Apparently it’s not just Hollywood that has a love affair with youth. Many employers seem to as well. I’m reminded of the problems older job seekers face every time I talk with them at a workshop or interview them for a resume or LinkedIn makeover.
So, these tips are especially for you if you were born before 1965.
If you are unemployed because you were laid off, resist the temptation to take a vacation. Don’t act retired. Instead, dive into the job hunt! Doing so demonstrates your strong work ethic and youthful enthusiasm. Employers love a positive attitude and a passion for work.
Face it: some industries are going to be more receptive to boomers than other industries. Therefore, be practical about where you look for jobs. Smaller, more traditional organizations, including nonprofits, trade associations and niche educational programs, usually have smaller staffs, and are more likely to value experience and expertise.
A vanity URL makes your LinkedIn profile easier to find, easier to remember, and more professional. Once you have your new URL, put it on your resume, add it to your email signature, and use it anytime you have a chance to promote yourself.
To change your URL from something like this: www.linkedin.com/pub/jane-doe-96335a46/67/, to something like this: www.linkedin.com/in/jane-doe, follow the steps below.
Click the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
Click “View profile.”
On your profile page, click “Edit public profile & URL” on the right rail.
Under “Edit URL” in the right rail, click the “Edit” icon next to your public profile URL. It’ll be an address that looks like www.linkedin.com/in/your-name.
Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box.
You’ve been invited to have lunch with someone you hope will mentor you, but you don’t have a clue what to talk about.
At a networking session for your industry, you’re tongue tied about familiar topics.
You’ve joined a club to make new friends, but no members are approaching you at meetings.
Eighty per cent of all hires are secured through networking, through people knowing other people. So, it’s no wonder that career coaches and successful businesspeople preach the value of networking, mingling, making connections, and building relationships. But how?
Whether you do it to sincerely help people you like, or in order to grow your own network, writing an enviable LinkedIn recommendation is an important job-seeking skill.
But I don’t know anyone whose definition of a fun afternoon is putting together interesting testimonials for every co-worker, friend, boss, client, classmate, and family member on LinkedIn. Take heart. There are ways to streamline the task and still deliver the goods.
When you write an effective recommendation, it makes you look good! Every intelligent, accurate, and positive reference you write increases the likelihood that your contact will reciprocate. And anyone reading your well-done recommendations will know what a stellar individual you are.Read more
Of course you have your profile on LinkedIn, right? And I hope it’s highlighting your skills, experience, talents and other hire-worthy attributes. But is it just sitting there looking boring, out-of-touch, or self-possessed?
If so, it will sabotage your career’s advancement.
Having a profile that shows how engaged and active you are places you ahead of other candidates in your field. So, take a moment to review your LinkedIn page against this checklist of common mistakes I’ve seen people make.
Time It Right
Are you writing off LinkedIn as a site for jobseekers? It does serve jobseekers but that doesn’t mean you should wait until you’re looking for work to build your brand. The best time to build your LinkedIn profile, connect with people, and participate on LinkedIn is now, before you need it.
If you find yourself suddenly unemployed and decide that now is the time to start using LinkedIn, you’re going to be playing catch up. Instead, take time to “dig your well before you’re thirsty,” as author Harvey Mackay says.
Participate
Don’t set it and forget it. Your LinkedIn profile is an evolving snapshot of you. You should be updating it regularly with new connections, status reports, and professional activity, especially within LinkedIn Groups.
Keep your profile fresh and changing. Check in on LinkedIn regularly, at least every other day if you are in active job search mode, and at least once a week if you are a passive jobseeker.
Then, plan on adding one new status update weekly. Make it as relevant, varied and as interesting as you can, but not as lightweight as your Twitter feed.
Look for Opportunities
Don’t be a wallflower. The more you engage with LinkedIn the more value it will be to your career. Stay on the lookout for chances to connect with thought leaders in your industry. Join three, four or five Groups and then participate in conversations there.
A good place to start is to join your alma mater’s official group and see what discussions are going on. It’s an easy way to expand your network. The more you participate in Groups, the more people will visit your profile.
Be a Giver
You can’t be selfish on LinkedIn and expect to make solid connections. So, focus on how you can help others instead of how they can help you.
The phrase “give to get” is very powerful on LinkedIn. You’ll earn the respect of your peers and people of influence if you help other people get what they want, either as introductions, news they can use, offers to mentor, inside information, encouragement, or congratulations.
Go Searching
Rather than waiting for others to find you, use the LinkedIn People Search function to look for people you know and invite them to connect with you.
I suggest you set a goal to add a specific number of new connections each week, and set aside a time to actively tend to this task.
