at the nametag as well as the face to create an association. As soon as you receive a business card, glance at the name and say, “Thank you, John.”

4. Ask for clarification with difficult names. If a new acquaintance has a name that is difficult to pronounce or happens to mumble their introduction, simply ask him or her to repeat it. Then say it again yourself for verification. In addition to gaining clarity, the extra effort will speak to your attention to detail.

5. If you forget a name, address it head on. If you absolutely can’t remember a name, try to offer any information you can remember, such as where the two of you may have met. Alternatively, if you shake hands and introduce yourself, your contact will most likely follow suit.

If you think you know someone’s name, but are unsure, venture a guess: “Bill, right?” Or you could simply apologize and say, “I’m sorry, I’m a little forgetful at the moment. Please remind me of your name.” Don’t worry, it happens to everyone.

via 5 Tricks to Remembering Anybody’s Name | Entrepreneur.com.

5 Tricks to Remembering Anybody"s Name

How Tim"s Strategy Tool Can Help Your Job Search

I recently had a chat with our great buddy Tim Tyrell-Smith, something I like to do on a regular basis (see our previous chat here). Tim is an author, blogger, speaker, coach and consultant in the job search, career and marketing space. He is one of the most genuine and credible guys out there and I always look forward to reading/hearing what he has to say.

This time around, Tim had some exciting news for anyone looking to have a clear job search or career strategy – he and his team have developed a piece of software aptly named Tim’s Strategy:

So, what does the software do?

Tim’s Strategy offers a structured, step-by-step process to establish a job search strategy. As Tim said, “It’s like tax software for your job search”. A complex and often misunderstood process is broken down into smaller, “easier to chew” pieces. And there is significant help (including video) at every step. Specifically, the software delivers the following:

• Identification of clear and specific job search objectives (plus help with target companies)

• A personal branding strategy and profile

• A complete set of personal marketing materials (resume, cover letter, bio, business card, elevator pitch, references)

• A customized networking strategy including targeted introductions

• A purposeful strategy for interview preparation

OK, what doesn’t it do?

• It’s not a job board. It doesn’t let you search for job leads and it won’t send you any. It doesn’t compete with Monster or Indeed.

• It’s not a social network for job seekers or career professionals. So it doesn’t compete with LinkedIn or BranchOut.

• It’s not a CRM system to track leads and manage your ongoing job search. It doesn’t compete with JibberJobber.

• Some of the features (like targeting employers) are limited to the US. Tim will add international functionalities over time but it’s currently most useful for Americans.

To sum up, Tim’s Strategy helps you build a smart, personalized job search strategy. I think the tool looks great and having known Tim for a number of years now, I know how passionate he is about helping people to succeed in their careers.

Special reader offer!

Tim recently completed a third round of beta testing and is now ready to offer early and discounted access to you (or a friend), to take advantage of this offer, go to the site and use this promo code just for readers of The Undercover Recruiter: TIMS4TUR

When you do, you’ll save 67% off the sign up price and pay less than $49.99 upfront. What’s the catch? Well none really. But there is a chance that you’ll find an issue Tim hasn’t seen yet. If you do, please let him know and they’ll get it fixed ASAP.

via How Tim’s Strategy Tool Can Help Your Job Search.

How Tim"s Strategy Tool Can Help Your Job Search

The Psychology of Networking: How Some Appear Natural While Others Stutter

If you’ve spent time looking for a new job these days, then it shouldn’t surprise you to find out that, according to Harvard Business School, 65% to 85% of jobs are found through networking.

That statistic was a big deal when it was released. To 99% of the population, it was like a brutal slap in the face. People were outraged that they were not given a “fair chance” to interview. To be frank, I thought that number was pretty low. Here’s why.

Let’s say you went to a bar one night and you intended to meet someone. And sure enough, a stranger approached you as soon as you sat down. Let’s say you hit it off with this stranger. After a brief 30 minutes chat, both of you decided to set another date. Now would you move in with this stranger after the second date?

Because that’s what that number is saying. That number is saying that 15% to 35% of all employers are desperate enough to make a new hire based off 2 interviews (pretty standard practice) with a stranger. And here’s the thing: hiring is a risky business.

Forget the hard financial cost. By employing you, the employer is taking a social risk by introducing you to her team. She is also taking a professional risk because to some extent, hiring you is like putting her job on the line. And most important, she is taking a personal risk – what if you’re a psycho?

That’s where networking comes in. Networking is like dating. It allows your future employer to get to know you better and minimize the risks she will be taking in hiring you. The problem is that schools don’t teach networking – and most people simply don’t know what to do.

Well, the first step is not to appear like a desperate weirdo. Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially when a job is on the line. Here are a couple of steps to make sure you never again say, “I can’t believe I said that!”

Serendipity vs Goal

“How does he appear so smooth?” my friend wondered. He just witnessed a colleague of ours get a card from one of the most well-known industry influencer. Here’s how: he prepared!

Those who are new to networking tend to have this assumption that networking is like falling in love. You go from one person to the other, stumbling around randomly, and hope that you find “the one”. There’s just one problem with that approach: when you do meet the one, you don’t know what to say.

Networking veterans, on the other hand, have a clear target. They identified which company they want to work with and exactly what role they desire – and thus who they need to speak to.

Before they step into a conference or any networking opportunity, they did their research. Who will be the speakers? Who are the VIPs? Are there anyone who will be there I’d like to meet? Check Linkedin, scour twitter and dig around Facebook. Most people would tell the world when they will be attending a major event.

Once they’ve identified who they want to meet, they do two things:

Find for similarities to create a perceptual bond. For example, did both of you attend the same university? Are both of you photography enthusiasts?

Find out what these people are doing so you can talk about it. Are they involved in a foundation? Did she just come back from a prolonged break?

And if you’re worried they find out you conducted research, don’t! Most people would be flattered you take the time to get to know them better before approaching.

Mindset: Getting a Job vs Delivering Value

Once you make contact, make sure you have the right mindset.

Most people have this mindset that they should be given a job before they start working… almost like they are entitled to a job. Treat me well first, in other words, and I will do the same. Successful networkers, on the other hand, know that the opposite is true. You need to deliver value first, and you’ll boost your chances of being offered a job in the future.

There are 3 ways you can deliver value:

Offer to help with a current project. Like this, “I’m actually working on something similar. Would you like my notes?”

Forward interesting research you might have discovered. Busy people have no time to keep up to date with all the latest development in their industry so anyone who points them to interesting happenings scores big points. Start with, “I heard you’re working on this project, you should check this out…”

Introduce them to people who can add value to their lives. Beginners have the misconception of hoarding their contacts, wrongly assuming that social equity is this limited pie. In fact, the opposite is true. The more connections you make, the more your social equity multiplies – just make sure you know the person you’re introducing knows his/her stuff.

So there you go, 2 simple steps. First, conduct your research on a number of topics you want to talk about. Prepare and practice, practice, practice. Second, consult and deliver value first before asking. Heck, don’t expect anything in return for that matter… that simple shift in mindset is bound to improve your behaviour.

via The Psychology of Networking: How Some Appear Natural While Others Stutter.

The Psychology of Networking: How Some Appear Natural While Others Stutter