Definitely follow up on people who have viewed your profile, sending them a note to say you noticed they visited your page, and ask if they would like to connect.
Research companies where you think you’d like to work and you might find they are looking for someone with your qualifications.
Link Up
Don’t forget to explore the people your connections know. It’s called LinkedIn for a reason. One of the site’s most powerful functions is the ability to connect with people who are connected to people you already know.
Be forewarned, however. If you don’t follow LinkedIn’s guidelines on connecting with these new people, your account could be flagged for spam. Use InMail or request connections through your mutual friend. Avoid LinkedIn generic messages, and instead write a customized, personal message for each person.
Don’t forget to link up any of these things on your profile page: your own blog, professional Twitter account, professional YouTube channel, website, or online portfolio.
Giving your LinkedIn page some love will pay big dividends.
Be Logical
Remember that it’s not a race to get 500 connections. Don’t be indiscriminate. Have a reason for each of the people you connect with. The person should be someone you already know or are related to, or someone it would be beneficial to network with.
If you aren’t familiar with someone, get to know him or her a bit before sending a request to connect. You can do this easily by seeing whom you both know. Try to bring something to the table as an inducement to connect.
You can also check out people’s LinkedIn summary and work history, and visit their website or blog. You can learn about them by studying what Groups they belong to. When you are interested in other people, you’ll be more interesting yourself.
Let LinkedIn Help
Make it a habit to check out LinkedIn Pulse. Visit www.linkedin.com/today/ and you’ll see a roundup of stories that LinkedIn thinks may interest you. These stories will help you stay current with changes in your industry.
Recommend
One polite and beneficial way to build a strong network is to acknowledge and recognize the contributions of people you know. Give them unsolicited, genuine Recommendations and Endorsements. Everyone appreciates these. It’s a win/win move.
Spin Off
LinkedIn is a handy place to start building face-to-face relationships. Don’t restrict your networking to online only. You can use LinkedIn to initially connect with people, and then request a casual meeting in a public place or office setting. Meet for coffee, lunch, drinks, an informational interview, or just to catch up.
Granted, LinkedIn can be annoying in the way it is constantly changing and is often misused by spammers and people with no social etiquette. But you can’t afford to ignore it if you are serious about your career. You took the time and effort to create your LinkedIn profile. Now, put this powerful site to work for you.
And if you need a LinkedIn makeover, I can do that for you.
The sweaty palm. The vise grip. The pump handle. The dead fish. These are the handshakes that don’t create a favorable impression.
Although I’ve never heard of a handshake so bad it blew a job offer off the table, the perfect handshake is something every jobseeker needs. It’s a social skill that telegraphs to a new acquaintance what a fine person you are – that you know how to make friends, behave yourself, and yet have some spunk.
So, before your next job interview, review my pointers for what makes the perfect handshake. In just a few minutes, you can boost your likability score.Read more
Unless you’re accustomed to talking in front of a video camera, you’re probably not looking forward to any interview conducted via webcam.
But since the video interview is increasingly common, if you’re serious about landing a great new job, you’ll be smart to learn some simple facts about the process.
With a little practice you can make a great impression during your on-screen interview. Let’s take it step by step to get you up to speed.Read more
If you’re unhappy with your job, maybe a new job isn’t the answer.
Maybe a new kind of job is what you really want, a change of career. People change careers for all kinds of reasons and at different stages of their lives.
More than half of all American workers want to change careers, so if you are thinking along these lines, you’re in the majority. The first step in deciding if a career shift is a good idea is to examine your reasons for wanting to change direction.Read more
If one of your goals for 2015 is to advance your career with a better job, let’s get started!
For most people, just the thought of looking for work – the research, the applications, the interviews, the networking – seems daunting. But if you break the process into manageable steps, you’ll feel in control, be able to track your efforts, and have better “luck” finding that dream job.
Here is my list of the five most important steps to get a new job.Read more
“If my boss thinks I might quit, he won’t trust me. He won’t give me any big projects or more responsibilities.”
“My current company has an informal policy to fire you if they learn you are looking for a new job.”
“If my co-workers know I’m thinking of leaving, they won’t see me as a team player anymore.”
“My supervisor will be so mad he’ll never give me a good recommendation.”
These are some of the concerns I hear from clients who are planning to look for work while they are still employed. Clearly, job hunting while still employed is tricky.Read more
Apparently it’s not just Hollywood that has a love affair with youth. Many employers seem to as well. I’m reminded of the problems older job seekers face every time I talk with them at a workshop or interview them for a resume or LinkedIn makeover.
